I’ve only flown on a plane for one trip in my life. When I was 17 years old I was offered an opportunity to fly to the Bahamas for an educational week of studying marine biology. It was honestly one of the greatest experiences of my life. I wish I would have been as skilled as I am today at photography when I went. I wish I would have blogged about it.
The funny thing is that I couldn’t tell you where one photograph from that trip is. It’s probably in some random box at my parent’s house. Despite it being a cool experience far away from home (Upper Michigan), I don’t think I really want to go back. There is something about traveling to far places that just sits awkwardly with me. I think it’s more of a reflection of how much of society seems to think that traveling to far away places is the only way to find adventure.
I haven’t been on an airplane since then. That was 2005. I have not been on a plane since 2005. I’m not afraid of flying. It’s not that I don’t have the money to do it either. I just never felt like I had to go far away from home to experience adventure in my life. I have found great satisfaction in the places all around me. Over the last 7 years of my life, I have slowly comprehended what adventure really is. It’s something that I really think people should hear.
Adventures are not defined by the places we go, but by who we become.
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Each and every day of our life is part of a new or already occurring adventure. Continuing our education is an adventure. Starting a new company is an adventure. Going past the edge of town to walk in the woods is an adventure. Everything we do with our lives is a part of something bigger than where we are. It’s about who we are, what we are seeking and who we end up being at the end.
If we don’t appreciate the smaller stories we live, we eventually don’t care at all. You have to open yours eyes just a bit wider once in a while. There is so much around where we live. None of us can honestly say that we have been down every single road, to every single park and seen every single body of water in the state or country we live in. We easily brush off the things that are in close proximity and shoot for the moon.
It’s not just about appreciation of the area we live in, it’s the appreciation of the things we are able to do each day. We have so many opportunities to fill our time with. We have the choice to dream and the choice to take action. Those dreams can unfold right within us as we reach for new goals that we give ourselves. The internet is a powerful resources for all of us to take advantage of. It can be used foolishly through jealousy or wisely with determination.
I dare you to search closer to home. I dare you to step back and learn more about the places that you live. I dare you to learn something new and take a risk once in a while.
I dare you to change the way you define adventure.
