Fitting adventure into our busy world
By Shane Robitaille
“Let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure.” ~ J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Going on an adventure is good for the the body, mind and soul. Once upon a time, when we were kids, we dreamed about adventures. Like Peter Pan and his mates, we pretended to go to far-away places, explore and break away from the ordinary world. But something happens when we get older.
With careers, families, responsibilities, and a go-go-go modern world of distractions, we start to think of adventure as only the stuff of movies, videos and books. We start to dismiss our youthful ideas as silly or immature. We start thinking adventures are something that other people do, people with more time than us, people with less responsibilities, younger people, people with more money, etc.
If you can relate to this, then the following tips might inspire you to rekindle your adventure dreams and start planning something epic — however you define it. Everybody deserves an adventure that brings them back to their youth, helps them experience new places, stretches their intellectual and/or physical comfort zones, and is good for their soul. :)
- Get a map.
- Find a cool place. Everybody’s adventure is different. It doesn’t have to be a destination around the world. It could be in the same town that you live in or a simply a place you’ve never seen. It might take an hour, a day or a month. You decide what’s best. Just make sure it’s cool.
- Come up with a plan. This is the fun part! What kind of stuff do you need? What do you need to do to get ready? When do you need to do things? Put reminders on your calendar. While planning is important, there’s no need for figuring out every detail; that’s what makes it an adventure! Make it a priority in your busy life.
- Tell your family and friends (moral support). Make sure to surround yourself with a tribe that supports your awesome idea. Read number 7 below.
- See if somebody wants to go with you but be prepared for a stellar solo trek if you need to. Going on an adventure with somebody is awesome. You will have memories that you’ll be able to share forever after. But if you go alone, that’s okay too. Going solo is extremely liberating and is a different experience than going with others. If you’re going solo, be safe and have a wingman, somebody who knows where you are and could help if you get in a jam. Get the local phone numbers for police and medical providers, just in case. Going solo doesn’t have to be scary; it just requires a little more preparation.
- Get ready. Dream about it. Get your body ready. Consider getting a doctor’s check-up if you’re starting a new fitness regimen. Eat right and work out if you need to. Dream about it. Read about others who’ve done similar adventures. Study your maps. Dream about it. Get inspired by getting to know rad adventure types like Alastair Humphreys, Roz Savage or Liz Clark. Check out National Geographic Adventure. Dream about it.
- Ignore the few people who will tell you it’s not practical. This is your life, your storybook, your dream. Let the boring people talk. Stick to your plan. Send them a photo or video when you get back.
- Go!
- Try to forget the ordinary world, if only for a little while. It’s not always easy, but try to forget bills, responsibilities and obligations while you’re out there. All of those things will be there when you get back. This is YOUR TIME now.
- Allow your senses to come alive! Whether your adventure takes you across town or around the world, enjoy every minute of it. Be there. REALLY be there. Notice everything. Don’t worry about being tired. You can sleep when you get back. Know that you are doing something cool and unique, the stuff of great stories. Smile. You can do anything. :)
“The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it.” ~ J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan
Here’s a fun video from last year’s cycling adventure to Cape Breton Nova Scotia.
