Grow a pair...

I came across an online article the other day which prompted me to reflect upon my approach to life. The article is titled, "10 Ways to be More Interesting". Whilst the title seems a bit 'misleading' (reflecting on who you're making life more interesting 'for'), I felt that it was worth sharing.

On days like today when I have a 'to do' list that seems impossibly long, I wonder how on earth I'm going to get through it all in a day. Why do I always seem to take on so much and how is it that I am rarely bored or looking for something to do... and why can't I enjoy a mojito and a beach holiday like normal people? (ok, I do enjoy the occasional mojito from time to time!) Through a constant desire to explore the unknown, to push myself to the ultimate limit, to share my discoveries, to have a go at the impossible and, by embracing my 'quirks', I have set out on journey after journey and have opened myself up to countless opportunities - some have turned out well, some have taken unexpected divergences, some have been 'character building',  and some I'd rather forget..! I love to write and share my experiences both through my writing, through client-work, through telling stories and laughing at myself and the rather random situations that I get myself into (see notes on 'embracing your innate wierdness!')

These experiences and the people that I've met along the way have enriched my life and have made life more interesting to 'myself'. I hope that I have been able to impact others in the same way. I genuinely believe that if you focus on simply making your life more interesting to yourself, you’ll enjoy life more and odds are that others will find what you do interesting (although, sometimes mad!) as well.

And if they don’t…who cares as long as you’re happy? ;-)

How To Be More Interesting (In 10 Simple Steps)

By: Jessica Hagy

1.Go exploring.

Explore ideas, places, and opinions. The inside of the echo chamber is where all the boring people hang out

2. Share what you discover.

And be generous when you do. Not everybody went exploring with you. Let them live vicariously through your adventures.

3. Do something. Anything. 

Dance. Talk. Build. Network. Play. Help. Create. It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you’re doing it. Sitting around and complaining is not an acceptable form of ‘something,’ in case you were wondering.

4. Embrace your innate weirdness.

No one is normal. Everyone has quirks and insights unique to themselves. Don’t hide these things—they are what make you interesting.

5. Have a cause.

If you don’t give a damn about anything, no one will give a damn about you.

6. Minimize the swagger.

Egos get in the way of ideas. If your arrogance is more obvious than your expertise, you are someone other people avoid.

7. Give it a shot.

Try it out. Play around with a new idea. Do something strange. If you never leave your comfort zone, you won’t grow.

8. Hop off the bandwagon.

If everyone else is doing it, you’re already late to the party.  Do your own thing, and others will hop onto the spiffy wagon you built yourself. Besides, it’s more fun to drive than it is to get pulled around.

9. Grow a pair.

Bravery is needed to have contrary opinions and to take unexpected paths. If you’re not courageous, you’re going to be hanging around the water cooler, talking about the guy who actually is.

10. Ignore the scolds.

Boring is safe, and you will be told to behave yourself. The scolds could have, would have, should have. But they didn’t. And they resent you for your adventures.

On the rather unexpectedly chilly summit of Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

White water rafting on the Bhote Kosi River, Nepal

Trying to put up a tent somewhere in Canada