Adventure

Whether you're just beginning or beginning again, chase what brings you joy.

For the last several years, I’ve chosen a word at the beginning of the year to represent what I believe my focus should be. This year, I chose adventure. I’ve felt a stirring within me for a while—a longing to travel more and just be more adventurous overall. I used to travel a bit for work, but in recent years I’ve been in a different role, and travel hasn’t been as accessible.

One of the gifts of midlife is the growing awareness that our time is finite. And with that comes a renewed sense of what really matters. Psychologically speaking, it becomes high time to start crossing things off the proverbial bucket list. So, adventure it is.

I grew up deep in the mountains of Appalachia. I love those beautiful mountains, but the coast has always called to me.

Do you know what feeds your soul?

For me, it’s always been a body of water. Whether it’s the beach, lake, or river, there’s something so calming and serene about it. I feel more at peace, more spiritually attuned. It floods my soul with joy.

A few years ago, when I had the opportunity to relocate to the coastal plain of North Carolina, I jumped at the chance. Every summer since, I’ve taken my children, family, and friends on weekly adventures—discovering new places we’d never been and exploring all they have to offer.

The beauty of living in eastern North Carolina is that there are so many charming small coastal towns. It’s like always being on vacation. I love a coastal town with a cozy coffee shop and a quaint downtown. Bring a good book and a kayak, and I’m good to go.

This Week’s Adventures:

Atlantic Beach
Atlantic Beach has become a favorite of ours for day trips. Even in the summer, if you get there early, you’ll have no trouble finding parking. We love to find a spot by the Oceanana Pier so we can sit and watch the boats go by.

New Bern
Next up was New Bern. I have mad love for New Bern. Seriously—it’s so much more than a crush. New Bern checks off all of my must-haves for a soul-stirring location: artful, quaint, riverside, and serene.

There are so many inviting little spots where you can just sit for a while. On this trip, we tried something new and visited a charming waterfront restaurant, Lawson’s on the Creek. It’s your typical soup, salad, and sandwich spot, but the views are absolutely stunning. There’s also a lovely walkway that winds along the water.

Bridgeton
We decided to go a bit off the beaten path and explore Bridgeton, which is just across the river from New Bern. On this day, we found the cutest little park to sit and decompress. The views from Vernon Blades Park are simply breathtaking. I want to go back at sunset.

As we wrap up our first week of summer adventures, I want to leave you with a few thoughts:

Have you discovered what feeds your soul?

If not, I’d encourage you, no matter your age or the season you’re in, to explore that a bit. And once you do, be intentional about building those activities into your life regularly. They’re not just good for your joy; they’re good for your mental health. And let’s face it, we could all use a little boost in that department.

Until next time,

Jenn

P.S. I am always looking to expand my horizons. If you have any favorite soul-stirring locations, drop them in the comments.