Lessons From the Pandemic: Part 3 Finding Adventure

Time to read: 56 seconds

If you go to Thailand, the Reclining Buddha really is worth a visit.

A client of mine just returned from a wonderful vacation with his family. He made a comment about the contrast between the spontaneous surprises of vacations and the grind of daily living.

One of my core values is adventure and although I love a good international trip, it doesn’t take a grand gesture or money to find adventure. Adventure is a state of mind.

Consider this example:

Years ago, after 4 months of traveling, my husband and I made our final stop in Thailand. I remember sitting in a hostel in Bangkok asking:

Should we visit the royal palace?

Nah.

How about the famous Reclining Buddha?

Nah.

Truth is, we were done. Even incredible sites lose their sparkle when they become every day. We spent our final days in Thailand sitting idle on the beach and eating.

During lockdown, I walked one of 4 directions from my house every day. Some days I walked the alley. Sometimes the sidewalks. As part of my “keep Christina sane plan,” I decided these walks would be an adventure. I acted as if I had never seen these streets before. Birds became exotic. My neighbors grow incredible gardens. People discarded amazing stuff. Little Free Libraries were a bastion of discovery.

Now that travel is back on the menu, the grand adventure has returned. (Yay travel!) And, the pandemic revealed that daily living can be an adventure if you look at the familiar with new eyes. Expect surprises. Open to wonder. Marvel at life.

Here’s to a summer of adventures!

Want to chat about hosting our 90-minute Return to the Office interactive event for your team? Email me here to get more information.

5 Ways to Be an Awesome Newbie!

Time to read: Just under one little minute. You have errands to run!

Now this is new: S'mores ice-cream cone with GLITTER!

OMG. Has summer already ended? If you have kids starting school and even if you don't, can you feel that fall, back-to-school energy? Things feel more serious. Like we're all settling in and getting back to a routine.

My kids started a new school on Monday. They know no one and believe me, this Corporate Rebel Mama's heart has been very tender this week. We have lots of rebels starting new ventures like new jobs (hey Rick!) or living in new locations (shout out to you, Audrey!) or experimenting with new ways to do old jobs (Dean!).

There is newness in the air!

New possibilities.

A new start. (Even if you're in the same job, in the same company.)

A new year.

As we get to know the new community and routine at our new school, I'm noticing a few things that are helping me through these tender days. I share them with you as you embark on your new fall. Here are 5 ways to be new:

1. Have a sense of adventure. Rather than focusing on all the things you don't have or can't do, lean into the adventure of a new job, project or school with all the fascination, wonder, and curiosity you would bring to an international vacation.
2. Be humble. In our new school, I know very little about how things work. It's a steep learning curve and for a woman who is used to knowing everything that's going on, it's humbling to be at the beginning again. Stopping in humility every so often in your life is a very good thing. It's a great reset button to remind you to keep learning.
3. Be open. Be open to new relationships and experiences. You have no idea where an opportunity or new friend is going to come from.
4. Ask for help. Many times, you won't even have to ask. Help will just be available to you. In either case, be humble and take advantage of it.
5. Stay in your discomfort zone. It's ok to be uncomfortable. In fact, it's marvelous to be uncomfortable. In the discomfort, you stretch. You learn new things about yourself. You discover new opportunities. And it will pass. Believe me, I'm uncomfortable a lot these days.

So, welcome to fall, beautiful rebels. Feels like it's going to be a smashing year!

With rebel love,

Christina

P.S. As part of doing lots of new things this fall, I am going to be interviewed on the What's NEXT webcast with Jason Lauritsen. He's interviewing leaders who bring innovation and positive disruption to the workplace - like me! The webcast is September 5 at 1:00 ET. It will be recorded if you can't make the event live. Join here and invite your friends. They are welcome to join, too!