Now that I have finished school it is an interesting feeling to have the option of going almost anywhere and doing almost anything. It feels almost odd at times. However, that doesn't have be a negative thing at all.
College Graduation (December 8th, 2012) University of Southern Indiana
People go on adventures for different reasons, and at different points during their lives. The definition of an adventure is not the same for all people. Here's a few thoughts by a climber/business man turned philanthropist.
"An adventure only begins after everything goes wrong." - Yvon Chouinard
“Real adventure is defined best as a journey from which you may not come back alive, and certainly not as the same person.” - Yvon ChouinardI think that the innate need for discovering what is over that next hill is what gives mankind the guts to first look over the edge, and then go beyond it if possible. It is what leads us to new discoveries which advance us beyond the primitive and into another realm of human existence. Here are a few words pertaining to adventure and discovery and the experiences which can be gained by persevering along the way.
"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe is as good as dead: his eyes are closed." - Albert Einstein
"When I was a boy the old chiefs used to say, as soon as you climb a high mountain, the highest you can find, do not stop halfway and look back. Climb till you reach the top. There you can breathe deep and look into all the valleys. Then you can say, 'I have seen." - An Old Nez Perce Chief
"We leave as we came and, god willing, as we shall return, with peace, and hope for all mankind.” - Eugene CernanThese were some of the views of a climber/business man and philanthropist, a physicist/humanitarian, a Native American chief, and an astronaut, on the what can be gained from taking that risk and just going for it. I think this is a testament to the human spirit of curiosity. There's one last thought from Yvon Chouinard that came to mind.
"A lot of young people come to me asking what books to read or movies to watch, and I tell them that's all well and good, but there's no substitute for just going there." - Yvon ChouinardI think that people should evaluate their options carefully so that they can make the best choices in life, but all those choices come with risks and consequences. At some point we just have to take the plunge. I've still got a lot of things which I plan on accomplishing in life, but I'm leaving them purposely loosely defined. I think it is important to leave room for unexpected opportunities and for times when everything goes wrong. To the spirit of adventure! - Nick
