What Is Adventure?

What is an adventure? Is it traveling to far-off places? Exploring distant corners of the globe? Scaling mountains, or diving to the deepest depths? Is it being the first where no one has ever been before? Or doing something that's never been done? Is it only available to the brave, the strong, or the rich?

Through my adventures, big and small, I’ve come to realize that adventure is not just a place. Adventure can’t be measured; it’s not formulaic or guaranteed. It’s also not exclusive or as elusive as some people think. Adventure is not to be found in the distance you travel or in traveling at all, but in your willingness to try something different, to be curious, to ask questions.

Adventure: A State of Mind

Adventure is a state of mind, a feeling, an emotion. It’s the moment you cross the bridge out of your comfort zone and realize that life is bigger than you imagined. It’s the moment of euphoria when your perspective is elevated, when your worldview has changed.

Discovering beauty in unexpected places
Seeing people clearly
Connecting to each other and to nature
Feeling part of something bigger than ourselves

You don’t have to go far to find adventure; it’s all around you. It’s on your way to work, in your own backyard, in the smile of your friends, and even in the challenge from your enemies. Remember: adventure is in you. Adventure is life, and life is an adventure!

Feeling Stuck? Here’s Where to Start

But maybe you don’t know where to begin. Doubt creeps in and you may think, “I’m not the type of person who has adventures.” This is your first mountain to climb, so start climbing!

Go outside! Outside is a magical place where anything can happen. It’s away from your safe places and a shared space. When you’re outside, you become connected—

Connected to others sharing that space
Connected to the sights and sounds of lives outside your own
No filters and no barriers
Connected to nature, to the wind, the sun, and the rain

Reconnect with Nature

Speaking of nature, that's the best outside has to offer. Unfortunately, our society increasingly suffers from a nature deficit. The relationship between people and the woods, the mountains, and the rivers must be strengthened.

We often look for connections in easier ways, with less movement and more dopamine hits. We've forgotten what it means to struggle and to persevere. Adventure can be found in doing something difficult, something worthwhile.