wandering in the Distillery District, Toronto

I would never have found the chocolate cashews if I hadn’t taken a break from a long day at a film studio to do a little wandering. It’s what I do whenever I travel (even boring old business travel) – I wander. In fact, if you follow me on Twitter, you’ll see that I call myself a “happy wanderer” in my profile.  I absolutely LOVE to wander. (I don’t just do it in travel destinations – I do it at home too whenever I have the time.)

I’ve found so many amazing things, just by wandering. I can point you to the most amazing organic Greek restaurant in Dallas with the most delightfully friendly owners (they created a unique meal for me that wasn’t on the menu, just because they liked me). I can show you where to find the best selection of affordable souvenirs that you don’t have to barter with crafty sellers for in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I could take you to a great second-hand store in Truro, Nova Scotia. I can help you find a lovely affordable hotel in Bangalore, India that’s close to the airport but doesn’t show up on any internet searches or travel agent lists.

Wandering fills my soul with delight. It also introduces me to so many new and amazing experiences. Some of those experiences – like the chocolate covered cashews – become new-found passions. Even when I return home, I look for ways of repeating and learning from the exposure.

As we begin this treasure hunt for our unique giftedness and calling, I suggest we all start by doing some wandering – of both the literal and figurative kind. You don’t have to travel to a new city to take part. You may not even need to leave the house.

You see, at its essence, wandering is all about letting our curiosity guide us. Remember how much fun it was as a child to collect interesting seashells or go on adventures down back alleys or through the bush with your friends? Let’s relive that experience and let the discovery of new things guide ourselves in the path that we should take. Let’s be kind to our in-born curiosity and find out what amazing things we discover when we trust it.

Here are some tips for our wandering adventures:

1. Find a neighbourhood in your town/city that intrigues you. Don’t just drive through it – walk or take your bike. Take time to notice the different kinds of trees, the peeling paint on the buildings – anything that catches your eye.

2. If there’s a shop that you pass by on your way to work or the grocery store that you’ve never been to, don’t just pass it by this time. Stop. Chat with the shop owner. Find the most interesting item on the shelves.

3. Try a new art form. Buy some paint, pick up your camera, start cutting images out of magazines. You don’t have to be good, you just have to TRY.

4. Ask curious questions to learn things from the people you meet. If you’re at a store and you’re intrigued by an item someone is buying, ask them what they’ll use it for. Ask your cab driver or bus driver what their favourite hobby is. Ask a friend what the hardest part of learning to dance was.

5. Keep a notebook with you and whenever a curious question pops into your head, write it down to research later. If you find an answer, jot it down.

6. Make a point of wandering down every street in your neighbourhood, even the little back alleys nobody goes down. Take a different route home every day.

7. When you’re watching TV or reading a book, pay attention to the kinds of careers or businesses people have – especially those that intrigue you. Do a Google search to find out more about them.

8. For half an hour, let yourself wander on the internet. Following intriguing links. Let your curiosity be your guide.

When you make some fun discoveries this week, keep them in your journal, and then come back here and share them with the rest of us!

Note: Speaking of wandering – I’ll be doing lots of it this week – from Grand Forks to Chicago to Cleveland to Toronto. Starting by car, I’ll switch to a train, then a bus, then an airplane, with a few taxis thrown in between. I’ll be mostly off-line but don’t worry – I’ve lined up a few goodies for you while I’m away.

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