What does Adventure mean to you?

The following post is written more like a journal entry than a standard blog, so I apologize in advance if it’s not your reading style, but I was really into it so I didn’t want to force anything else.

The word “Adventure” and the concept of it is so important to me. It’s part of who I am and what I love. It’s what drives me to want to move forward and always seek out what’s next. It’s what makes life fulfilling.

Definition: “An adventure is an exciting experience or undertaking that is typically bold, sometimes risky.”

Of course I may not be summiting any of the infamous 14 peaks, or breaking records trekking across Antarctica, or getting any first ascents, or hiking 4,800 miles in a calendar year, but I am deciding what are realistically lofted adventure dreams, working towards them, and even turning some of those dreams into reality. 

Though I do think of adventures as physical happenings, I also see the concept of adventure as being a big part of my own personal growth journey. It’s not solely about facing physical challenges like a mountain; it’s also about discovering this whole new “me” in the process. Being the best “me” means that I’m the best partner, friend, employee, and person that I can be – it’s good to have something that drives you.

Thinking and planning out new adventures also breaks up some of life’s monotony for me. I plan a lot of trips I’ll never even go on because I love the challenge and hate being bored. And sitting. Ugh jeez do I really hate just sitting.

Life can sometimes feel like a broken record, and the concept of (or actually taking an) adventure is the force that transforms your everyday life into a dynamic narrative, with each day presenting new opportunities and possibilities. Even at home. I think that falls under the idea to “romanticize your life,” and I will always agree with it.

With a little mindset shift and creativity, it’s possible to turn pretty much any day into some sort of adventure haha!

And for me, it’s also like a duo of a mental health spa and rehab center combined. Especially in nature, where it’s usually quiet so I can think and observe, but far so I can still have physically movement. I find it to be so healing.

Adventure is even a way to make me a little more extroverted and make new friends. While I won’t approach anyone in my local Walmart to ask what their favorite restaurant is, I will do that while traveling literally anywhere else! It’s weird. Or maybe I just become more “me” when I’m traveling and the real “me” does actually like those connections and conversations? We’ll never know. I think that’s also where organizations like Women Who Explore comes into play – I love meeting new people with similar interests, and find WWE to be one of the best places for it. If you’d like to join me sometime, I lead the Minnesota chapter. 

I lost my train of thought. But the point of this is that I love that life is really a choose your own adventure game. Or maybe, “define your own adventure” game 🙂

What are your thoughts on it?