Welcome to the first step on a wide open road.
I don’t know where this blog is going. I don’t know what I’m capable of making it. These things I’m going to find out along the way. What I do know is the general shape of what’s to come, where I’m going in general. This blog is about the people who live life as it should be lived, life crammed with excitement, life as an adventure.
Whether you live your life that way is a choice. Think of the Indiana Jones films. They could have been incredibly boring. Essentially, the films are all about an archaeologist doing his job: looking for relics to be presented in a museum. Instead of scouring Nazi-era Germany and Jordan for the Holy Grail; Jones could have spent two hours in his office begrudgingly picking through a box of junk until he found yet another arrow-head for the collection. Same basic story. Not quite the same experience.
What makes Indiana Jones Indiana Jones? What makes an adventure an adventure? I’ve been struggling with that ever since I decided to start this blog. You tend to know an adventure when you see one: treasure-hunting in Jordan–adventure; picking through junk–not. But it’s hard to name.
Is it the danger? Well, if I imagine that ninjas were trying to prevent Jones from sorting through that office junk, it definitely becomes a bit more exciting. Is it the importance of the goal? That’s a part of it. If Jones were battling ninjas for a stapler, I’d consider him more idiotic than adventurous. Is it the unknown? The exploration? Is it the fun? Scrabble is fun, but it’s not adventure. Well, I guess that depends on who plays.
I think adventure is about an attitude you take toward your goals, and all the above are what happens when you take that attitude. It’s about hell or high-water. It’s about pushing yourself beyond what’s comfortable. It’s about boldness.
The adventurers are the ones that really plunge into life, that think beyond what they know, that pursue values beyond their norm. And if danger should arise because of their boldness? Then that’s just an opportunity to take on a new challenge.
The attitude is everything, but it’s hard to maintain. And that’s where I want this blog to come in.
In the movie The Edge, Anthony Hopkins’ character says, “What one man can do, another can do.” Then he goes off to kill an angry 10-foot bear with just a sharpened stick and a plan.
Every Monday I’m going to start your work week by posting another example of a modern adventurer, someone who decided to take their boundless life and do something interesting with it. Larry Page and Sergey Brin of Google deciding to organize this potentially transforming internet thing and actually make it useful. Richard Branson starting out selling records out of the trunk of his car, and ultimately selling his little “Virgin Records” business for $1 Billion. And using those profits to launch the first space tourism company. Which will fund his little side adventures like making the first hot air balloon crossing of the Atlantic.
If they can take on their lives and make them into something cool, why can’t you? Let these lives inspire you. Do something you’re nervous about. You don’t have to change the world to take on an adventure–maybe it’s something as challenging to you as learning to cook.
I have a friend who was intimidated last week by the idea of cooking an egg. The other night he was up to sauteeing some vegetables that he thought would taste good together; they did. Next week maybe he’ll broil brined shrimp. Life is exciting like that.
So you ready?
Then let’s go.
Updated on April 26th, 2008: I’m not entirely satisfied with my definition of adventure above. It’s a good first try; stay tuned for good second and third tries.
