Backyard Adventuring and Intentional Inconvenience

Beau Miles wants to try everything this world has to offer. But one day, he realized perhaps he wasn’t living up his aspiration.

Beau Miles is a self-admitted Australian oddball who shares his adventures on his YouTube channel.

In times gone by, he was an Adventurer. No qualifier needed. He epitomized the word through his actions.

He crossed the Bass Strait (310 miles of Aussie ocean) in just a kayak.?Ran over 400 miles of the Australian Alps in thirteen days. Kayaked the entire coastline of Africa, not stopping after breaking his toe or even losing his hat.

He craves adventure. He immerses himself in the full spectrum of the human condition. He wants to try everything this world has to offer.

But one day, he realized perhaps he wasn’t living up to that last goal.

Why did he need to go so far to experience what the world had to offer?

Four thousand miles from Australia to Africa. Four thousand miles from home. From family.

A four thousand mile, or even forty-thousand mile, journey doesn’t designate an adventure.

Beau realized he could have adventures in his own backyard. He could create his own. Impose his own restrictions. Construct challenges (and buildings) to beget a great journey.

He would satisfy his craving for adventure, experience the full spectrum of the human condition, and explore the many possibilities had to offer in his own backyard.

Behold, Backyard Adventuring was born.

Shrinking the World

MrBeast went from counting to 100,000 in his bedroom to creating a multimillion dollar “Squid Game in Real Life” video. When most YouTubers grow, so do the scopes of their videos.

Beau has done the opposite.

He has embraced Backyard Adventuring.

Instead of crossing the Bass Strait, he crosses off an item on a to-do list, then runs a mile, repeating for 24 hours straight.

Instead of running in the Australian Alps, he runs himself ragged planting a tree an hour for 24 hours straight.

Instead of kayaking the entire coastline of Africa, he kayaks to work (55+ miles over the course of four days).

Backyard Adventuring, or pure Adventuring, isn’t about setting arbitrary goals and reaching them.

It’s about experiencing all life’s got to offer.

Why not start in your backyard?

In fact, I’ve begun to.

Embracing Backyard Adventuring

Previously, my girlfriend Addie Jackson and I would look to the coast or Europe for a grand old time. A change of pace to bring us out of our comfort zone and force memories into our skull.

But after learning about Beau, we sought adventure right in our backyard.

There isn't a “50 Backyard Adventures You Can Do Right Now” list online. Because?backyard adventuring is dependent on your definition of it.

You make the rules.

Going to new places in your town? Great!

Trying to get to the highest altitude in your neighborhood? Excellent!

Experiencing new things to the East? Directional!

We found great joy in pursuing Helpful Backyard Adventures.

We were driving home from the grocery store (decidedly?not?a Backyard Adventure), when we noticed a huge branch had been knocked down into the road from a storm a few hours ago.

I drove deftly around it, as other drivers did. It slowed traffic down; people did their best to avoid the debris.

Yet, we still heard some cracking and splintering.

As we left the branch, there was a stillness in the air.

A stillness which only appears when two people have the same idea.

When an opportunity presents itself.

When there’s Backyard Adventuring to be had!

I begin to make a three-point turn and Addie excitedly says “Are we going to clear off the road?!”

We park off Glenwood Avenue; the street on which this Backyard Adventure will begin. We talk a quick plan and then when no cars are oncoming, we scurry into the road!

We pick up a big log and throw it to the side.

Lights in the distance!

We skedaddle to the median.

Cars slow down but don’t stop.

Street's clear!

Another log!

Lift! Throw!

Truck horns in the distance!

Any other large pieces?

Gather up and toss 'em!

Behold! (Breathe!)

A cleaner, safer street from a Backyard Adventure.

Intentional Inconvenience

Clearing Glenwood wasn't convenient for us.

What would have been convenient for us would have been heading back to our apartment, unloading the groceries, and starting our movie plans* for the night.

Instead, we took it upon ourselves to make a memory and make people’s lives just a little easier.

It did not take us a white-water rafting trip on the Zambezi River to exhilarate us or create a lasting memory.

All it took a bit of effort, a bit of creativity, and a bit of Intentional Inconvenience.

Backyard Adventuring is something anyone can do, at any age**.

Your Backyard Adventure doesn’t need to be grand.

It doesn’t have to be creative.

It doesn’t have to be long.

But it will take a little effort.

You might look strange.

It will make memories.

What else could we gain if we embrace more Intentional Inconvenience in our lives?

*Popcorn, candy, beer, and our first watching of?Jerry Maguire?- I liked it!

**Okay, maybe not any age. I could see how you wouldn't want your children?running into traffic and playing with logs. I propose?Geocaching?as an alternative for the very young Backyard Adventurers.

This post was originally published on gusvieweg.com, where I write about communication, happiness, and improv.