Back in April, which seems like a hundred years ago, I set up a challenge for myself: to engage in and document 20 microadventures over the course of 21 weeks, from May 1 through September 30.
I’d said, ” The definition of microadventure will be forgiving, but this is the gist of it: all of my microadventures should incorporate some combination of exploration, creativity, novelty, outdoors and/or joyfulness. Where possible, microadventures should also be intentional, but because I also love whimsy and serendipity, I’ll not hold too fast to this ideal. And “documenting” can be as grand as a blog or instagram post, or as simple as adding it to the list. Photos are encouraged but not mandatory.”
I chose to do this for a couple of reasons. First, because I love a challenge in the form of a project. Second, because I wanted to motivate myself to say “yes” more often, nudging myself gently and occasionally out of my comfort zone. Third, because I love the thrill of an adventure, but big adventures are stressful and expensive. Micro-adventures have the beauty of being neither but still providing the precious dopamine hit. And finally, because I want to seek more opportunities to invite joy into my life. Joy doesn’t always find you – sometimes, you have to manufacture opportunities to find it.
I love the spectrum of microadventures I had. I went on road trips with various members of my family (and ended up visiting 3 of the 5 Great Lakes), and attended a couple of excellent concerts. I took workshops and delivered workshops. I wrote a book about How to Wrap Rocks, and then it became a bestseller on Etsy! I took a couple of day trips and explored the world from my kayak. I volunteered and spent a morning working at a farmer’s market. And I learned some fun new art techniques and hobbies.
I didn’t document every single one of them, but most got at least a photo on my Instagram stories, and I wrote up a few with full blog posts. Despite my inveterate storyteller’s nature, I am learning that I don’t have to narrate EVERY aspect of my life. Here is the full list of completed microadventures:
#1 – Exploring the disappearing highway near the Lost Villages of the St Lawrence Seaway
#2 – Kayaking Steven’s Creek
#3 – Gathering treasures at McHaffie’s flea market
#4 – Rock and mineral collecting at the beryl pit mine near Quadville
#5 – Exploring the Plateau neighbourhood of Montreal, including St Viateur bagels and poutine at La Banquiste, and an airport arrivals pick-up at YUL
#6 – Experimenting with cyanotypes
#7 – I published my book about How to Wrap Rocks (okay, that’s on the border between a micro and macro adventure, but I sure learned a lot and stepped outside my comfort zone!)
#8 – Being a vendor at Manotick’s Dickinson Days craft show
#9 – Kayaking through the Rideau Canal locks at the Long Island Lock Station
#10 – Attending a Briston Maroney concert in Toronto with Simon
#11 – A four-day family getaway to explore Lake Superior and Manitoulin Island (featuring rocks!)
#12 – Green Day at the Ottawa Bluesfest
#13 – A few days at a B&B on Lake Huron with my mom
#14 – Cyanotype and felting workshop with Fiona Duffy
#15 – Shakespeare in the park with A Company of Fools
#16 – Working at the Barrhaven Farmers’ Market with VegHead Farms
#17 – My first podcast appearance: Unboxing It with Rowan and Lara
#18 – Taking a lapidary workshop and learning to make cabochons
#19 – Seeing Indigo Girls in concert
#20 – Facilitating my first rock wrapping and weaving workshop
#21 – Volunteering at the OLMC rock and gem show
Would I have done all of these things without the framework of the challenge? Maybe. But I love the theme when I look at them as a whole: that I succeeded in my goal of learning to say yes more often. And that small adventures can be just as satisfying as big, expensive ones.
I think I’ll give myself permission to have fewer microadventures over the course of the fall and winter months. Maybe a different sort of adventures, just to break up my tendency to want to hibernate. But I’ll keep pushing my boundaries and stay on this curve. I like it out here!
Stay tuned for the next series, the Summer 2026 Microadventure Challenge!