“As an explorer, your body needs to be ready.”

Crouching in the edge of a vast crop field, I write this in my notebook as I struggle to catch my breath. I just had the brilliant idea of running down the valley and up again to the other side. I can’t quite stop yet, or I’ll miss the sunset. To my left, crowning a little hill, I recognize the two trees I spotted in the distance before. They look much closer now – it should be a matter of minutes to get there.

“Let’s go”

As I run south through the fields, I find I now have a much better view of the city. Gazing across the valley, it takes me a couple of seconds to find the point where I started, but when I do, I see a couple of my friends waving in the distance. After a brief stop to wave back, I’m on my way again.

By the time I reach the top of the hill, I can see an uninterrupted panorama – a sunset in all directions.

Totally worth that stitch. Drained, I sit down under one of the trees.

“It is painful to explore the unknown, both physically, and emotionally. Going out of the realm of what we know does have a cost, but it is ultimately rewarding. More than anything else.”

Exploring is the way we have of finding new horizons, of expanding our reality.

Sometimes, getting lost is the best thing you can do.