How Duck Hunting, Bass Fishing, and Running Taught Me an Adventurous Mindset for 2026
When people talk about adventure, it usually sounds like a distant dream.
One day I want to hunt more.
One day I want to get back in shape.
One day I want to try something new.
It is always framed as a future version of life, not the one happening right now.
That is what 2025 forced me to confront.
Adventure did not show up as some dramatic turning point. It showed up in small decisions I stopped postponing. Going duck hunting for the first time. Learning bass fishing instead of just talking about it. Training for and running the Peachtree Road Race after more than a decade away from long distance running.
None of it happened because I suddenly felt ready. It happened because I finally stopped treating “one day” like a plan.
That shift changed everything.
Learning Patience Through Bass Fishing
Bass fishing has a way of exposing expectations.
You can have the right gear, the right spot, and a solid plan, and still come up empty. What changed everything for me was realizing that bass fishing rewards attention more than effort. It is less about trying harder and more about noticing more.
Water clarity. Depth. Cover. Jigs. The small details that do not seem important until they are.
There were days where nothing happened, and those days were still part of the process. Consistency is not only measured in catches. It is measured in how often you show up, how well you observe, and how quickly you adjust.
The biggest shift came when I stopped trying to figure it out alone.
My brother, Dylan Hendrix, had been bass fishing long enough to understand what I was missing. I had spent weeks on the water guessing, and relying on effort instead of understanding. The first morning he took me out, everything slowed down. He explained why we were fishing a certain area, why the bait mattered, and why patience mattered more than force.
Within ten minutes of being on the water, I caught my first bass.
It was not luck. It was preparedness.
That moment taught me the value of humbling your ego and asking for help. Progress accelerates when you stop pretending you already know what you are doing. Sometimes the fastest way forward is learning from someone who has already made the mistakes.
That lesson carried far beyond fishing. Progress is not always loud. Sometimes it looks like listening, learning, and letting experience do the heavy lifting.
What Duck Hunting Taught Me About Patience, Preparation, and Fellowship
Duck hunting for the first time taught me that patience can be active.
Long before any birds showed up, there were early alarms, cold mornings, and quiet setup in the dark. Then came the waiting, which was not really waiting at all. It was watching. Listening. Reading the sky. Paying attention to wind, movement, and timing.
Duck Calls, Timing, and Knowing When to Stay Quiet
One of the first lessons I learned was that duck calling is not about constant noise.
There is a difference between a feed call and a comeback call. A difference between calling because you are nervous and calling because it is actually needed. Sometimes calling helps finish birds. Sometimes silence does more work than sound.
That restraint carried weight. You do not always need to do more. You need to do what is right for the moment.
Duck Pits vs Duck Blinds and Learning Different Environments
Where you hunt changes how you hunt.
A duck pit feels different than a duck blind. In a pit, you are lower and more concealed. In a blind, you are more exposed and dependent on cover and stillness. Each setup demands patience in its own way.
The environment matters too. Timber hunts feel tight and technical. Marshes require reading cover and wind. Open water spreads demand confidence and visibility. Every environment teaches a different kind of discipline.
Decoy Spreads, Shot Discipline, and Letting Birds Finish
Decoys are their own language.
Floaters, full bodies, motion decoys, spacing, placement, and how they sit in the water all matter. You are not just placing decoys. You are telling a story birds need to believe.
One of the hardest lessons was learning when not to shoot. Letting birds work. Letting them finish. Passing on bad angles. One rushed shot can end a hunt faster than a missed opportunity.
That restraint builds respect. For the bird, the process, and the people beside you.
Stories, Fellowship, and Why Duck Hunting Is More Than the Shot
The most meaningful part of duck hunting had nothing to do with pulling the trigger.
It was the fellowship. Sitting in the dark with coffee in hand or in my case a good cold energy drink. Sharing stories between shots. Learning from people who have done this longer than you without pretending you already know.
Duck hunting creates bonds through shared silence, shared mistakes, and shared mornings most people never see. That is what lasts.
Running the Peachtree Road Race After More Than a Decade Away
Running the Peachtree Road Race mattered in a different way.
It was my first long distance run since 2012, when I ran a half marathon. Training again was not about proving anything. It was about rebuilding trust with myself.
Some runs felt strong. Others felt heavier than they should have. Progress was not linear, but it was consistent.
Crossing that finish line was not a comeback moment. It was quieter. It was earned. It was proof that stepping away from something does not mean it is gone forever.
Why an Adventurous Mindset Matters Going Into 2026
All three of these experiences shared the same lesson.
I had to let go of being immediately good at something.
Bass fishing taught observation and adjustment. Duck hunting taught patience, restraint, and fellowship. Running taught consistency and the value of returning after time away.
That is what an adventurous mindset actually looks like.
It is not reckless. It is intentional. It is choosing to stop dreaming life away and start participating in it.
If you want 2026 to feel different, you do not need a dramatic overhaul. You need a plan you trust and the willingness to start small.
Pick the thing you keep saying “one day” about.
Learn the fundamentals.
Find people who know more than you.
Commit to showing up.
Adventure is not about doing the biggest thing possible.
It is about finally doing the thing you have been postponing.
And doing it with intention.
GEAR FROM THIS EPISODE
Hunt Ducks Not Doves Camo Hoodie
Duck season hits different when you wear this. The Hunt Ducks Not Doves Hoodie carries the feeling of cold mornings, wings overhead, and a good dog waiting for your command. Jett stands ready on the front with his loyal golden retriever, reminding you to eat more ducks and chase more adventure. Warm, gritty, and full of attitude. This hoodie feels like duck season even when you are nowhere near the blind.
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