Explorer Journal

Embracing Solitude on Solo Adventures
michelle bates michelle bates

Embracing Solitude on Solo Adventures

In a world filled with constant noise and bustling activity, I yearned for an escape out of Sydney—a chance to reconnect with nature and find solace in solitude. My journey led me to the breathtaking shores of Jervis Bay, a coastal paradise nestled in New South Wales, Australia.

My adventure began with my trusty pair of hiking boots and an eager heart. I had never been down to Jervis Bay, so I was pretty excited to explore somewhere new and was told that there was a plethora of picturesque hiking trails that wind through coastal trails and cliffs and white sand beaches.

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Why I wander for my mental wellness
michelle bates michelle bates

Why I wander for my mental wellness

By 2050, 66% of the world’s population is projected to live in cities. Australians generally spend 90% of their time indoors.

I love living in the city. There is so much to see and do. I love everything the city has to offer. But I long for the country and wide open spaces. It only takes a couple of days out of the city to calibrate, then we come back energised, collecting moments and memories of adventure and wonder.

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Open letter to my boots
michelle bates michelle bates

Open letter to my boots

Dear boots,

Thank you. You changed my life.

I didn’t realise how attached I would become to you. Over the last year, my brain has linked good things with you, now it takes only the feeling of grabbing you off the shelf to feel good things flowing through my body. I am about to be out in nature, where my worries dissipate off me like sticky stardust into nothingness up into the clouds. I wave goodbye to them.

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