Revive. Resurrect. Reinvigorate.
A few years back I started the out exploring back soon blog to share my European explorations during a post-doctoral fellowship in Essen, Germany. I walked the neighborhoods of Essen, from vast rehabilitated coal mining sites to social housing experiments to quaint old country villages. I traveled by train to other German cities, losing myself in antiquities museums in Berlin, Roman ruins in Trier, and Kölsch breweries in Cologne. I ventured further afield to the bicycling meccas Copenhagen and Amsterdam, Gaudi-bejeweled Barcelona, post-Industrial Revolution Manchester, and sleek Zürich. I relished the opportunities to see and learn new things, and enjoyed sharing with others via my blog.
Since returning to the US, the blog slumbered away like Rip Van Winkle. But as the Covid-19 pandemic erupted and our physical movements became restricted, I found myself in desperate need of exploration. What to do? I expanded my definition of exploring into, as Ted Lasso suggests, “Be curious.” Regardless of my location, I started to pay closer attention to many new things – even if just along my normal walking path or out my window. Birds. Trees. Lichen. Bugs. Ice. Sculptures. Nothing is ruled out.
As I savor my surroundings with renewed curiosity, I continuously find joy, wonder, and insight in places I previously overlooked. So time to wake up Rip Van Winkle… Consider out exploring back soon revived.
out exploring back soon 