Tag: Advanture

Eri Ikezawa (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

In my opinion, one of the most underrated skills amongst family, friends, partners and colleagues is the art of active listening. Assuming we are not hearing impaired in any way, we are all blessed with the sense of hearing our surroundings to some degree; however, there are many people who only do so passively — without intentioned, active listening. 

I think people truly underestimate how purposefully listening to one’s peers can really foster genuine relationships — just as we appreciate when others show unmitigated attentiveness in the events and interests of our lives, they do as well. 

As someone who truly does her very best to demonstrate active listening for whomever my interlocutor is, I am so sincerely appreciative for those who do the same for me. And alternatively, I find it frustrating and disheartening when people don’t reciprocate the gesture. 

Of course, as with most things, there are certainly caveats to this. For example, I don’t necessarily mind driving the conversation through the vehicle of inquiry and questioning when it comes to people whom I am not close with. In these cases, I find it alleviates social anxiety and concern that the conversation will revert to me, and I will feel pressured to share something with someone whom I don’t necessarily feel comfortable with. But it does feel like a one-way street when I invest effort and time into listening to people whom I care for and find they do not reciprocate. 

To ensure I remain pragmatic and fair, I must remind myself that, at any given time, it is entirely impossible to quantify the acts of love we demonstrate for others into a perfect 50/50 split. We cannot enlist the use of arithmetic measurement tools or high-tech scales to gauge how to perfectly slice the cake of affection into two halves — not to mention that, depending on the circumstances of each person’s life, one person might need more support than the other at any given time. 

Multiple times throughout my life, I have found myself battling frustration at feeling unheard. Imagine gritting your teeth, fighting the urge to scream over the sounds of clashing swords, the edge of each warrior’s blades gnashing together as they attempt to slash the other person open. It’s like verbal bile building up in your throat, combatting your desire to just bluntly ask, “Is it so hard to listen to me, and not just feel obligated to hear what I am uttering, especially when it feels like a chance to relate the conversation back to yourself and your opinion?” 

In other words, “Why won’t you try to listen to the heart, content and intention of my words?”

And truth be told, I find great joy and happiness in being able to support the people around me. I enjoy listening to people, meticulously prodding around their brain to figure out what makes them tick, and then applying new knowledge through the lens of someone else’s experiences to my own life in the future. But I have grown to realize that sometimes the wrong people do not appreciate this and take advantage of it. 

Despite all this, it is vital to attempt to see things in the perspective of someone else. I empathize that sometimes these people with whom I grow frustrated are not acting maliciously — perhaps they truly need guidance, support and love. And perhaps by listening, I am providing a panacea for whatever aches and pains ail their hearts. 

And these are all explanations for behavior, but they are not justifications for me to burn myself out at the expense of someone else. It is not that I am not compassionate to their struggles, or that I am choosing to be callously indifferent; it is simply that I am not an infinite resource of emotional energy, and I can only use my limited resource of buttresses to prop up people who will scaffold me when I need them as well. Otherwise, I will be expending my own personal capital whilst simultaneously burning the candle at both ends. 

It’s also important for me to note that I don’t condescend or patronize anyone else for being at a different stage in life than I am. But sometimes, while we are walking briskly ahead to our future aspirations, others are ambling behind, anchored by personal demons they need to defeat first. It is not about abandoning people at their lowest, it is about choosing yourself. And sometimes, you really do have to prioritize yourself and your mental health. 

And in turn, this has happened to me before too. There was a point in my life where my poor decisions and communication skills — coupled with my undiagnosed depression and anxiety — turned me into an unreliable person, unable to sustain long-lasting friendships. And there was a point where I desperately wanted to make amends with a friend whom I had wronged and turned my back on. 

And they refused. 

They were kind and direct, and open about their reasoning, but back when I was a walking pity party with an incredible lack of accountability, I simply couldn’t understand their decision. I thought it to be cruel and unforgiving of them to be so unbudging. 

But hindsight is, as they say, 20/20. 

Given where I am now and how I perceive the world, I have realized that there will be times where I must make the hard decision in order to improve the circumstances of my own life. Sometimes, when I face a fork in the road, I will actively have to choose people who will consider me and my feelings as well as their own. And that doesn’t make me selfish. 

The thing with listening to people — truly absorbing their anecdotes and angles like a plant seeks out sunlight during photosynthesis — is that there is so much we can imbue through their experiences and perspectives. Even now, when I struggle with my overzealous excitement to respond to someone before hearing them out in full, I remind myself how important it is to me to be heard. 

And I stop to listen. 

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My name is Eri Ikezawa and I have an extended minor in psychology and a major in linguistics. I’m still on the path to quelling questions about myself and the direction I want to head in, but in the meantime, I have always wanted to find a way to help others and contribute to a community dedicated to personal development and self-love.

Ignacia Riquelme, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

During our lives, we often encounter various “in-between times,” and sometimes these periods can be frustrating. We may lack a sense of adventure in our present circumstances or feel stuck while anxiously awaiting the next exciting thing to happen to us. It is in these moments that we often waste a significant amount of time, constantly fixating on the future, forgetting to appreciate the tranquility of the present day and overlooking new opportunities. Consequently, many of us end up squandering our lives while waiting for the next big thing.

The magical thing about adventure is that it can happen at any time. So, my advice to you is to keep an open mind and embrace the in-between times.

