New Year, New Adventures


It happens every year. We collectively flip our calendars from December to January and feel the need — or perhaps an obligation — to address our weaknesses by declaring New Year’s resolutions. While these well-intentioned decrees usually aspire toward broad-stroke benefits such as “lose weight,” “be more kind,” or “decrease screen time,” most tend to end up as forgotten wishes as we forgo the details and accountability needed to follow through.

So, as 2025 gets into full swing, this might be the perfect time to reassess your recent proclamations in favor of tackling tangible activities that put life in a different perspective: one of personal growth, perseverance, and toughness.

While the idea of going beyond your comfort zone is usually relegated to activities that push the boundaries of our physical capabilities, expanding the horizons of your mental strength is just as viable — and valuable. Besides, trying new things can be just as fun as it is scary!

With this in mind, we’ve compiled some suggestions on how to explore the limits of your comfort zone through fun and engaging activities sure to help you see a new side of your closest friend: yourself.

Are you up for the challenge?

Go Rock Climbing

Naomi Giertych of Raleigh tries to solve a bouldering problem.

With locations in Morrisville, Raleigh, and Durham, Triangle Rock Club is ready to take your adventuring to new heights. The Raleigh location alone features over 20,000 square feet of state-of-the-art Eldorado Climbing Walls and 7,000 square feet of world-class bouldering terrain with more than 40 lanes of lead and top rope climbing. Climbing routes and bouldering problems rotate weekly on the 30-foot climbing wall with top rope and lead climbing terrain.

For those new to rock climbing, an orientation walks you through what to expect, your responsibilities, and the risks associated with climbing. But be warned! This could be one of the more addicting ways to explore your physical and mental boundaries.

trianglerockclub.com

Dare to Defy Gravity

Organized sports are great, but their constraints can sometimes limit us from exploring the boundaries of our bravery. Located in Raleigh, DEFY defines itself as “an attitude and a rallying cry promoting individualism and freedom from the norm.” Sure, from the outside it may look like a giant gym filled with foam pits. But DEFY is “a collection of extreme air sport parks across America that are rewriting the rules of sport — giving communities a place where they’re free to express and push themselves.”

Offering activities ranging from parkour to zip-lining, open jumping, stunt falling, and more, DEFY is accessible to adventurers of all ages and skill levels. Philosophically speaking, DEFY says that society has tons of expectations and rules, and that they exist to give everyone a safe place to defy those constraints. They’re aiming to attract the fiercely independent, fearless individuals who pass on organized sports in favor of nonconforming ones that challenge them in nontraditional ways.

Is that the new you? There’s only one way to find out.

defy.com

Perform at an Open-Mic Night

10-year-old violinist Jack Howell of Cary performs “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles with his father, Evan, during open-mic night at Abby Road Tavern and Grill. Playing live was a first for both of them.

If there’s one fear that most people share, it’s performing live in front of others. If you’re really looking to get outside of your comfort zone, you might want to try taking center stage at a local open-mic night. Sound crazy? Hear me out.

Whether you’re learning a new instrument or just love to sing in the shower (when you know nobody can hear you), open-mic nights provide a platform for you to develop your skills in a (generally) judgement-free environment. Ease into it by attending a few local open-mic nights as a spectator first to get the feel of the venue and crowd. From there, you might just discover that 2025 is the year you turn an uncomfortable thought into an exhilarating experience.

From Abbey Road Tavern and Grill in Cary to Fainting Goat Brewing Company in Fuquay-Varina and Niche Wine Lounge in Holly Springs, you have plenty of places in the Triangle to test your limits. Why not look into a spot near you and give it a shot?

abbeyroadnc.com
faintinggoatbeer.com
nichewinelounge.com

Try Stand-Up Comedy

Much like their musical counterparts, aspiring comedians (or comically inclined jokesters) have the chance to conquer their fear of the stage by performing at an open-mic night. At ComedyWorx in Raleigh, showcase your best lines or workshop new jokes in front of other local up-and-coming comics.

What do you have to lose? Even the best comedians bomb from time to time. Plus, open-mic performers get in for free!

comedyworx.com

Visit the Arthropod Zoo

Not fond of creepy-crawly things? Well, pushing past your initial apprehension to explore exhibits filled with fascinating creatures could be your ticket to overcoming those fears.

Located in downtown Raleigh, the Arthropod Zoo is a self-guided gallery located on the fourth floor of the Nature Exploration Center. Visitors venture through several different areas covering the world of arthropods from their biological relationships and sensory perceptions to their ecological roles and importance.

The Arthropod Zoo Gallery features 23 living exhibits and maintains an additional exhibit on the second floor of the Nature Research Center. In addition to its living exhibits, the Arthropod Zoo houses a large collection of living arachnids, crustaceans, millipedes, centipedes, insects, and miscellaneous other arthropods and invertebrates, both native and exotic, for exhibit backups and programming purposes.

naturalsciences.org

Explore Your Artistic Side

Expressing yourself artistically can be tough, and sharing those creative expressions with others can be even more of a challenge. Fortunately, the Arts Education Program at the Cary Arts Center offers visual, performing, and cultural arts classes and camps for all ages to help transition that discomfort into confidence.

The classes and camps are taught by experienced instructors who strive to create fun and rewarding experiences for participants. Many of their teachers bring expertise from professional arts careers to the classroom.

Artistic endeavors offered include Acting & Performance, Dance, Drawing, Fiber Arts & Sewing, Metals, Jewelry and Fused Glass, Painting, Pottery, Technical Theatre & Design, and Woodworking.

If you’ve been too timid to tackle your artistic side, this might be the year to give it a try!

carync.gov, search “arts classes”

Worth the Drive: Multi-Day Stay on the Appalachian Trail

With the mountains and the sea within a few hours of the Triangle, there are a wealth of challenging adventures to be had within a day’s drive. Some of the most memorable and challenging excursions are found on the Appalachian Trail, just a few hours away.

As outlined on the official Appalachian Trail website, the North Carolina section “rises to spectacular summits — including the 6,643-foot Kuwohi, the highest mountain — and drops into the dark and steep walls of the Nantahala River Gorge.”

Although the NC section of the trail is only approximately 96 miles long, it extends along the Tennessee/North Carolina border for approximately 220 additional miles. As the trail ascends to the High Country of the state line, you’ll traverse the highest mountains, including several above 6,000 feet!

Obviously, with the damage left by Hurricane Helene, the trail is in an ongoing state of recovery, so not all areas are accessible. That said, doing some research and planning a multi-day trip to this region complete with overnight camping could, in fact, be one of the most challenging (and rewarding) activities on this list. It also opens the door to unforgettable experiences that can be replicated in new and exciting ways year after year.

appalachiantrail.org

More From Our Jan-Feb 2025 Issue
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