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Meghan McMahon is a digital marketing coordinator for the District. (Photo by Chad Merda)<\/p>\n
Hi, I\u2019m Meghan, and a thrill seeker I am not. This isn\u2019t a confession or an admission of some kind of weakness. It\u2019s simply a statement of fact.\u00a0<\/p>\n
No one \u2014 and I do mean no one \u2014 has ever called me adventurous or a risk taker. I was the kid you never had to worry about making bad decisions or risky choices, and that has carried over into adulthood. I like to play it safe, and I like to keep my feet planted firmly on the ground. (Seriously; I don\u2019t even like to fly.)<\/p>\n
Another thing I am not is a fitness enthusiast. Sure, I try to get my steps in every day. I walk my dog regularly, and when I\u2019m looking for a more vigorous workout, I hit my local trail or take a long, winding route around my neighborhood to log some miles. In the winter I will hit the treadmill or recumbent bike in our home gym. What I don\u2019t do is run or ski or rock climb or anything like that. (Those last two activities would both fall under the category of risk taking for me.) I don\u2019t even like to ride my bike outside.<\/p>\n
The thing I\u2019m starting to realize is that playing it safe can be a little boring. I could be doing more and seeing more if I stepped outside my comfort zone just a little bit. I\u2019m not talking triathlons and whitewater rafting and skydiving; I\u2019m talking snowshoeing and camping and leisurely bike rides.<\/p>\n
So that\u2019s what I am going to do. In 2026, I am going to wander through the preserves in ways I haven\u2019t before. And I\u2019m going to document these decidedly low-key adventures in the hopes of encouraging others to step outside of their comfort zones just a little bit too.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re calling it Wander at Will, and throughout the year you\u2019ll be seeing stories and videos and more detailing my pursuits. I\u2019ll share my experiences camping \u2014 something I haven\u2019t done in decades \u2014 and making an effort to regularly log some miles on my bike, something I haven\u2019t done much at all as an adult. One month I\u2019ll challenge myself to see if I can log 50 miles walking in the preserves, and I\u2019ll spend some time this summer exploring the preserves by kayak.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For many people, these adventures might seem pretty tame, boring even. But I\u2019m guessing there are many others who are like me and have played it pretty safe in their outdoor pursuits or who are maybe even a little intimidated by spending time in nature. Wander at Will is for those people, the ones who need a little encouragement to try something new or who can benefit from seeing someone else try something first to see how their own experience might be.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n
Because if I, a proud risk-averse adult, can make a point to try new things and be more active while enjoying time in nature, anyone can. Trust me on this.<\/p>\n
Starting in January, I’ll start sharing my experiences. So, look for me when you\u2019re out enjoying the preserves this year. I\u2019ll be out there as much as I can be, trying to embrace a more adventurous spirit. If you see me, stop and say hello. I\u2019d love to hear about your adventures. In the meantime, I hope you\u2019ll be wandering at will too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2014 Meghan McMahon, digital marketing coordinator<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n