Why I’m Scaling Down to Move Forward

2026 isn’t about bigger trips, longer distances, or ticking famous trails off a list.

It’s about going again. Not chasing extremes. Not proving anything. Just moving forward—intentionally—after a year that quietly rearranged what adventure looks like for me.

This shift toward micro adventures didn’t start as a grand plan. It crept in slowly, inconveniently, after a few hard lessons—and some unexpected setbacks.

When Adventure Hits a Wall

Last year, I had plans. Big ones. Hiking sections of the Fundy Footpath, pushing limits, and building stamina for longer trips.

Reality had other ideas.

A training hike left me with a stubborn Achilles tendon injury in my left foot. Before I could recover, plantar fasciitis popped up in the other. Months later, the Achilles still carries that familiar “I’m going to ruin your day” tightness.

Add to that the summer closures of New Brunswick’s forests and trails, and the year quietly became about sitting still more than moving forward.

Even a couple of overlanding trips, which kept me sane, couldn’t fully replace what I’d hoped to accomplish. And somewhere along the way, my doctor pointed out something else—weight gain. The usual explanations: “You’re building muscle,” or “You’re getting older.” Maybe. But it didn’t make it any easier to sit and watch the plans you had slip away.

Simplifying to Move Forward

Alongside this, I faced another realization: my websites were taking more energy than they were giving back.

After 17 years of building and hosting my own sites, the cost, maintenance, and constant updates were draining my time and focus. None of it was paying me back in a way that mattered.

So I simplified. I moved TimeToXplore.com to Google Sites. It’s stable, fast, and out of the way. No more endless updates. No more tech debt. Just a platform that lets me focus on what actually matters—getting outside, exploring, and sharing stories worth telling.

Why Micro Adventures Are the Answer

So what does this all mean for 2026?

It means scaling down, without losing the spirit of adventure. Micro adventures allow me to:

• Stay moving without risking injury
  
  

• Explore local gems in New Brunswick and PEI
  
  

• Keep projects at home on track
  
  

• Capture stories for videos and notes without burning out
  
  

This year isn’t about proving anything to anyone. It’s about adapting, moving intentionally, and rediscovering the joy of exploration, one small adventure at a time.