I am a very conservative man. But, like most of us, I harbor a deep affection for the renegade, the bon vivant, the explorer, and the adventurer — the person who breaks conventional norms and steps into something unique, something different. That said, the true quest, I maintain, is to embark on the great crusade that is within me. Where can I go with my life? What undiscovered territories and lands reside inside of me?
History has taught us that any incredible journey of discovery is fraught with perils and failures. I was recently reading about the great attempts to find the Northwest Passage (1) during the 19th century. One expedition led by Sir John Franklin disappeared in the Canadian Arctic — its loss only fully documented in the later part of the 20th century. (2)
The alternative, of course, is to simply do nothing. Get up every day and go to work, come home, eat, and sleep. Years upon years will quickly stream by and suddenly you are old and bitter for the many opportunities, loves, and experiences that you missed. What to do?
The simple answer is to realize that all lives are unique. This includes my own. I must believe it to be so, however. No one will knight me with a royal scepter for my attempts to lead a fulfilling existence. At some point, I must take charge of my piece of life. We then come to the concept of success. I don’t want achievement in a conventional sense, I want to lead a prosperous life. What is my understanding of this word? Prosperity is simply the art of comprehending what is of value in my life. If it is for financial gain, I should pursue this goal. If it is meaningful relationships, the same. I am the captain of my own ship.
Human society, and our history, can be compared to a ship hurtling forward in an uncontrollable storm. Often the leader, the public figure, the head of our society — president, prime minister, or king — is asleep in his cabin when we really need his guidance. In human development, he has been away from the helm so often that we must learn to shepherd our ship through the turbulence of life.
When we take control of life, or at least attempt to, marvelous things begin to happen. An overall sense of well-being becomes a part of how we live. Not every moment and not every day, but a sense of direction and a commitment to see life fully lived to the best of my ability is now omnipresent. So, enjoy the tales of great exploits to the bottom of the sea, and adventures to the stars, but realize that you are also a great seafarer exploring the potential within. As Lao Tzu tells us: A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
A closing thought: Take a chance on you: why not? At the end of life, many claim that they are sad for the things they failed to do, the relationships that were not attempted, and the journeys that were never undertaken. I can choose not to be one of these people. My life is 100% my fault. Always excellence: why not?
To sum up: This week, we spoke of the great adventure within me.
To be noted: From George Orwell (3) — Freedom is the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.
Just for fun:
For reflection:
This week, on your adventurous walk, please ponder what adventures lie within.
Every day look for something magical and beautiful.
Don’t be a wage slave – critical thinking is great!
Quote: I am excited about my illustrious life.
Footnotes:
1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Passage
2) Buried In Ice – The Franklin Expedition – Documentary (HD)