When you dream of your bucket list, you usually dream big, which is great! You may have Pinterest boards with photos like the one above that are dedicated to all the places in the world you would like to see during your lifetime. We encourage you to save up to see those places, but in the meantime don't neglect "traveling" around your hometown or places that are closer to home.
While you might not be immersed in a new culture by checking out your local aquarium or going to a farmers' market a city over from where you live, you will experience something new and break from your usual routine, making your day-to-day life more exciting while you're saving up for those bigger once-in-a-lifetime trips. In some cases you may even feel like you've taken a trip somewhere far away because you're in a new environment, having to find your way on new streets and learn new customs just like you would in a new state or country. You'll meet people outside of your normal circle and may even find a new favorite place to buy produce or a new favorite relaxation spot. The possibilities are endless, and the act of stepping out to explore alone can set off a chain reaction in your brain that sets you up to be open to new opportunities. If you feel like you're in a rut, living a closed-in life in which nothing ever changes, you're not likely to jump at a new, scary opportunity that is offered to you. However, if you're in the habit of pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone and trying new things, you're more likely to be open to new challenges that pop up in your "normal" life.
Want to explore but not sure where to start? Check out websites like Living Social and Groupon to find discount tickets to local attractions and discover unusual ones that you may not have even known existed. (We did this in Florida, for instance, and ended up on an airboat tour through the Everglades!) Look through Meetup.com for groups designed to explore your city if you'd like to take this challenge on with other people. If you live in a smaller town or don't want to use these avenues, simply do a Google search for "things to do in (your city)" or look for event listings in your local paper or even just ask around. Go into an athletic store and ask an employee for recommendations about local hiking trails or ask friends and family members about their favorite spots to visit.
So, what are you going to do this weekend?
Kathleen Ellerie is a Licensed Acupuncturist and the owner of Beachside Community Acupuncture. She loves providing affordable acupuncture to the residents of Addison, Dallas, and Farmers Branch, Texas, and educating the general public on how acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine can treat everything from pain to infertility to stress and beyond. Click "Book Now" at the top of this page to book an appointment or feel free to contact her at (214) 417-2260.
