I am looking to be more adventurous this year. It was a eureka moment in September last year that sent me down the road of querying where my courage, my "adventuresome" attitude had gone... and yes I am sure adventuresome is a word. If it isn't I am claiming it as my own.
In fact, that is what I am doing this year, claiming my life back. Getting back on track so to speak...
Last September 2025, I took myself off to Peebles Hydro for 2 days of birthday indulgence, on my onesome! It just took a little courage to arrange the stay and a lot of bravado to drive there. New car, unfamiliar road and unknown destination all combined to challenge the grey cells and the associated emotional muscle.
Now 4 months later, I have been gifted a challenge to share two of my poems in an open mic night on the 31st of January... and am intending to keep challenging myself one way or another on a monthly basis.
Embracing courage/ il coraggio, however I prefer con cuore/with heart, as we Italians would say, is the way to go. Emotional muscle can atrophy just like any other muscle that doesn't get used. We need to exercise it regularly.
In fact, Andy and I used to use our many trips abroad to expand our comfort zones and experience adventures that exercised our emotional muscles greatly. Like going to Sicily for Capodanno, that's New Year of course, and getting stranded in a blizzard on Mount Etna on New Years Eve with a bus load of Russians.
Never mind the frequent trips to Italy sharing our driving adventures of getting lost, driving the wrong way on one way streets and my own particular favourite of driving along a pedestrian thorough fare.
Some of you will remember that last one.
Rest assured, folks I am not repeating the jumping out a plane adventure but I am going to embark on train travel across Europe and visit many places that will be new to me.
buon viaggio a tutti, con affetto e coraggio
Eileen
p.s. We were rescued by a snow plough from Mount Etna, when the bus slewed off the road. That was indeed scary but not as scary as the guests in the hotel at Capodanno. Andy and I were sure the Mafia were there in force!
