Do the Extra-ordinary!

Stories

Do the Extra-ordinary!

Written by Ken Leinbach

Monday, 26 October 2015

Do you remember those little gift books you used to give as a kid? You’d spend hours, carefully creating hand-made “coupons” for someone special. The promise was to take an ordinary experience and add a little extra. One might say you’d do the dishes without complaining. Another would say you’d give your parents a hug or plan a movie night. They were fun to make and even more fun when redeemed ... well, except for the chores, but even those would change ordinary activities into extraordinary experiences as grownups would often join in to help.

We can all add a little extra to our ordinary lives. At the Urban Ecology Center, ordinary walks in the woods can become peaceful moments of reflection. A Friday off from school can become a family outdoor adventure on cross-country skis. We can help turn a cabin fever-filled Saturday into an afternoon of sledding followed by hot chocolate. Or an average evening into an extraordinary time of learning how to cook or brew beer with your best friend. Spend time together creating something extraordinary out of the ordinary. It’s just a matter of adding that little extra.

During this holiday season, I challenge you to do something extraordinary with someone you love. Notice I didn’t say buy, I said do. I guarantee that your recipient will remember the excitement of seeing a fox on a snowy hill as you explored together much longer than any material gift you give.

To help you get started, please click here, where you’ll find some “experience coupons” that you can share.

I think you’ll like them. And I know you’ll like the experiences that will result.

Tags:

Announcement: We Have Two New Directors! Let’s Be Real: Building Authentic Engagement

Ken Leinbach

Ken Leinbach is a nationally recognized science educator and leader in community-based environmental education. From a trailer in a high-crime city park, Ken has had fun facilitating the grassroots effort to create and grow the Urban Ecology Center which is the topic of his first book.

Striving to live with as little environmental impact as possible, Ken lives in the community in which he works and, not owning a car, commutes by bike, unicycle, roller blades, and occasionally even by kayak on the Milwaukee River.