Living vicariously through others and their thrilling adventures is only fun for so long—or you know, not at all sometimes. When we’re constantly seeing other people’s highlight reels displayed across social media, it can feel like everyone’s having a better time at this thing called life.
I’ve been thinking about this lately because Matt and I have been really embracing San Diego living, which is completely packed with great opportunities. Not only are we in an amazing city, it’s also just very easy at this point in our lives to get out and try new things, because we’re young and not tied down with big responsibilities—a temporary place in life we definitely don’t take for granted.
As we’ve started taking better advantage of what our location has to offer, I’ve noticed I don’t envy other people’s exciting lifestyles like I once did. In fact, I’m weirdly happy that they’re experiencing such cool things and admire their effort to make them happen.
Although we LIVE in a vacation spot, I’m very much aware that where you live doesn’t determine whether you have opportunities or not. I know what it’s like to live in a very uneventful area, believe me. I grew up in a tiny town in Illinois that’s surrounded by corn fields and doesn’t even have a stoplight. And yet, some of my fondest memories from growing up there are from visiting nearby lakes or just hanging out around campfires.
In other words: There are opportunities everywhere. Sure, sometimes it takes some extra…
- Imagination
- Traveling
- Budgeting
- Research
…but it’s always worth branching out to find things that make you feel alive.
If we ever move out of San Diego, I never want to stop “exploring my backyard.” Although life will inevitably get more complicated, and our environment may not always be this exciting, I don’t want my habit of being a homebody to prevent me from adventuring outside of the norm.
Exploring your geographic area and going on fun adventures doesn’t have to be expensive, and it doesn’t always have to be free either. My advice is to find a balance that works with your lifestyle and budget—but is interesting enough (by your own definition) to prevent you from getting jaded.
If you get frustrated when seeing other people’s action-packed lives, maybe it’s a sign you need to broaden your horizons and see what your area has to offer. If you’re anything like me, you might discover it’s been a missing piece in your life that makes every day feel more fulfilling.
What are some adventures or events you particularly love in your city?
