Ok, so I've got to be honest. I have had a nice birthday week of chilling out and relaxing. I haven't worried too much about anything. Unfortunately that included posting anything on this blog. I have had some images sitting here on my desktop from Sculpture by the Sea (which ends tomorrow). This annual event is one of my favourites. Not only does it always happen around the same time as my birthday, but it's a great event that utilizes Sydney's best asset, her natural geography. Over a hundred sculptures are publicly displayed along the Bondi to Tamarama cliff walk. The cliff walk is stunning all on it's own, but the sculptures provide extra visual interest as well as beckon SydneySiders to get themselves off of the couch and out the door. You can tell that there are heaps of people who get there and without fail think to themselves, "This is a stunning setting. I need to get out here more often." I know this because I often find myself in pockets of Sydney that I have never been or rarely visit and wonder why I don't go exploring more often.
Last night, I went with a mate to the Bicycle Film Festival at the Chauvel Theatre just up the hill from me. The feature was about a group of cyclists who decide to take on the herculean task of cycling from Cairo to Capetown along the Tour D'Afrique. Several of the people in the group were cycling neophytes. I debated the motivation in this particular section of the group. Was it an overwhelming curiosity? Or was it a passion for adventure? Perhaps it was a way of making up for a failed New Year's resolution to start going to an RPM class at their local gym. In any case, it was inspiring. Granted, I have no aspirations to traverse the same trail, but it definitely gave me the sense that I need to get outside and see more, if even in my own backyard. At first I had a sip of the bike culture kool-aid and reckoned this would require purchasing a bike, but the reality soon set in.
The fact of the matter is that I already have everything I need to get out and about. My own two feet and a decent sense of direction are two blessings I take for granted. Moreover, I have a lot of additional resources at my disposal. For instance, last year for my birthday (or maybe it was Christmas, but let's keep with the b-day theme), my colleagues at work bought me a box set of cards with walking guides around Sydney. While several of the routes mirror treks I make through town on a regular basis, a large portion of the set are trails I have yet to blaze. Over the last couple years I have heard about so many neighbourhoods and areas that are worth the visit. So what's been stopping me?
Like a lot of people, I just get too busy worrying about ticking the boxes. I need to make sure I get to work on time. I want to get to the gym a couple times a week. I personally keep meaning to get back into photography (perhaps in your case it's a different hobby or project). I have friends to catch up with. I have things I should take care of around my apartment. Et cetera, Et cetera and the list goes on. In actuality, if I took a hot minute to stop and think, I could actually cover more ground that I realize. If I simply grab my camera and walk out the door, I could get some basic exercise, take some photos along the way, AND venture off the beaten path.
It seems like a good idea, but just like new year's resolutions, or even aspirations to bike across Africa, few people see the idea through to fruition. So wish me well and watch this space.
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