If you are planning a trip to somewhere new, it’s important to prepare yourself. Read about the place and familiarize yourself with some aspects of its culture. If people at your destination speak a language that you don’t know, try to learn a few basic phrases. If the local cuisine differs significantly from what you’re accustomed to, consider finding a restaurant near your home that serves food from the country you’ll be visiting. Additionally, check the weather forecast and plan your outfits accordingly. Making a list of the things you want to do can also be helpful. By taking these simple steps, you can ensure that your journey is filled with excitement and new experiences, helping you break free from the monotonous routine.

Also, you don’t need to go far to find new adventures; you can always discover new things to do in your surroundings. Take the opportunity to re-discover your city, learn new skills or hobbies, and plan activities with your friends that you don’t typically do. For example, if your group usually meets up at a café to chat, consider going hiking instead. By immersing a group of people in an unconventional setting, you create new types of interactions and have the chance to learn more about both others and yourself. If everything goes as planned, you’ll have a new activity to enjoy. And even if something goes awry, you’ll have a new anecdote to share.

And most importantly, don’t forget to prioritize rest and actually take the time for it. We often find ourselves constantly rushing, neglecting to appreciate the present moment and the experiences we have already had in the past. Ultimately, we are human beings, and part of being human is recognizing when we need to rest.

Take care of yourself and cherish the peaceful moments in life.

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Roma Jani (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

In a world full of constant noise and everlasting motion, it is easy to get carried away in the chaos of our daily lives. However, amidst the hustle and bustle, there is incredible value in finding solace in the quiet times during our adventures. Whether it is exploring the great outdoors, embarking on a soul-searching journey or simply taking a moment of stillness in a bustling city, these serene moments allow us to reconnect with ourselves, nature and the essence of our experiences. Let us delve into the art of appreciating the quiet times and discover how they can enhance our adventures in unimaginable ways.

 

I, personally, define quiet time as time in absence of excess noise. It is the time of the day when I am surrounded by tranquility, nature or music, and my thoughts. Although it is crucial to spend time with yourself, quietness is often perceived as boringness or loneliness. It is often seen as a scary atmosphere where one is left alone with their own thoughts. However, there is a great deal of benefit in spending some time in silence and stillness regularly. It helps us understand our thoughts, encourages personal growth and brings balance to life.

 

There are many mental and emotional benefits to quiet time. Firstly, it allows time for self-reflection and self-awareness. Secondly, it is a great source of stress reduction and relaxation. Lastly, it enhances creativity and problem-solving abilities. Spending a few minutes each morning or taking a day off every week to spend time with yourself to do the activities that you enjoy in nature or other quiet areas, you can not only reflect on your actions, but also become aware of your personality, discover your strengths and understand your flaws. Finding peace in quietness also helps you develop listening skills and deepen connections with yourself and others without any distractions. M. Scott Peck, author of the book The Road Less Traveled, said, “You cannot truly listen to anyone and do anything else at the same time.” Thus, being in quietness also promotes quality conversations that nurture relationships, whether they are with yourself or others. Also, finding solace in natural environments, like grass, fresh breeze and the waves of water playing with the cold wind, can really promote mindfulness and one’s ability to be in the present moment. 

 

In the journey of self-discovery, embracing solitude and playing in silence are the first steps. As silence makes its way from the external surroundings to your internal mind, it opens doors to introspection and self-reflection. Usually, self-reflection is perceived as negative and scary, but as Sirius Black famously said in the movie Harry Potter, “We’ve all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That’s who we really are.” Thus, self-examination is the key to personal growth, and it can truly bloom in solitude and quietness. Spending time in solitude is a form of self-care. 

 

Applying some practical strategies can help you appreciate the quiet times, embrace solitude and become confident in yourself. Carve out dedicated quiet moments in daily routines, whether it is during early morning, a midday break or a night routine. Create a peaceful environment at home or work. To do so, tackle these senses of a human body – touch, smell and sight. Place items in your surroundings that are peaceful to look at. Light incense or a diffuser with some natural ingredients from the kitchen or an essential oil. Walk barefoot on grass or dip them in water. Moreover, engage in activities that promote stillness and tranquility, such as reading, journaling or meditating. Engage in hobbies or artistic pursuits that will bring you closer to your core values and beliefs. 

 

We are surrounded by too many distractions nowadays. We have all manner of social media apps, the ability to spend money and multiple subscriptions for online television, all at the tip of the finger. As fun as they all are, they have also instilled a fear of missing out in us. There is an immense amount of societal pressure on us, from all directions. Therefore, it is even more important to not only set boundaries for these distractions, but also create space for quiet times. Spending time alone, observing people and sipping a cup of coffee by yourself is a considered a unique activity, as everyone else is trying to fit in the mold that society has created. Striving for a balanced lifestyle with both active and quiet moments will open the doors to an excellent quality of life.

 

In conclusion, it is more necessary than ever to have, enjoy and appreciate quiet times. It is an ingredient for a healthy relationship with yourself and others, personal growth, and a balanced life. Aggressively seek and embrace stillness and tranquility. Do not feel bad for saying no to a friend’s event. Do not feel guilty about solitude in your day. Do not feel ashamed of being lonely and away from social media. Human beings are social animals, yes but we are best suited for quality, in-person quality meetings. So, the next time you make a spreadsheet for a vacation, make sure to give yourself at least a few moments for some quiet time, nature and stillness.

