The noun adventure, according to the Merriam-Webster Online definition (1a) is “an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks” or (2) is “an exciting or remarkable experience.” The Wikipedia disambiguation page for adventure sums it up: “An adventure is an undertaking into the unknown, often connotating [sic] danger and excitement.”
There are people who seek out adventure, hoping to brush up close to danger and find excitement. It is their belief that they will understand themselves better by pushing against their limits. This theory is widely used in adventure education, where youth and adults are intentionally put into new and challenging situations with the expectation that during the adventure, they will learn about themselves and discover how to function under duress.
Other people work just as hard to avoid activities that they feel are dangerous. They appear to be satisfied living in a routine and don’t wish to expose themselves to situations with unknown outcomes.
Understandably, there is little in common between these two world views. Still, in my life, I try to find a place somewhere in the middle.
Everyday life is full of challenges. Often we are required to make decisions without knowing fully what the consequences will be. If we avoid making decisions out of a wish to avoid danger, this has consequences. If we plunge forward, looking for excitement and something different only for the pleasure of something new, this too has consequences.
The balance comes when we look at life as an adventure. We know it is always an undertaking into the unknown, but we seek out, pay attention to, and acknowledge the remarkable experiences that come along during the journey.
My thoughts on the day after being laid off from a “secure” job of 8 years, with the prospect of new opportunities ahead but also the fear in needing to make my way without the underlying safety net of employment.
