Buzz
Do you feel trapped within the confines of four walls and a computer screen, while your youth slips away unnoticed? Or are you craving something fresh, something out of the ordinary? If so, pack your bag and go! You don't have to scale Everest or sail the globe alone to experience an unforgettable adventure (though those experiences are amazing). Let your imagination guide you, plan ahead (but don't overdo it), and don’t wait for the 'perfect day'—just go!
Steps
Discover Your Personal Sense of Adventure
Define what adventure means to you. People often associate adventure with something dangerous or risky; if that definition makes you hesitate, maybe you should think of adventure as “something exciting, unique, and a break from the mundane.”
- The standards for an adventure are entirely up to you—your perspective, desires, experiences, etc. What might be an adventure for one person could be ordinary life for another. Don’t worry about what others think, as long as it feels right to you, that's all that matters.
Seek inspiration. Even though you may be the one to decide your own adventure, exploring the experiences of others will help clarify your goals, desires, and limits.
- Read books and stories about famous real-life adventures. These not only provide insight into the activities described, but you can also learn from the experiences and wisdom of the authors or adventurers who lived those journeys.
- Talk to friends and family. You might gain more than just ideas and inspiration; you may discover things about people you thought you knew well. Who knows? Your quiet uncle may have had some extraordinary adventures in his youth.
- You'll also find that people's definitions of adventure vary widely. Does adventure mean skydiving? Traveling abroad with just a pocket dictionary, no itinerary, and no return date? Attending a party and volunteering to sing a song? Camping in a national park? Quitting your job? Don’t hesitate to borrow one of their adventure ideas if it excites you.
Imagine. What do you dream of? What would you do if you could imagine yourself doing anything you want? Seek out ideas for your adventure without worrying about whether they’re practical or possible.
- Ignore the thought that says, “Be more realistic.” That thought will keep you from ever truly adventuring.
- Create a list of “things to try.” Rank the activities from easiest to hardest, if you like, and cross each one off as you accomplish it.
Understand why you say “no” or “not now.” If you feel like you’re “losing your spark” as you age, it might be because you're clinging to the comfort of predictable things in your busy life. Coupled with the fear of failure that everyone faces, this creates a perfect formula for a life devoid of adventure.
- Are you procrastinating or avoiding your adventurous dreams because you fear the worst-case scenario? Face those fears and write down a list of your “worst-case scenarios” for each trip. Once written, use your logic to assess how likely they are to happen. Compare those risks to the chance of a car accident on your daily commute or suddenly developing cancer, if needed.
Don’t fear your fears. Courage will help you master your fears, not eliminate them. Fear is what makes adventures exciting, just as the name suggests.
- Mastering your fear doesn’t only apply to the actual adventure but also to the moments of failure along the journey. Do you know the saying, “It’s the journey that matters, not the destination”? Well, daring to learn how to surf is more important and meaningful than whether you can stand and ride the big waves.
Pack your backpack and hit the road (and return).
Be ready for spontaneous trips. Don’t wait for the perfect moment to embark on your adventure, because there will never be a perfect time. It's just an excuse for procrastination.
- Plan less than what feels comfortable. Pack your bags like usual, then challenge yourself to fit everything into a suitcase half the size. Hit the road without a destination in mind and without relying on GPS. Go skydiving without worrying about your will.
- Erase your expectations. Don’t think you can predict what will happen when you try trapeze or volunteer abroad for disaster relief. You’ll encounter unexpected situations, no matter how much you think you’ve planned. Embrace the uncertainty of life.
Say “yes”. When an opportunity arises, grab it. Next time someone invites you to do something you would normally decline, say yes. Go experience driving at a race track. Sign up to watch the next musical at the theater.
- However, don’t go overboard. If someone invites you to rob a bank or swap partners for a month, that might be a bit too adventurous. Set some boundaries based on your physical limits or essential responsibilities, but you can stretch those limits a little more than usual.
Seek a support network. No one says that an adventure must be a solo journey. You can backpack through South America or kayak over rapids with a friend.
- Join an adventure club. You’ll get ideas and support for your travels, along with some healthy peer pressure from friends to get out there and experience things.
- While exploring, find ways to stay in touch with your loved ones. Adventurers of the past often had to “disappear” for long periods, but that’s not necessary for you. Share the fascinating moments of your journey with friends and family, and you’ll receive encouragement to continue your adventure.
Make mistakes. This is where you need to conquer your fear of failure. Accept that when you first try skiing, you won’t be great at it. Don’t avoid visiting France just because you’re afraid the locals will laugh at your French. Sure, someone might laugh, but so what? Keep going with your journey and don’t let those things bother you.
Swim when you might sink. Don’t give in to the thought, “I know I can’t do this” when facing challenges. Don’t quit your adventure because the path is rough—adventure is supposed to be like that.
- If you didn’t get support on stage during your first performance, come back next time and do even better.
Celebrate after your adventure. No matter how successful your efforts are, take pride in your achievements and share them enthusiastically with others.
- Remember, the important thing is the adventure itself, not necessarily the outcome.
- Start planning your next adventure. Don't rest on your laurels. Keep going while your passion is still burning. Prepare for the next item on your "must-try" list while the echoes of your last adventure are still fresh.
- The best way to enjoy an adventure is to dive straight into another one.
Search for opportunities to experience life.
Embrace new experiences in your daily life. These activities might not be thrilling enough to write a book about or turn into a movie, but they are still fun, easy to do, and offer a wonderful change from your usual routine.
- Try a new cuisine – whether it's West African, Argentine, Pakistani, or a place you've never even heard of.
- Redecorate a room in your house with your favorite theme or a bold color palette. Paint each wall a different color and decorate your kitchen with Care Bears? That’s an adventure too!
- Visit a haunted house. If you’re up for a bigger thrill, spend the night at one of those haunted places.
- Turn off your phone and say no to the internet for a week. Or just one day. See if you can make it through without those distractions.
Dare to act. Step out of your comfort zone, especially if you're someone who gets nervous in front of crowds – this is the perfect way to experience boldness.
- Sign up for a belly dancing class and make it worthwhile!
- Attend a party and take the stage to perform.
- Form a band. Maybe you’ve tried before but didn’t succeed – why not give it another shot now? You have a solid reason to practice harder.
- Volunteer to sing the national anthem at a local sporting event. If you're worried your voice might not be great, ask a few friends to join you and let the best singer hold the mic.
Travel and experience. Whether it's nearby or halfway around the world, there are countless wonders waiting for you to discover.
- Take a long train journey through a new land. And don’t just sit still the whole time – get out and experience the local culture at every stop.
- Visit the land of your ancestors. Travel, learn about your heritage, and immerse yourself in a different world.
- Search online for pictures of the most beautiful places on Earth and make it a point to visit them. You can even print those photos and compare them with the real-life scenery.
Engage in some adventurous activities during your journey. If Korean BBQ or indulging in exotic cuisines don’t quite give you the thrill you’re looking for, it’s time to take it to the next level.
- Skydiving. Yes, it’s one of the classic thrills, but it never goes out of style.
- Cliff diving into the sea. Another extreme sport, and if you choose this one, at least you’ll be diving into a beautiful beach somewhere.
- Train and compete in a triathlon. If that’s too much for you, start with a smaller challenge. If you’re into running, sign up for a 5k and be proud of yourself for trying.
