That’s the question isn’t it? What IS adventure? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it a couple of ways. 1) “an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks” and 2) “an exciting or remarkable experience”. I’ve listened to podcasts and audio books, I’ve read books and even asked the odd person face to face and learned one thing.. no two answers are the same.
When I was little, growing up in Vancouver, I can remember a vacant lot with tall grass and a couple of trails stamped through it. I would cross through the lot at a much slower pace and it would feel like I was on an exciting adventure. The grass was over my head and I couldn’t see beyond the trail. I would imagine wild animals around me or cliffs dropping off either side. I might well have been off discovering a long lost city like Indiana Jones. Then of course I’d pop out the other side into the alley and the adventure was over… until next time
Defining adventure is probably on par with defining what tastes good. You might cringe at the thought of good old Sauerkraut but personally, I love it. You might loooove mushrooms… Me? Gross! Who’s right? In our minds we’re always correct but , does that make the other person wrong, or just of a different mindset? Perhaps our sense of adventure exists exclusively in our own mind and is only there for our enjoyment.
Perhaps we can agree that what seems adventurous to some, might seem like a walk around the block to others but, does that really make it less of an adventure? A few years back, I rode my Vstar from Chilliwack, BC to Anaheim, California, by way of the Oregon Coast. Every year thousands of riders trace this exact route, making it routine for some. I’d never been to California, I’d never been to Disneyland and, I’d never been down the Oregon Coast. The ride was filled with amazing views, unique sights and friendly people. I learned about lane splitting from a few members of the Mongols MC (Motorcycle Club) at a fuel stop. I bought coffee and chatted with a homeless guy that had given me directions. A year long trip around the world it wasn’t but, to me…. It definitely felt like an adventure.
Referring back to the good old dictionary, does an adventure REALLY need to involve danger or unknown risk? I guess it’s partially in how you define risk. If you’re supposed to turn left but choose to turn right without knowing where that road goes… is THAT considered a risk? I think so… maybe not a risk in the “I might get killed going there” but a risk in the “I might not make it home to watch the hockey game”. You never know what you might find or who you might meet down that road. If you look at the second definition… that qualifies!!
In the end.. adventure is whatever you choose to make it. The most important thing is for you to get p off your butt and find YOUR adventure. Have some fun.. jump in puddles.. go for a walk in a new neighborhood. Whatever excites you …. is YOUR adventure.
Nick
“Ladies and gentlemen Take my advice, Pull down your pants And slide on the ice.” -Unknown
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