 

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My name is Roma. Writing is my passion and I hope to reach people’s hearts and make an impact via my words. I am a promoter of improving mental health, being compassionate, giving healthy space, understanding different love languages and ensuring quality lifestyles for everyone sharing the planet. I hope I was able to connect with you, the reader, through this blog post.

Elizaveta Garifullina (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

Pushing your comfort zone is always beneficial. And no, I’m not asking you to get up at five in the morning, go for a run and then take an ice shower. This is about something else.

If we want to grow and develop, we need to go outside of our comfort zone sometimes. We feel safe in our comfort zone because we always know what to expect. For example, our comfort zone may be communication only with people we already know well. Of course, this gives us a sense of security and stability. But this way, we will never get to know new people, interesting personalities and those who could have been intended for us.

I like to imagine the comfort zone as a swamp. Our mind would rather choose its native swamp than a beautiful palace, simply because it has never encountered a palace, and the native swamp is more familiar and calmer. Our mind will do everything to protect us from a new experience, because it may be painful.

Going outside your comfort zone is sometimes scary and often uncomfortable, but it is worth it. When you step out of your comfort zone, you open yourself up to new experiences, people, places, challenges and opportunities. When you come out of your swamp, life begins to spin magically. But, of course, it will always be calmer and more familiar in the swamp.

Why should we push our comfort zone?

1. Development: When you step outside your comfort zone, you challenge yourself. You expand your knowledge, skills and understanding of the world. By getting to know new people and trying to explore different areas, you discover a lot of new experiences and lessons that might not be available in your comfort zone. As humans, we develop thanks to experience, so when you leave your comfort zone, you give yourself the chance to develop. Would you know which country you like the most if you didn’t travel? Or would you know if you would have succeeded in a different direction if you did the same thing all your life?
2. Increased life flexibility and resilience: When you face various obstacles that are outside your comfort zone, you learn to adapt to and overcome them — you learn to be flexible. It’s absolutely normal to be fragile sometimes, but flexibility will help you in life.
3. New opportunities: By going beyond your comfort zone, you expand your horizons and discover a world of possibilities. You can meet new people who will become your lifelong friends, discover new hobbies or find new career paths. You might discover a fuller life for yourself.
4. Self-discovery: When you leave your comfort zone, you start exploring the world like a little child and discover new things for yourself. But the most important thing is that you get to know yourself more. You begin to understand what you really like and don’t like, what kind of life you would like to live and which you don’t. You begin to get to know all your sides, not just those that are convenient for you or others.
5. Liberation: Coming out of our swamp helps us free ourselves from the limiting beliefs we have voluntarily imposed on ourselves. Sometimes some of our beliefs prevent us from reaching our full potential. For example, you might think you are not the kind of person who can lead people. But have you tried? Most likely not. But if you have and failed, don’t let your doubts hold you back. If you tried avocado once and didn’t like it, you could avoid avocados and thereby miss out on many wonderful dishes, but it could just as easily have been one bad avocado.

When you step out of your comfort zone, you prove to yourself that you are capable of much more than you thought was possible. Therefore, instead of avoiding the unknown and staying within our swamp, we must accept the challenges and opportunities that come our way. By going beyond our borders, we can fully realize our potential and get incredible experiences.

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Halimah Ajibade, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

From the moment I came into this world, my mother became my guide and the embodiment of strength and succour. I remember my first encounter with her warm embrace, a connection that would shape the course of my life. Even as a child, I could sense her adventurous spirit and unwavering determination. Her unconditional love and unwavering support drew me to her, creating a bond that surpassed all others.

Throughout my life, my mother has been my partner in countless adventures. Together, we have explored the depths of our hometown, embracing the beauty that surrounded us. Whether it was discovering a new place to get less expensive provisions or venturing into unfamiliar territories, each adventure was infused with her infectious enthusiasm and zest for life. The sights, sounds and emotions accompanying these experiences are etched into my memory, a tapestry of vibrant moments shaping my perception of the world.

My mother has always been an advocate for pushing boundaries and stepping outside our comfort zones. She constantly encouraged me to embrace new activities, face my fears and overcome obstacles. Her belief in my abilities provided a safety net, allowing me to confidently venture into uncharted territories. Through her guidance, I discovered that growth and self-discovery lie beyond the confines of familiarity. Each time I conquered a challenge or pushed past my limits, she congratulated me and encouraged me to do more. I remember when I thought I had gotten what I thought was a not-so-excellent score on my university entry exam, my mother saw the score and was happy as if I had scored 100%. She made me happy and later told me that I could have done better but what I had wasn’t bad, and she assured me that I would get in because she believed in me. A few weeks after, the cut-off marks were released and I was nine points ahead of the cut-off mark for my department.

Her belief in me and her support has continued to nurture a resilient spirit within me.

My mother’s influence extends beyond mere adventures; she has profoundly shaped my outlook on life. She possesses a unique worldview that cherishes independence and the pursuit of personal goals. Her unwavering belief in my potential instilled in me the importance of being self-reliant and forging my own path. Through her adventurous spirit, she inspired me to see the world with curiosity and open-mindedness, embracing diverse experiences and perspectives. My mother would say none of her female children would get married without being employed or having a business of their own. My mother would also say that none of her children would have only a polytechnic degree or work for a one-man business, because these were the things that she did and would not want us to do because she wanted a better life for us.

Her guidance ignited a transformative shift in my mindset and values, fueling a lifelong quest for exploration, knowledge and personal fulfillment.

