This is the third in a three-part series of articles on discovering who you are and what you love. I’ve been thinking about my childhood lately, mining it for clues that resonate with what I do today. Part 1 was on process, part 2 on curation, and this one is on adventure.
Focus on Adventure
The word adventure is often associated with travel. It’s about doing something unusual, out of the ordinary, off the beaten path. There’s an element of uncertainty and danger and excitement to it. Nothing is familiar, yet everything is seen with fresh eyes and we’re more willing to take risks.
We don’t often think of our daily lives as an adventure. However, in my online classes that’s exactly what I set out to do – help people see their lives in new and fresh ways.
According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word adventure originated from the French aventure, meaning “chance, accident, occurrence, event, happening” and from the Latin adventura, “(a thing) about to happen” or “to come to, reach, arrive at.”
Earlier it also meant “a wonder, a miracle; accounts of marvellous things.” Also, “to risk the loss of” and “to take a chance.”
Looking Back
I would not say that I had a very adventurous childhood, especially in terms of travel. Perhaps that lack of adventure created a longing for it later on since I do love to travel now.
The few things I do remember as having elements of adventure were exploring the woods in our neighbourhood and spending an exciting weekend skating at the Granite Club in Toronto.
My parents moved us to a different city while I was in the middle of high school, which was an unwanted adventure at the time (I grew to like it). They also divorced the following year bringing more unexpected change.
Seeking Adventure
Once I graduated from high school, I began seeking modest adventures – a trip to the Bahamas with a friend, a cross country trip to live in Vancouver, British Columbia for awhile.
Later I married, moved to the U.S. with my husband, and had three kids. We don’t often think of these things as adventures, but they certainly are.
I’ve had many adventures in my life since then, some involving travel. I went back to school at age 50 to get a Masters degree.
But, the best adventures happen right at home. Every day is an opportunity to be open to surprise and to see familiar things in new and unexpected ways; to let life flow through us. To me, that is the ultimate adventure.
Do you see your life as an adventure?
Related:
Adventures in Seeing Summer Camp
Adventures in Seeing on Facebook