Micro-exploring

Exploring the world right around you to discover yourself.

After two years of self-imposed prison at home due to you-know-what-19, people are ready to travel far and wide and give themselves the airs of voyage they used to enjoy. Say the word travel, and your mind conjures up images of airplanes, passports, and long car rides.

My life has always been lived out of a suitcase. Ever since I was born, I have been moving. I lived in 12 countries and, in between that, explored faraway lands and had non-stop adventures all around the world. It was great. I thought more was better than less until I stumbled onto a wonderful pastime by accident. It didn't even have a name - so I called it micro-exploring.

I define micro-exploring as the ever-constant exploration of the nature and geography around you within a 10-mile radius.

Many people know where they live; they can tell you their address, but ask them basic questions about the geography around them, such as "Where does this river come from? What's behind that mountain? Where does that dead-end road lead?” More often than not, you’ll get back blank answers or wild guesses. The modern world doesn't require us to know, but that doesn't mean it's natural or good.

Essentially, micro-exploring is like using a giant flying magnifying glass that floats over your house, which you can move around to explore your neighborhood, town, and the natural world all around you. I have one rule: drive time shouldn't exceed 10-15 minutes, hence the 10-mile radius. In some ways, micro-exploring is like being a kid again and not being allowed to venture farther than your bike will take you.

Some of my micro-explorations

In standard travel adventures, you go to places beyond your micro-perimeter; you look for proven destinations, famous landmarks, spectacular sights, and picturesque trails and views. You look for stuff that is worth your time and is guaranteed to make a great photo. You want to be able to say you went somewhere special. Standard travel and sightseeing usually call for an investment in money and time — a day-long affair at the very least, which must be planned out in advance. Almost everything we visit nowadays gets Googled prior to going, and we tend to visit only things that are highly rated, removing all possibilities for the healthy unknown. Micro-exploring does away with all of that.

Traveling close to home lowers your standards. Anything can become impactful; a picturesque hidden creek that feeds your local river, an old bridge in the forest, a marsh behind your house you didn't know existed, a trail that cuts through the mountain you drive through every day, an abandoned old wall, someone's beautiful garden, a view of your town you never even considered, or an old mine. A sense of wonder and satisfaction will fill you when you discover things within your micro-perimeter.

As if you were playing Minecraft, discovering your world will bring you an overwhelming sense of satisfaction and will help you feel more connected to your surroundings. 

Humans have an instinctive love of collecting, and I began to do just that with micro-discoveries. For the past few years, I've ventured out by myself or with my micro-exploring buddy and co-guide Phil every week. I've made it a non-negotiable habit. Even though we live in a tiny secluded town in the forest, we have barely begun to discover all the wonderful places around us. In retrospect, you might think that by now, I've seen everything, but that's the beauty of it - the more I explore, the more I discover the worlds behind worlds. It’s going to take me a long time to conquer my micro-world.

Occasionally we play a game where we get into the car and drive while taking turns deciding where to turn. Left, right, right, left, right, straight, right, left. We might end up in a street we never knew, finding a trail that leads to who knows where, and end up experiencing incredible mini-adventures of discovery; rare animal sightings, bird nests, old crumbling house foundations eaten by the forest, as well as finding artifacts left on the ground from 100 years ago. If we had planned it, it would have never happened. It's so simple, and the high doesn't get old.

When you don't have to travel far, you tend to look more closely around the area where you live. Unmarked trails may exist near your house that hides nature's undiscovered treasures. Getting there might require a little guesswork; you might need to visit city hall for maps or download a navigation app that shows property boundaries and trails, like Alltrails or OnXhunt. You can also ask your friends, your neighbors, and local nature lovers. Near my house is a beautiful large farm with a giant dead elm tree that I drive by almost daily. In the past year, I learned that it is on town land, so you are welcome to walk through the scenic grounds. Boom!; new micro-discovery! 

Take a step back and start mapping your micro-perimeter by opening your eyes, ears, and instincts. Visualize a 3D map you are building in your head. Look for gaps and ask questions. Micro-exploring involves hunting for secrets, and this is part of the excitement. When you begin collecting discoveries, you'll get the bug. 