As I reflect on the lasting effects of my mother’s presence in my life, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. Her unwavering support and adventurous spirit have shaped my future choices and aspirations. The value she placed on independence and empowerment has been ingrained within me, fueling my drive to pursue my dreams and create a meaningful life. Her influence has extended far beyond our shared adventures, permeating every aspect of my being. I am forever inspired to embrace the unknown, seek out new experiences and continuously grow as an individual.

In conclusion, my mother is the person who took me on the most profound adventure of all — the journey of life itself. Her love, encouragement and unwavering support have been the driving forces behind my personal growth and development. Through her empowering perspective, she has shaped the way I perceive the world, instilling in me the courage to step outside my comfort zone and embrace the beauty of life’s adventures. I am forever grateful for her presence and the profound role she plays in shaping my life’s journey.

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Heidi Collie (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Blog Writer

Please note that this article contains brief mention of cultural practices involving genital manipulation and/or damage.

With my BA graduation ceremony looming over me, I increasingly caught myself wondering, why all the fuss? While it was an honor and a privilege to walk across that stage, commemorating four years of discipline and hard work, the honest truth is that I wasn’t excited about the outfit, photos, attention or expectations for the day. I wasn’t excited about sitting through a long, hot ceremony and, minute-to-minute, I knew I’d have more fun sharing a pint with my mum in the darkest, stickiest dive bar Vancouver has to offer. Minute-to-minute, I would have much preferred to creep into this next phase of life, unwatched and unaccountable. So, why all the fuss?

 

Rites of passage are a core theme in anthropology, drawing major cross-cultural parallels with birth, coming of age, marriage and death as the central four. While inevitable and innately silent, we mark these transitional phases with grand ceremony and discomfort — ensuring we each acknowledge and remember the culturally symbolic importance attached to them. As a coming-of-age ritual, graduation is a rite of passage. For the cultures who partake, it may be high school or university, but crucially it marks the start of a new phase in life. 

 

Ceremonially, coming of age may be marked in vastly different ways – it’s a Jewish boy’s bar mitzvah, the increased social activity in the Amish Rumspringa or participation in the annual 15-30 km Naadam bareback horse race for adolescents in the Gobi Desert. Among the Apache of the southwestern United States, it’s the four-day sunrise festival, when each girl is sprinkled with pollen and is imbued with the sacred quality of Changing Woman. It’s the “Sweet 16” and quinceañeras of young women in North, Central and South America.

 

With ceremony, there is often induced pain and discomfort. It’s the adolescent genital mutilation of girls in many countries across the world; of boys in Pentecost Island before their first ritual land dive; in Australia among the Mardudjara, with the piercing of boys’ septums, removal of their front teeth and subsequent circumcision; and the walungarri — circumcision of adolescents after a three-night circle dance ceremony. In Inuit communities, it’s face tattooing to mark a girl entering womanhood, and in settler cultures often the piercing of an adolescent girl’s ears.

 

We know that maturity and coming of age will happen whether we commemorate it or not. Like all phases in life, it comes silently, inevitably, so naturally there’s the temptation to be passive, let it happen to you, to creep into the next life phase, unwatched and unaccountable. In fact, you might even find yourself wondering, why all the fuss? But for millennia, cultures have attached ritual significance to coming of age as a rite of passage, indicating that it might just be human to mark it. The psyche rejects liminality and craves tangible transitions, boundaries and explanations. Culturally, functionally, spiritually, as a species we have decided that entering a new phase in life is important, it was never meant to be easy. It’s pierced, chased, burned, seared, tattooed into us — lean into the discomfort of this change, mark it, feel it. As humans, it’s what we do.

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Cristina Crescenzo (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

For as long as I can remember, living with social anxiety has always made me feel like my soul is inhabiting a fragile shell. I am in a constant state of fear that any social interaction I experience may cause the slightest crack, thus giving the world more access to the worst parts of me, and if I were to continue to be social, it would be only a matter of time before my shell shatters completely and I am totally exposed. I try my best to put on a brave face and open myself up to others, but all I end up doing is reprimanding myself for all my inadequacies and social faux pas. For instance, when I finally get a chance to go out to a club with my friends, I become so excited about the opportunity that I’ll spend weeks fixating on every little detail, like what I should wear or how I am going to act, that when the day finally comes, I am paralyzed with fear. My stomach starts to ache and I sweat profusely, breathing in shallow breaths as the world spins, and even if I am lucky enough to make it pass the door and consume some liquid courage, it doesn’t end up mattering anyway because the alcohol causes me to make even worse social blunders, and so in the morning all I am left with is twice as much self-loathing. 

I suppose the thing that bothers me most in my case is that unless you are someone who knows me really well, you probably wouldn’t even guess that this is something I struggle with, since I am always super friendly, energetic, and open when talking with others and meeting new people. This is basically the definition of being social, so I understand why people would question the anxiety part. I suppose the best way I could describe my situation would be to say that the shell of unease surrounding me is a transparent one: just because you can see me clearly doesn’t mean the shell isn’t there. If you are one of those people who thrive in social situations, you should consider yourself very lucky, especially in this day and age when we are putting each other and ourselves under a microscope more than ever. Anxiety has always fed on human insecurities, but social anxiety in particular lives on a very special diet, so you’d think it would be easier to starve right? Unfortunately, since it is our nature as humans to be social, I cannot say with absolute certainty that there is a cure, or ever will be, for that fear, but there are remedies. 

