26. Plan An Adventure

So a while back, I mentioned my camping adventure in the Berkshires. My friends and I had so much fun and the weather managed to hold up so we were able to hike and swim in the lake and spend time outdoors. I haven't laughed that hard in a while. I love these girls. They are the three other sides to my square, the ones that get me, the ones that will tell me the truth...even if it stings. They make me laugh and allow me to cry. And they inspire me to have all kinds of adventures. With them, I've been to Miami and Boston, had amazing spa treatments and danced all night. I've gone to museums in Philadelphia and New York. Done sleep away camp as a teenager. Been to yummy restaurants like Cookshop and Noble American Cookery. I've hiked up and down a giant mountain speckled with boulders, insects and mud. With them, I've sung show tunes at the top of my lungs and walked down wedding aisles. I've spent single Valentine's Day nights with them sharing food and hanging paintings. I've confided my deepest secrets, admitted my most vulnerable thoughts and shared my biggest dreams. We talk about our relationships--the good, the bad and the dysfunctional and we are honest with each other no matter what. We've discussed bikini waxing, vomit and bowel movements...yes, seriously...in no particular order and none of them only once. 

Shiny sequined lake in the Berkshires

When you feel this comfortable with a group of people, it's hard not to have adventures. Everything you do becomes an adventure. Before we even left our campsite, we talked about what was next on the horizon for us--where do we want to go? When can we all get together? What kinds of things would we want to do? We thought of New Orleans, Las Vegas, Paris, or the Caribbean. Nothing solid got planned but we are in talks to do something soon. And I find that just knowing that there's an adventure on the horizon makes me happy. Looking forward to a vacation, a party, or a get-together can sustain you through tough work days, a cold winter or hard times. If you're feeling like things are getting stagnant or you're wishing you were somewhere else right this minute, then take some time to plan an adventure. Whether it's this weekend or next year, if you have something out there to look forward to, your days will be filled with hopeful anticipation. Take a little time to imagine what you want your next adventure to look like and then plan it. Write out the steps you need to take to make it a reality--saving up some cash, looking online for the best travel deals, strategizing how to get a group of friends in the same place at the same time. Then take the first step on your list. Pretty soon, you'll be on your way to a fantastic adventure and really amazing memories.

Four chairs for the four musketeers

Me and Rachel during our hike

The reward at the end of our hike

The foursome