Do you ever feel like you need a new perspective? Something energizing, exciting, refreshing. Ways to add variety to your day? Something that takes you away from the day-to-day grind and adds a little variety to your life, if only for a second?
You know the drill. Wake up, get ready for the day, get your littles ready for the day, go about your day, come home at the end of the day, get everyone fed, go to bed at the end of the day and wake up to do it all over again.
Don’t get me wrong, routines are great. I’m the type of person who appreciates routine. It’s consistent. It’s comfortable. Yet lately, I was seeking adventure, inspiration and one of those you-only-live-once moments. I was searching for experiences that would create new, refreshing perspectives.
So I took a plane ride.
Not just any plane ride. An aerial tour of my hometown.
I have the pleasure of being involved with a phenomenal group of state-wide catalysts who regularly gather to connect, think big, dream and grow. As part of this network, we each host gatherings in our communities, offering us each a chance to explore our state and showcase our cities.
For our first gathering, we had the honor of hosting and we wanted to provide an exceptional experience for our fellow catalysts. One that would offer new perspectives on their own hopes and dreams. One they would never forget.
We didn’t just plan a tour of our community to showcase our great destinations. We planned an aerial tour to illustrate the sky is the limit when it comes to our dreams and what we can achieve.
I’m not the biggest fan of planes but there was no way I was missing this. Not just because I was the one who arranged the flight, but this was an opportunity for the adventure I was seeking. It’s not everyday I get on a plane and I had never been in a little Cessna 180 before. Plus, how many people can say they’ve had an aerial tour of their rural Nebraska hometown?
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Once we were up in the air and in the midst of my mindful breathing techniques to help me focus on the views rather than my motion sickness, I captured some great photos with my Nikon D3300 that I’ll cherish forever. These spectacular views provided me with new insights on potential, purpose and adventure – for my community and for myself.
The winding river became the veins of the North Loup River Valley, pumping a fresh flow of life into the landscape.
The aerial view of the residential areas and downtown district was a reminder of the diversity, hustling and innovation that occurs each day in our rural community – that local residents, business owners and volunteers choose to live their day-to-day lives in the heart of Nebraska.
The view of the Reservoir was a reminder that our humanly view from the ground is just one small viewpoint in relation to the breadth, awe and beauty of this world.
New perspectives. Perspectives I didn’t often stop to consider on a day-to-day basis. They filled my cup and gave me a renewed energy to enjoy the day-to-day normalcy of everyday life and to keep striving for my dreams that I know I have the potential to achieve.
Do you have to jump on a plane to add variety to your day-to-day normalcy? Absolutely not. Unless that really lights your fire, then by all means go for a plane ride. Heck, jump on a plane and go skydiving if that’s your style.
There are other simple actions you can take in the midst of your routines.
13 ways to add variety to your day
- Order something other than “the usual” from your favorite restaurant
- Embark on an unplanned weekend adventure
- Get together with a group of friends that inspire you to think and dream big
- Wear that sparkly top that you typically disregard for being too flashy
- Take a brisk walk during your lunch hour
- Take the kids to a new park or playground (they’ll love the adventure too)
- Read a book from a new genre
- Get up and outside early enough to watch the sunrise
- Work in a new atmosphere, like the local coffee shop, for the morning
- Bake something you’ve never baked before
- Try a new recipe for supper (like this Cheeseburger Chowder or Smoked Pork Pizza)
- Turn your weekend lunch into an outdoor picnic
- Take a new route to work
Ask yourself, “How can I add some variety today?” Then go for it! You may discover some fresh perspectives in the midst of your everyday life.
What’s your favorite way to add variety to a regular day?
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