I have lived on antidepressants since I was 13 and various other anxiety medications to help temper my panic attacks, and I am here to say there is no shame in that. It is because of these medications, combined with years of cognitive and dialectical behaviour therapy, that I am able to function in my everyday life. There are also some really bad days regardless of all the hard work I have done, but like I said earlier, a cure has not been invented yet, at least as far as I know. Thus, although my shell can be suffocating at times, I like to think of this as my incubation period, so that one day I can burst forth with every confidence in myself, and even if I feel a pang of anxiety in my encounters with others, I can still trust and respect my process. 

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My name is Cristina Crescenzo and I love to write. Low Entropy is a great organization that lets me do that with topics I am interested in while I am still trying to figure things out. More than anything, I just hope that my writing connects with someone and that I continue spreading positivity and awareness of mental health and the disabled community.

 

Grace Cheng (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

Has anyone ever encouraged you to come out of your shell? Being shy can sometimes result in you keeping to yourself and not interacting with others often. Being alone is like a turtle hiding inside its shell. It is safe for turtles to remain inside their shells. Similarly, keeping your thoughts and feelings private can make you feel safe from the outside world.

What is Social Anxiety?

Social anxiety refers to a persistent and excessive fear of what people think about you. Social anxiety is more than just feeling nervous or uncomfortable in social situations. There is no doubt that everyone gets anxious about what other people think of them from time to time. However, social anxiety is a persistent and intense pattern of fear that affects many aspects of daily life.

A core component of social anxiety is the fear of being negatively evaluated and rejected. In situations where you are socially anxious, you worry about what other people think of you and hope you are making a positive impression. In severe cases of social anxiety, physical reactions can occur that leave you trembling, dizzy and terrified of rejection. Those who suffer from severe social anxiety know how painful and overwhelming it can be to think about being in a social setting.

How to Overcome Social Anxiety

1. Be Kind to Yourself

You should treat yourself with kindness and gentleness throughout your journey to overcome social anxiety. This will not be an easy task, and there will likely be setbacks. It is important to remember that you are human and not perfect. We all experience moments of embarrassment or discomfort in our lives from time to time. Be as gracious to yourself as you would to someone else who is making a change in their life. It is okay to experience setbacks.

1. Identify Your Anxiety Triggers 

Identifying the specific situations that may cause you to experience severe stress is one of the keys to understanding how to get rid of social anxiety. The things that may cause anxiety to you may not cause anxiety to another individual. By determining where you feel most anxious, you can begin to work on overcoming your fears.

1. Taking Baby Steps

You don’t need to make significant progress every step of the way. Even taking baby steps, like committing to yourself that you will attend an event and carrying it out, is significant progress in the right direction. The change can be as simple as ordering a coffee if that is a trigger for your anxiety.

1. Use Relaxation Methods

The use of relaxation techniques can help treat the physical symptoms of social anxiety. Social anxiety is characterized by physical symptoms such as sweating, difficulty breathing, heart pounding, nausea and light-headedness. The use of relaxation techniques focused on the breathing process can help alleviate many of these symptoms.

1. Role Play

Role-playing can provide you with an excellent opportunity to practice scenarios you might fear, so you will be prepared, should they arise. It is important to remember that this is a big “if.” You may be able to role-play in therapy, or perhaps you might ask a friend or a family member who is close to you to assist you. Consider playing a role-playing game in which you need to go to a restaurant or store to make a purchase or order something. Perhaps you have a fear of giving the incorrect answer, in which case you can role-play a scenario in which the wrong answer is given. It is possible to use role-playing in a variety of situations.

1. You Are More Than What You Think

It is important to understand that many people find you as interesting as you find them to be. Sharing your thoughts will assist others in feeling comfortable sharing their thoughts with you as well. You don’t have to put on a show. In fact, if you listen more than you speak, others might feel more included in the discussion.

1. Don’t Focus on Yourself

Do not focus your attention on yourself or what other people think of you. It is important to focus on other people, be present and establish genuine connections. The truth is that no one is perfect, so try to focus on the present and listen closely to what other people are saying.

1. Face Your Fears

Seek out supportive social environments that will assist you in overcoming your fears. You cannot overcome social anxiety if you do not expose yourself to situations that cause you anxiety. When you use avoidance to cope, you won’t be helping yourself or fostering your growth as a person. You could start by taking a social skills training course. Practicing your social interactions here will prepare you for the real world. You will learn what to say and do if you find yourself in a social situation you are unfamiliar with or anxious about. It doesn’t matter if you go to a fast-food restaurant or a coffee shop with a book or your laptop — stepping out of your comfort zone can boost your self-confidence. There is an additional benefit to this tip in that the stakes can be low. The goal is not to attend a huge event, but to practice being in public. 

These social anxiety tips will help you begin on your path to becoming a strong, confident and engaging individual who enjoys spending time with others. The fear of social events does not have to limit your life. Having social engagements and interactions can fill your life with joy and companionship. You deserve a full life, filled with enriching experiences.

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Grace has an accounting and finance background. She enjoys reading, writing, listening to music, watching movies and playing sports.

Ugochi Guchy Kalu (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

I have been around for almost three decades. I have had thrills, thorns, tears, laughter, heart-wrenching sadness, limitless joy, doubts, faith, absolute resolve, one-time incidents, recurring dark moments, friendships, foes, love, deeper love, love-turned hate. I have had all kinds of moments that momentarily summarize my life’s adventure. I have traveled, seen monumental innovations, sat in parks, eaten various meals, met the most amazing people, discarded toxic friendships, fallen flat on my face and stood up seven times from each fall. If this is not the totality of an adventurous life, I wonder what is. 

