Pausing for a Little Solo Adventure

And Making the Most of the Journey

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

I love adventure. Not so much racing through rapids or caving into the depths of the earth anymore — although I’d probably still be up for this with the right company, just want to cry. For me, adventure is being uncomfortable in new settings: sitting on a train with strangers, arriving in a place I’ve never been by myself, watching the magnificence of nature intersect with the absurdity—and more often, the kindness—of people.

There’s a freedom in it: the simple things, the deep conversations with people you’ve just met, the time away, and then the return—when everything has been missed dearly and the small and familiar things feel special.

The second book in the “The Pack” series has been drafted, and redrafted. I had a tentative schedule, and then that went out the window with work stuff that came up and now I’m re-thinking. It’s okay, though. Writing, for me, starts with the thinking and is a lot of thinking. When I’m out on dog walks, or on a drive, or sitting in the sauna, I don’t feel time away from the page is wasted. It’s part of the process.

These days, I’m more content with the process in general. I’m happy at this pace. An ex-boss who was in town recently even said I seemed more “Zen.” I know I am. Looking at what’s on my plate—literally with proper food, and figuratively by not looking around at what everyone else is doing or thinking about what I don’t have. I look at the year rather than the week when I’m balancing what matters. I make sure I have time for all my curiosities.

I used to feel pressure to narrow in on one thing—school pushes you that way as you specialise, and we’re used to seeing people defined by a single talent. For me, it’s different. I liked science and art. I like making music and listening to it. I was born into one culture with another heritage culture prominent, now live and am part of another. I get bored, and I think in life it should be encouraged to try things fully. If you don’t like them, you can move on. We’re complex and multidimensional and also don’t have to be experts to enjoy something.

That doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy the slow progress that comes with repetition and practice. On the contrary—I know breaks and variety bring me back to focus. We all learn differently. We’re shaped by our environments and by the grey matter inside us, constantly evolving. It’s natural to move, adapt, and want change. Essential, even.

I like moving forwards. Looking back is useful only to know what to avoid—like glancing in a rearview mirror. Something may need attention, but ultimately time takes us forward and we grow into whatever we dream we can be.

So my second story is on pause. My editor and I are catching up this month on the Kickstarter launch video, and with the rewards almost finished, I think I’ll be able to set up the book launch sometime this year for the first one in the series.

In the meantime, I love that I have other parts of the journey making the ride enjoyable. Right now, I’m on a train heading into the Japanese countryside for a residency with a 19th-generation potter—and everything else can wait until I’m back.

View from my window.

Thanks for reading x