Do you desire adventure? This is a question that I often find myself wondering. The movies are great and the vacations are fun but those are often romanticized versions of reality: a snapshot of the long journey. The camera is conveniently off when the main character of the featured presentation twists his ankle, the viewer doesn't feel the sting of pain. When Romeo steps in shit, Juliet doesn't complain of the stench or even tell him to remove his shoes. A life of grand adventure requires payments along the way. From financial instability to physical anguish, the true extent of the cost is never known until it has already been paid. Living a life of adventure seems like trying to escape from chains of comfort, like a prison filled with recliners and 1000s of devices designed to keep you comfortable, safe. Why would one sacrifice the comfort of looking at a pretty picture for the struggles of being there yourself? After all, you don't have to smell the shit when you experience it through a picture.
Adventure lies beyond obstacles like comfort and conformity. Breaking the rules and living in the extremes demands an aggressive lifestyle. Victory lies on the far side of struggle. Strength and fortitude develop with each step forward. The exhilaration of completing a life goal is only felt when one has sacrificed for it and is brave enough to cast away the tendencies that prop up a mediocrity life. One has no time for self destructive habits when the task requires your best self to show up in order to succeed. Laziness is not a option. Complacency is left far behind when one realizes that time is a resource that is bound to run out. Bravery and courage feed upon the conquest of each limitation. Confronting failure is common, for failure is often a welcomed companion on the way to victory. Like the stone sharpens the knife by knocking off the fringed shards, failure shapes the champions resolve. As resilient as the sun rise. The adventure marches on.
At last the context for my conundrum. On the road to the greatness it would seem there are few recliners.
Shannon before a particularly difficult day at Mt. Evans