Growing up, I was not allowed to do many things kids my own age would. I was shielded and overly protected from having too much fun, as that was considered dangerous. As a child who came after my parents had lost a baby, I was treated like the “final replacement” product. There was always an instruction to whoever looked after me, there was always a boundary and limits. I can still hear my mom’s instructive voice in my head to this day. “Do not climb the rail, you will hurt yourself, do not shoot the hoops, it will break your waist, do not climb the merry-go-round, you will get a concussion, do not ride the bike outside, you will scar your skin, do not swim, you will drown, do not eat beans, your heart will burn, do not play with boys, they will get you injured.” The “do-nots” were more than the “dos,” and many of these fear factors made no sense whatsoever.

In my teenage years, I became more defiant. I would often try to break the boundaries set to cage my mind from explorations. I would sneak out to play with my mates. Yes, most times, I got home hurt, injured and scared, but sometimes, I got away with it. I was still not entirely risk averse, as the enshrined rules continued to hold me down. I earnestly searched for freedom, for my body, mind and spirit, but the more I tried, the more fear conquered. One day, after falling from a height that my mates climbed unscathed, I concluded that adventure was not my calling. My mom was right after all. I resolved to quit seeking excitement.

Despite my earlier resolutions, my life took a turn when I turned 22. Someone came into my life, rocked it, hung it upside down and left me a completely transformed person. Ethan and I had just started dating and he was completely the opposite of who I was. He was fearless, adventurous, wildly fun and loud. Talk about north and south poles attracting each other, little wonder why we were so compatible. In a few months, he took me on a 360-degree exploration that blew my mind. Every item on my wishlist was fulfilled, like road trips, ziplining across the ocean, traveling to different countries, joy rides, mountain climbing, camping, food and wine tasting, indoor and outdoor games, and fun and semi-lethal activities. They were all on my bucket list, and they were all ticked off. My mind was so eternally stretched by adventures that there was no turning back. Indeed, the purpose of life after all is to live, to taste, to experience to the utmost and to reach out eagerly for new adventures without fear. 

Months turned into years, and things continued to evolve, our journey, our relationship and our love. I not only fell in love with the new me, but also with the beautiful human who broke me out of my little shack and opened my eyes to the limitless wonders I could only previously imagine. While enjoying this new journey, I lost myself in the shiny new castle of adrenaline, I lost my quiet times, I lost the inner serenity, and I lost a little bit of common sense as I began to venture into activities, most times thoughtlessly. Then I realized that to be more alive, I had to be less afraid. So, I did. I lost my fear and gained my whole life.

Just like Ethan came into my life and rocked it, my world was once again shaken and wrecked when he left it. Our relationship had run its course. It seemed as though he took away the sun from the sky and smeared gloom all over it. It was dark again; it became quiet. I took another adventure into the dark, bottomless pit of tears. It was a different kind of adventure. It was the opposite of what I had experienced in the moments when he was in it. I continued to wallow in self-hurt, losing my new superpowers of exploration, until I woke up to a moment of pure serendipity, the moment I realized that a mind stretched by adventures never goes back to its original state. I had been stretched!

Truthfully, if happiness is the goal, and it should be, then adventure should be a top priority. To be clear, adventure isn’t hanging off a cliff or climbing mountains. Adventure does not require a certain number of people to be complete. Adventure is an attitude, an eternal resolution, a lifestyle, double audacity and an everyday solemn promise to live, taste, experience and love the world in its entire dimension in whatever form, shape and location it comes.

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My name is Ugochi Guchy Kalu. I have been to places that made me realize how small my problems are. I have stepped into the unknown and I am currently living the life of my dreams.

Deema Katrina Khalil (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

Adventuring close to home may come naturally to some people. But for others (like me), it takes some serious goal-setting to step outside of our comfort zone and dive into the unknown. I’m not exactly a natural-born adventurer, but I’ve been making a conscious effort to explore my city for years now. And I have to say, taking that intentional approach has really helped me grow as a person. It’s pushed me to challenge my fears, to work through my insecurities, to build up my confidence and to fall in love with my city, each day in a new way.

In this article, I will talk about my experience adventuring close to home, and I will share five tips to help you get started on your own adventure. 

I immigrated to Montreal with my family shortly before starting my university education. We moved knowing that this city was going to be our new home. Many years later, my sense of belonging to Montreal is stronger than ever. I promised myself to never stop being curious about this city, to always explore it with eyes full of wonder and to continually discover new ways to find beauty in the ordinary.

Moving to a new city often comes with that initial honeymoon phase, where everything feels fresh and exciting, and you spend months exploring and discovering. But as time goes on, that enthusiasm can gradually fade into a daily routine. What many people don’t recognize is that the connection they build with their city is much like a romantic relationship. It starts with passion and excitement, moves on to a stage of curiosity and exploration, and then requires ongoing attention and sincere effort to maintain the spark.

So what is the key to sustaining a long-lasting adventure close to home? 

1. Make a list of your city’s top attractions

Just because you’re not a tourist, it doesn’t mean you can’t live the tourist experience to its fullest. Start by making a list of your city’s top attractions, even if you’ve already seen them before. And don’t hesitate to visit these places by yourself. In fact, solo adventures can help you learn to enjoy your own company, which may feel challenging at first, but gets easier with practice. Once you’ve mastered this skill, your adventure possibilities will become limitless. You won’t need to make elaborate plans. You won’t need to rearrange your schedule to accommodate others. And you won’t have to worry about being cancelled on *gasp*!

