Let's Go Exploring! #182.


Dear friends,

I've had quite a few adventures since last time, including a trip to Scandinavia, and now an adventure that I didn't sign up for — pneumonia. Haha.

Anyway, as I mentioned last time, I wanted to debut a new format for this issue.

Below are 4 quick highlights for each step of my formula for turning dreams into reality. You can skip to whichever point interests you. Here is the overview of my process. (I'm not sure if I need to say this every time.)

  1. Get inspired. Dream big or little. (Believe it or not, some people are afraid to dream, and most don’t know how.)
  2. Plan your adventure. To me, everything is an adventure.
  3. Go explore! Live your dream, share your adventure, get support and inspire others.
  4. Grow! Reflect on your successes and “failures”.

Let me know what you think of the new format. I'm hoping this it makes my newsletter quick and fun.

Cheers,
Scott

Step 1 — Dream

A friend who visited left this timeless quote.

* * *

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined. ~ Henry David Thoreau.

Step 2 — Plan

I've been using this worksheet for months.

* * *

Don’t break the chain

Don't break the chain habit trackers to help you take a step of action every day to make your dream a reality, including a 1-month challenge (an adult and kid-friendly version) and a 1-year challenge to help you take a step of action every day to make your dream a reality.

Read the whole story.
Since you subscribe to my newsletter, here is the link to download the worksheet directly.

Step 3 — Explore

My big exploration was a tour of Scandinavia. Here is just one highlight.

* * *

Kon-Tiki — a book that changed my life

The first true adventure story I read was Kon-Tiki. I think I was born with an appetite for adventure, and I wondered if I was more of a Huckleberry Finn or a Tom Sawyer. But it wasn't until I read Kon-Tiki — I was about 12 years old — that I realized I could actually go on my own adventures. That may sound like an obvious conclusion, but what I mean is that this idea graduated from my head to my heart.

I didn't know the Kon-Tiki still existed until I arrived in Norway. And today, I got to see the actual raft that Thor Heyerdahl built and sailed across the Pacific Ocean to recreate the colonization of Polynesia.

Read the whole story.

Step 4 — Grow!

I've recently added this step. Living your dream is one thing, but feeling accomplished is another.

Yesterday, the living legend Sir David Frederick Attenborough, broadcaster, naturalist and fossilist, celebrated his 99th birthday. During the lead-up to his new movie, Ocean, he's been sharing his most important lesson as he acknowledges coming to the end of his own life.

I recommend this story from The London Times:
David Attenborough at 99: ‘I will not see how the story ends’

What do you think?

That's it for my new newsletter format. I hope you found something of interest without taking a huge chunk out of your day.

Hit reply and let me know what you think. Maybe you prefer just one full story without having to click on any links. Or maybe you have an even better idea. As you can see, this is step 2 planning in action.

Thanks for tagging along

As always, hit reply to share any thoughts or questions or just to say hello. I love hearing from you, and I almost always reply (unless it looks spammy).

I make most of my work free to entertain, inspire and educate. If you enjoy my stories, books, blog or worksheets, please share this newsletter with a friend. It helps keep me motivated, and more importantly, it helps other people.

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© 2025 Scott Stoll.
113 Cherry St #92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2205

Let’s Go Exploring!

Let’s explore how to live a more meaningful and joyful life. I’m Scott Stoll, Author, Artist, Adventurer and a work-in-progress. My claim to fame is that I rode a bicycle around the world. For 25 years, I’ve been posting monthly stories, life experiments, worksheets, and more. Join me, and let’s live the best lives possible.

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