Go Ahead and Buy a Backpack for an Adventure of a Lifetime!

November 15, 2014 Off By Donna Wuerch

Yesterday, TBT, I posted about a trip to Malmo, Sweden my husband won for us. As I posted the photos, I saw this one, and what a sweet memory it brought back to me. Can you see the backpacks we had on? First, let me tell you what an oxymoron that is. Ron Wuerch wearing a backpack and being spontaneous was unthinkable. His was a Type-A personality which meant he was a list-maker, an itinerary-follower, and a do-it-by-the-book leader. Rarely, if ever, did we just fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants. We knew where we were going, what time we would get there, what hotels we would stay en-route, and, what restaurants we would eat at.

But this time was different. We were still in shock and awe! We kept having to pinch ourselves that one day we were in Tulsa, OK and the next day in Europe — all because of an incredible surprise blessing.

On the second day we were there, we ventured out by taking a high-speed train from Malmo to Copenhagen, Denmark! That spontaneous adventure made way for some more out-of-the-box thinking. We were so close to Germany, but attempting that trip would be a big stretch for us — a lot of effort, embarking on the unknown, figuring out transportation, eating, sleeping and getting back on time for the Solheim Cup when it would start on Thursday. But, now, we felt empowered. We had made it to Denmark and back just fine, and took in so much beauty and history there, why not take this whole adventuring thing to a whole new level?

We became determined to squeeze everything we could out of this blessing. We bought backpacks for a change of clothes for our adventure. We felt like two kids that were leaving home and didn’t know where we’d end up, but, oh, how fun and exhilerating it was for both of us. We laughed at ourselves when we walked by the windows of storefronts and saw our images with those back-packs on. Very little English was spoken, so we bought a “German” language book before heading out. That helped us find the taxi and the train, and what place to exit from the train, then to find the Berlin Wall, then to direct our bike-mo-bile driver where to go. We had the time of our lives! We were so good-exhausted when we got back to Malmo, but absolutely overcome with the joy of the victories we won by letting go of the status quo.

Yes, this was one of the sweetest memories I hold onto — one of those “live with no regrets” times. Easier, less stress, less concern, and more rest — would have been to stay close to the Malmo, Sweden Hotel — but then we would have never had the grandest time of our lives.

What could you be missing in your life if you would just be willing to let go of “routine” and “comfort” and that “comfy chair” and “remote control”?

Perhaps there’s a surprise coming into your life — an experience that could alter your life, your personality and your FUN — I urge you to go ahead and buy that backpack — you could be in store for an ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME! Live with no regrets!