If you’re someone who struggles to be alone or deals with social anxiety, take things slow and be patient with yourself. I promise you, the more you practice being alone, the easier it’ll get.

Find your rhythm. Be curious. And have fun being a tourist in your own city!

2. Get to know your city’s neighbourhoods

Print a map of your city and draw a circle around its most distinct neighbourhoods. Then schedule a day per week (or month) to fully explore one new neighbourhood. Take your time to walk slowly through that neighbourhood. Get familiar with your surroundings. Explore it with curious eyes. Have a meal in that area’s most recommended restaurant. And look up the history of that neighbourhood if you’re the literary type.

I learned so much about my city by visiting its neighbourhoods. In the process of exploring what looked like ordinary streets, I found unique places that no internet search could’ve led me to. By setting aside time for exploring a new neighbourhood, you’ll be surprised by what you might find. Go with an open mind and let the mysteries of your city unravel themselves to you.

3. Find your outdoor comfort spaces

If you live in a city that has parks, bodies of water, mountains, etc . . . go out and find spots in nature that make you feel calm and at ease. Being in the presence of nature is shown to enhance well-being and mental clarity. To spice up this activity, bring a hobby to accompany you. Some hobbies that are great for relaxing in nature are journaling, painting, reading, making embroidery, etc . . . There are a variety of things to try. So don’t limit yourself!

Go out, get lost in the greenery and bring your hobbies along the way.

4. Stay up to date with the latest festivals and events

Staying informed about the latest happenings in your city can provide a great opportunity for socializing. By researching activities in your area, you can invite friends to join you and experience new adventures that break up the routine of daily life. The constantly changing nature of festivals and events brings a unique sense of excitement and intrigue, making them an ideal setting for fun social gatherings.

Simply search online, reach out to friends, and enjoy a day of socializing and entertainment.

5. Find beauty in the mundane

While many people equate adventure with exploring new places, you can still find excitement and happiness in the everyday activities of your city. By taking notice of the small things in your daily routine, you can uncover beauty and fun in unexpected places. Pay attention to the way you feel when you order your favourite drink from your local coffee shop, or when you listen to your favourite playlist on your way home from school or work, or when you engage in a friendly interaction with someone from your community. Often, we overlook these moments of joy that are already a part of our daily lives. By paying closer attention, you may discover that your home is not just a place of stability and comfort, but also one of novelty and warmth. 

All in all, if there’s one thing I would hope for you to take from this article, it is to think of adventuring close to home as a recipe with four simple ingredients — a cup of curiosity, a spoon of bravery, an ounce of planning and a sprinkle of creativity. Mix those ingredients together and you’ll be on your way to a mind-licious adventure!

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Deema Katrina is a Blogger from Montreal, Canada. She comes from a science background and currently works in the drug development industry, but her interests go beyond that. Some of the topics she passionately explores are self-awareness, personal development and financial literacy. She believes that every person has the capacity to succeed when given the right tools and resources. Her goal is to share the knowledge she learned from delving into these topics, and help others become better versions of themselves.

Florence Ng (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

As a university student, I had the chance to spend a year abroad in England. It was a dream come true as a literature major. One of the most wonderful things about countries in Western Europe is how remarkably well preserved many places are. The market square in the town I lived in was a thousand years old, with much of its unique, surrounding flintstone architecture still intact. Many homes are easily hundreds of years old. Coming from Canada, these are almost incomprehensible when the entirety of Canadian history (that we deem are important in our current educational climate) boils down to less than two hundred years. 

 

One need only to spend the day at the British Museum to understand why some countries are allowed to preserve their history and others aren’t. During my year abroad, I spent many days in this museum—it was like walking around the world, across time and space, all in one place. I remember giant Buddhist statues and Coast Salish totem poles, and all manner of things that had been pillaged and stolen from their original homes. By taking sacred objects out of context, England has written the narrative for the world over centuries. They have decided what is important, what is worthy of preserving, and which stories are allowed to persevere. 

 

This was made most apparent to me when I came across comparisons between old photographs of cities and their modern day counterparts. There are a plethora of “then and now” photos on the internet, but one that stood out the most to me was a two-hundred-year-old drawing of Oxford University juxtaposed with a photograph of the same street in 2022. The two images were nearly identical, and I could not imagine many other countries that could allow an entire street to remain so unchanged—certainly not places that have been grappling with the effects of colonization, the trauma of war, and the instability caused by both. 

 

It’s important to recognize the colonial lens which we have been taught to view the world. It’s important that we re-examine the rosy lens in which we view “explorers” in centuries past, and the role that storytelling has played in our understanding of history. The easiest example of this is the Indiana Jones franchise and all the assorted media in this genre of white academics being portrayed as heroes while they pilfer sacred objects in “exotic” locales for the noble task of bringing knowledge to the world. By world, of course, they mean museums, and by museums, they mean Eurocentric traditions of whitewashing history. The fact that Indiana Jones is getting a reboot in 2023 means that these ideas are alive and well, and as Sezin Koehler put it in her chronicle of Indiana Jones’ colonial legacy, if this reboot is “[…] not self-reflective and retroactively professing attrition for the many harms the figurehead and stories have caused, we categorically don’t need it.”

