Finding Joy in the Everyday

It was a weekend for unplanned adventure.

I hadn’t thought much about my Valentine’s day Weekend - a three-day span with no school, no work, and options galore - and before I knew it the weekend had come. I was driving with a new friend that morning - Matt - and we got to talking. He asked me what I was doing during the long weekend, and I responded with a typical list of over-used excuses: nonsense things like being “busy”, having “commitments”, being involved with multiple unspecific projects I needed to catch up on, and other mumbled garbage.

Matt tactfully agreed with my weak excuses, and we kept talking. As we drove, I started to learn more about his story; growing up in a country far away, living a life full of experiences I had never before heard of. He took pictures of everything - wherever he was, whatever he was doing. And he did it, not to be seen or recognized by others, but because he saw extraordinary beauty in the seemingly ordinary lives of others. He spoke of life like it was an incredible journey full of joyful, light-filled moments, and pictures were a way to document some small part of that.

I was intrigued to say the least. I asked him if he’d ever been camping, and he told me he hadn’t. I asked if he’d ever been to southern utah, to which he responded saying it was a place he had only seen in battered National Geographic magazines growing up. That wonderful, wide grin-inducing feeling filled the air, and I suggested a spontaneous camping trip. Matt didn’t hesitate for a second to say yes; after an afternoon of last minute planning and finishing up to-do’s, we were set to leave the next day.

Image: The view of the open road headed to St. George

Tomorrow came soon, and we started the drive down, ready to spend some quality time together. No other friends had decided to come with us, but that was of no worry to either of us. We were both excited for what was to come, the lure of the unknown powering us through the week’s fatigue. A few hours of driving later we pulled off the road to the trailhead, the warm sun streaming through the car windshield having put us both in a mid-day stupor. As we rounded a corner, however, the breath went out of both of our lungs. We frantically rolled down the windows and pulled off to the side as excitement filled both of our faces; it was GORGEOUS! The cool wind and beautiful view seemed to forcibly drive worried thoughts from both of our heads; nagging doubts, worries, and failures from two kids trying to find their place in life were left firmly behind as our adventure began. Matt skipped around like a child on Christmas morning, me following close behind. We breathed in the fresh air and tested out Matt’s camera. First time taking photos in Southern Utah - Check!

We camped that night, both of us with higher energy levels than ever. Matt enjoyed every minute of setting up a tent for the first time, cooking up food and rolling into our sleeping bags beneath a sky full of threatening clouds. Gratitude and excitement for a shared adventure drove any nagging doubts from our heads, and we slept soundly, lulled to sleep by the cool night air and warmed by our comfy grid fleece hoodies. When morning rolled around we both found ourselves awake early, excited for what was to come. We packed up and climbed into the frozen car, cold hands pressed to the heater and warm hearts full of gratitude for the chance to be alive. First time camping - Check!

Image: View of the sunrise from Pioneer Park

We watched the sunrise, and Matt ran from rock to rock, jumping with reckless abandon. I followed in hot pursuit, my RTP wind shell keeping my arms warm as I held our oatmeal breakfast. We laughed and whooped from the tops of the rocks as the first beams of light came over the hills, illuminating the valley in front of us. We watched as families with young kids, old grandpas with friendly beards, and people from all walks of life sat down and enjoyed a gorgeous sunrise; the red rock and shared humanity seemed to bring us together. We ate our breakfast in a hurry and hopped back into the car, eager to be on the trail. First southern Utah sunrise - Check!

Image: La Verkin Creek Trail - Kolob Canyon, Zion's National Park

Not long after, our hike had begun. We hiked, ran, stopped to explore a cave, listened to the birds, and talked about life. At times we moved fast, at times slow, focused only on following the rhythm of our surroundings. The top of my OG hat sheltered my face from the warm sun’s glaring light, illuminating a desert playground all around us. When we finally finished, at Matt’s suggestion we took a picture. Our eyes were wide open, full of excitement and the joy of a shared experience. We rolled down the windows and sang along as we drove down the canyon, belting our lungs out, so grateful to be alive. First trail run in Kolob Canyon - Check!

Image: Post hike selfie

The drive home brought another first time as we stopped to warm up at a hot spring off the side of the highway. Driving up we found a diverse collection of spontaneous people speaking all different languages and together enjoying the sensation of swimming and jumping in a good old swimming hole. We laughed, smiled, and chatted it up, just happy to be together. First swimming hole in Utah - Check!

As the car finally pulled into provo, we high-fived and shared a knowing look. It was a weekend well-lived, a shared experience that brought two people together. The questions, problems, projects, and relationships we had left behind were still waiting for us, just as daunting as they were before, but now we were different. After a weekend spent figuring out things that we felt totally unqualified to do, that difficult conversation didn’t seem so hard after all. That hard decision I needed to make suddenly didn’t seem to have such high stakes; I’d get through it, just like we had gotten through every bump and hiccup along the course of the journey. The trip had given us a fresh perspective on life, and we were ready to attack it with fresh vigor and determination.

Our trip wasn’t anything special. The largest expense was gasoline, and most of the time we made things up along the way. But for us, it meant so much more. We found that the joy of doing something new and uncomfortable brought out the best in us. Hidden talents seemed to come to light, time and time again our mindsets were reframed, and we found that gratitude and childlike excitement seemed to solve so many of the problems that seemed insurmountable when faced with an “adult” perspective.

Image: Kolob Canyon Adventuring

So wherever you find yourself in life, don’t pass up the chance to enjoy a spontaneous adventure. Maybe it looks like ditching the car and taking a bike for the commute, taking your nephew for a walk through the woods and then treating him to your favorite ice cream shop, or getting together with the people you love to do something you’ve always wanted to.

Don’t feel qualified to do it? Good. The more mistakes the better. Get messy. Take the time required to throw your perfectionism out the door and enjoy the childlike excitement of unplanned adventure. Are you comparing yourself to others' epic adventures? Sounds like a perfect time to set that old phone on the counter and enjoy the world around you.

So go do something new. Something that excites you, even if it’s a little scary. Something you’ve talked yourself out of a few too many times. Cancel your weekend plans and climb a mountain instead. Sign up for that race you’ve always wanted to do. Teach your kids how to do a handstand and roll together down a hill. Spend some quality time with your neighbor’s dog.

Maybe it’ll teach you something, change your perspective, strengthen a relationship, or help you rediscover the joy of simple living. I know it’s done that for me.

You won’t regret it; I can promise you that.

Cheers to everyday adventuring,

Gavin