"So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more dangerous to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun."
— Chris McCandless (of Into the Wild fame)
A new friend shared this quote with me yesterday, odly enough in the middle of the Superbowl which is not a time when one would expect to encounter such thought provoking words. Dan and I discussed it breifly, but I think that it is worth disecting a bit more deeply. It is profound for me (and for us) because I feel that at the very core of my being is an adventurous spirit. Dan is more in the camp of enjoying what he has to the very fullest. The reality is that we both share some of each within us and are just on different places along the continum.
I think, first of all, that one needs to define adventure before beginning this conversation. For me, adventure means not just heading off to unknown and far away places. It means trying new foods, listening to new music, making new friends, taking a new route to a familiar destination etc.
What does adventure mean for you?
Trying out anything new whether it's clothes, food, a new route, etc... Anything unproven brings risk--so that makes it adventurous. P.S. I'm a chicken!!
Posted by: Margaret | February 07, 2011 at 08:24 PM