Use ‘Roses, Buds and Thorns’ To Reflect on Your Outing

Not every outing goes according to plan. Some problems happen that are out of your control, like the weather. But in many cases, your decisions impact an outing’s outcome. It’s important to Be Prepared, and you can start doing that right after an event — or, if you’re on a long trek, after every day.

Recapping and evaluating everything that happened and how everyone felt about it can help you adjust for the future. Maybe everyone loved fishing and wants to do it again. Great! Make a note of that for future outings. Or maybe most people didn’t like a new recipe you cooked. Well, kudos for trying something new, but perhaps it shouldn’t be on the next menu.

Focus on both triumphant and troublesome parts of the outing when sharing your feedback. One way to do this is to reflect on your “Roses, Buds and Thorns.”

• Rose: A highlight, success or something positive.
• Bud: A new idea that might have potential in the future.
• Thorn: A challenge or something to keep in mind for next time.

Share your experiences to help future outings turn out even better.