 

With the recent explosion of conversations around artificial intelligence and the tech industry’s insistence that their products will be the solution to all of humanity’s problems, it is too easy to discount the roots that our systems are built on. When we are urged to constantly look forward, it is easy to accept the past does not matter and the present is only a blip toward a grand future. Overlooking the discomfort is certainly a bonus. As a result, no one has to question our established institutions of science and education, particularly those that devalue and reject indigenous knowledge. Few can fathom what reciprocal, non-hierarchical society structures and holistic approaches to science and knowledge looks like, and I believe that to be deliberate. For more on comprehensive discussion on why ancient wisdom matters, I highly recommend Wade Davis’ collection of essays in Wayfinders. 

 

I love travelling and learning. This discussion is not meant to be a persecution of those things, nor is it a call to shut down all museums. As Audre Lorde said, “[i]t is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences,” and the more we learn about each other’s cultures, stories, and histories, the more we can celebrate. However, to quote Benita Joy, “[y]ou don’t dismantle white supremacy by ‘learning about other cultures.’ You dismantle white supremacy by dismantling whiteness.” The world’s colonial legacies have driven the narrative for centuries, and for both white and BIPOC folks out there who love to learn as I do, we can all stand to be a little more critical about how those narratives have coloured our inner and outer worlds. 

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Hello! My name is Florence, and I’m an educator, storyteller, traveller, avid board game collector and curious, lifelong learner, among many other things. I’m passionate about human connection and mental well-being, and I love meeting new people!

Lauren O’Malley, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

For 30 years of my life, I lived in an industrialized nation. It wasn’t until I broke away from work for a winter that I headed down to a new community with my partner. I had visited this place for a week once before, but I had never lived there for an extended period — Playa Maderas, Nicaragua, what a beautiful place. I was expecting surf, sand and sun, but this community gave us so much more than that. We came from the busy city of Toronto, Ontario, a community filled with diversity and many different cultures. It was a significant transition from a big city to a small community in a developing country. Toronto opened up my perspectives and educated me greatly on different cultures’ values and beliefs, but Toronto was a culture I was accustomed to living in. Living in Playa Maderas showed me what it meant to be a community member, and how people come together to help each other simply live their lives. 

My partner and a friend bought a property and built a house in Playa Maderas at the beginning of 2021. We were ready for a break from Toronto when the second winter of the pandemic hit. We decided to take the winter off and go down south. We packed our things into a storage unit, and we were off. The house waited for our arrival there, but it was just shy of livable. We only had water by gravity from a tank on the roof, a bathroom sink and an outdoor shower. We were no longer in Toronto or anywhere like I’d ever lived. I quickly realized how much this community leaned on each other, as we now needed support from others to settle into our new home.

Necessities had always been readily available in Toronto. Getting our new house in a livable condition was a big setup. We had to figure out our water tank, get appliances, install a kitchen sink, buy a bed and couch, and install hydro and wifi. To top it off, I didn’t speak Spanish! Luckily my partner learned a decent amount while building the house, but he was not fluent. Many people in Playa Maderas were English-speaking like we were, so it was easy to get by day-to-day without knowing Spanish amongst the community, but when it came to talking to the local hydro, water and internet providers, speaking Spanish was necessary.

Getting to and from town could be a challenge too. Our community was a 20-minute car ride from the closest grocery store. There were only dirt roads in Playa Maderas. Some people had vehicles, but a lot used motorbikes. A couple of small markets between Playa Maderas and town could hold you over, but I preferred to get food a different way — the fruit truck! It was a truck with a speaker, listing off the fruit and vegetables they had for purchase while driving through the valley. I loved it when I heard them coming. 

The biggest thing to get used to was how we obtained and used water. Our house water ran from our water tanks, which were filled from a well. We used this water for things like showering and flushing the toilet, and we used bottled/filtered water for drinking. It was a habitual change not to use tap water to brush our teeth. How to navigate and maintain these necessities was a big learning curve. Having the community there for us to ask questions significantly helped with the transition. Most of us came from backgrounds in developed countries. It was usually a significant shift for everyone when they first arrived. Having others’ experiences and support is what got everyone by.

A lot of travelers passing through Playa Maderas come for the great surf that is there. I thought I would become a big surfer when I was there for that winter, and oh, did I try, and I will keep trying! But when I left to return home in the spring, it wasn’t the surf I looked back at and valued the most. The presence of this community is what keeps us coming back. Compared to Toronto, Playa Maderas is slow, and I have time to appreciate everything and everyone. I have time to value what I take for granted at home, like clean water or readily available transportation. Without the busy material things at home that distract us, we have time to live presently and be genuine. Every day I walked to the beach, I would run into someone I knew and say hello. It is such a contrast from the big city, a place where I can pass 1000 strangers on the street and not say hello to anyone. This community allows us to be authentic with each other. We all, at some point, were vulnerable coming into this community, making a transition into this unfamiliar way of living. This sense of community let me learn more about my true self, as I had the opportunity to be present with other people and for them to be present with me. We all are there for the same reason — to slow down, reset and be reminded of what’s important. It’s not materialistic things or having everything you think you need available at your fingertips. People are important and keep communities going, and I am humbled to have found and become a part of this one. 

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[Bio]Lauren O’Malley was born in St. Catharines, Ontario, and moved to Toronto in her mid-twenties, where she works as a critical care registered nurse. Lauren loves her RN job, but aspires to educate and help people in other ways. Writing is one of them. Lauren values time with her family and friends, and loves to chase sunsets.