The Trailhead 

Welcome to the Premier Issue!

October, 2002

From Patt Osborne, AdventureCoach.

"Climb Mountains, But Bring a Good Guide"

Each month, you will receive some practical tips on ideas such as eliminating stress, finding your passion, clearing clutter, and maybe even some travel tips and favorite recipes. Also look for helpful resources including book titles and websites. In addition, don’t be surprised when you find a call to action. I am a coach, after all! I hope you find some useful tidbits. If you decide to take me up on one of the monthly challenges, email me and tell me. I would love to hear what you are up to! And remember…the adventure begins at the start of The Trailhead!

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In this issue:

1. An Adventuresome Life

2. Top Ten for Adventure Seekers

3. Challenge at the Trailhead

4. Upcoming events

5. This month on The Trailhead Bookshelf

    I have been an adventure seeker for as far back as I can remember. When I was a child, a perfect day for me would involve scouring the woods for arrowheads or snagging some sunnies and carp on my fishing line. When winter would arrive, it would mean play-acting Sergeant Preston of the Yukon and whizzing down my snow-covered street on my sled while standing up and holding the reins.

    Throughout my teenage years and into my 20’s, an adventure might include catching the perfect wave for body surfing or hiking in the mountains with a 35lb. load on my back. As I entered my adult years, I began to mark the passing decades by undertaking more challenging adventures… skydiving one decade, bungee-jumping another 10years later. (I called that one "backward bungee" but that’s another story!).

    Throughout all those years, the common thread of my own adventures has been the link with the outdoors. For me, much of my adventuresome spirit has been tied to spending time in nature. It’s in nature where I find the greatest clarity and the most thought-provoking learning environment.

    Now that I am approaching 50, I continue to enjoy and embrace risk-taking, outdoor adventures. However, what I am also realizing is that the other adventures that invigorate and energize me include a quiet forest walk to listen to the surrounding nature sounds or even…leaving a successful teaching career of 25 years to embark on a new challenging coaching career.

The point is, what I have come to understand is that the way I define adventure these days is not only by climbing the highest mountain I can handle or kayaking on a nearby stream. To me, true adventure is seeking the thing that gets you excited when you think about it. It’s the thing that causes your heart to sing and your mind to open.

So….what does adventure mean to YOU? What is your next adventure going to be?

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    1. Try something new.

What have you always wanted to try but didn’t get to it? Play the piano? Learn a foreign language? Write a poem? Take an acting class? Schedule some time for you and make it happen.

    2. Explore your world.

Visit another country. Check out an unknown part of your state, nearby city, or even your own neighborhood. Become an armchair traveler by paging through a favorite travel book or magazine in case the time is not right for exploration.

    3. Escape to the outdoors.

Take a walk in the woods. Sleep under the stars. Or simply sit on your stoop, porch or deck for quiet contemplation. 

    4. Do something scary.

Say no to a parent. Give a speech. Consider another career. Ask for a raise. Turn down an invitation to an upcoming event that you don’t wish to attend…with no excuses!

    5. Venture out alone.

Take yourself on a date. Have a great meal in a new restaurant. See an uplifting movie. Go to a play or a museum. Taking purposeful alone time often helps to bring focus or clarity to an issue that you may have put on the backburner.

    6. Experience the rush.

Climb a mountain. Raft down a river. Ride a roller coaster. Zoom down a hill on your bike.

    7. Spend time with a child.

Children are great teachers of adventure. Play kickball or hide n’ seek. Read a book together. Talk (and listen!)

    8. Discover a food you have never eaten.

Pakoras (Indian vegetable fritters) Cha gio (Vietnamese spring rolls) Doro tibs (Ethiopian grilled chicken) Check out an ethnic restaurant in your town or city.

    9. Unschedule yourself.

Try it for one day a week or one day a month. See what comes up for you when you have a full day with no plans. Leave room for the unexpected.

    10. Say YES…

Yes to change, yes to adventure, yes to yourself.

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*What will YOU do to experience a new adventure in your life? Maybe it's a change in attitude? Maybe it's something concrete? Choose something from the top ten list or come up with your own action. (I'm guessing that if you have read this far,you already have an idea simmering!) Tell someone about it...that will help keep the momentum going. Keep me posted! I would love to hear what you're doing.

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 A Virgin Islands Coaching Adventure

 New Group Coaching Workshop

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Life is either a daring adventure or it is nothing. ~ Helen Keller

And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight inside the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. ~ Anais Nin

It is only in adventure that some people succeed in knowing themselves-in finding themselves. ~ Andre’ Gide

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This month on The Trailhead Bookshelf:

By Bill Bryson

By Linda Greenlaw

By Joan Andersen

By Rosamond Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander

And here’s a cool website if you’re looking for an outdoor venture:

www.outwardbound.com

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Thanks for reading! Hope you have a great Fall!

Warm wishes,

Patt

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