To engage in micro-exploring, you don't necessarily have to live all-out in nature. A micro-exploration could also be conducted in any urban environment. Getting to know your neighborhood means walking every street, driving to every dead end, taking roads you wouldn't normally take, and visiting places out of your way but still close to you. The benefits are the same.

Through micro-exploring, I've gained a deeper understanding of the geography around me. Instead of traveling far and wide, I now explore trails, lakes, mountains, brooks, marshes, and forests all around me. My bond with nature is strong and growing every day. It's made me a better, stronger man and a more connected human to my environment.

The benefits of micro-exploring

You are never far from home. Walking up a beautiful mountain only ten minutes from my house is a beautiful experience. Even on a busy day, you can still find time for a micro-walk. 

The thrill of adventure. A sense of adventure and aliveness comes from exploring unknown territory. The parallel with life can be found in the idea that new experiences, places, and things can bring great joy to your life. The experience of escaping in a micro-adventure takes you away from life's problems and reminds you of new possibilities. In turn, this will build your confidence as you earn your adventurer's badge. You don't need to discover America again, just explore the little hill behind your house.

Stability and a sense of belonging. Micro-exploring will bond you to your land. Imagine ancient tribes and people living deep in nature. A civilization that didn't wonder and understand the land directly around their homes would seem absurd to them. A solid sense of where you are is essential to your safety. Despite how rooted you feel in your house, if you don't know the natural world around you it’s as if you are floating and your house could be anywhere. If your route is always the same, between work and home or home and the supermarket, then micro-exploring is the medicine you need. 

The more landmarks you pin on your imaginary map, the more connected you will feel to the land around you. When you drive around town, you'll be filled with the memories of all the places you've discovered, leading you to feel more centered, calm, and in control of yourself. A solid sense of balance directly around us is essential in an uncertain world.

The feeling of safety. You might be a good candidate for micro-exploring if adventure usually gives you anxiety or if you suffer from it occassionaly. You may be more willing to push your boundaries if you know you are just a few minutes away from home. Losing your way is unlikely. 

With a buddy or alone. Find a buddy who is interested in micro-exploring with you. Sometimes friendships become stale because people only meet for coffee and talk about life. The bonds that bind relationships are formed by experiences. Taking micro-adventures together is a great way to bond and share something fun that won't take too much time and is easy to organize; "Come meet me at the lake in 15 minutes and let's explore where the train tracks lead. I'll bring coffee."

Effortless implementation. On my door is an adventure bag that's always ready to go. The bag contains my old Swiss Army knife, a first-aid kit, compass, flashlight, and a poncho. It's just a matter of filling up with water and boom! As micro-exploring takes place in short bursts, I usually take snacks, coffee, a beverage, and some chocolate. In minutes, I can be out the door. Because it's a simple adventure, you'll do it more often since it's easy to implement.

Repeatability. One of the most beautiful aspects of Micro-exploring is that you are likely to repeat some of your discoveries. By visiting a trail near your house multiple times a year, you'll notice subtle differences between seasons. Fall and winter might allow you to see views you couldn't see in summer due to falling leaves, you’ll hear different birds' songs, and be able to follow animal tracks in the snow. 

Routines are good for our bodies. In general, we don’t like surprises or new things. We bond even more tightly with our home area when we walk to the same places repeatedly. Trails begin to reveal secrets within secrets and build your confidence as you explore deeper into your micro-perimeter. We sometimes forget that trails are just guides and you are free to step off the main trail to see what’s behind the boulders or go check out that little pond you can see just a .25 miles away. That is a micro-adventure.

Peacemaker. Micro-exploring is beneficial to your mental health and well-being. It will get you out of the house walking and exercising, but more than that, it will force your senses to engage in present-reality mode. Your brain has a much harder time reverting to bull-shit thinking when you are exploring something new. Consequently, you can stay focused and produce the hormones of adventure for an hour or two. 

Try it out. Let's make micro-exploring a thing! If someone asks, say you heard it here first! If you are interested in micro-exploring, you are very welcome to join us.