In the words of George Eliot,
"Adventure is not outside a person; it is within".
When we go through an experience or event -- sometimes we seek it out, at other times it seeks us out -- outer events spark a reaction from within and we need to look inside to explore what’s going on. THAT is the adventure! At those moments, we look fear, confusion and pain in the face; and by looking more deeply we find courage, clarity and strength hidden within ourselves. We find wisdom in knowledge acquired through experience.
This journey is not easy nor instantaneous; however, when we immerse ourselves in an experience, we take the lessons learned and are able to apply the wisdom again in the future. The lessons learned in the "classroom", we apply in practical situations and the experience carries us through other adventures. Over time, we build a sound foundation of tried and true methods, skills, knowledge and wisdom. Instead of floundering in the dark at the end of our rope, we can reach into our backpack of well-honed equipment and face anything with the confidence and assurance that we have what it takes to make it through.
Bill Merchant of Iditasport fame says,
"We go into the Alaskan back country (wilderness) to find cracks in ourselves. We go back a year later to see if we've done anything about them".
My amended version is,
"We go through experience to find weaknesses in ourselves. We go through them again to see if we've done anything about them". Every person on his way to becoming a hero (see my post "
Heroes and Zeroes"), goes through trial and error (becomes a zero). Those who combine preparation and experience, as well as combine wisdom with fortitude have the ability to pick themselves up after temporary set-backs and failures in order to stand victoriously at the top of the mountain of their choosing.
In the words of Don Gardner (Arctic explorer and mountaineer):
"We learn most from our suffering and the changes and the challenges on these trips. You don't learn much if everything goes great. Or if you are not scared shitless by bears. You don't learn much on the groovy little trips you sign up with to see some nice scenery. You need to be challenged to see your character and soul. Some of your scarier and better parts. The scariest places have always been when I have been by myself on these long trips. My learning grounds. Those are the places that I learn most -- the scariest, suffering spots. We learn by our confusion. That fear of dying -- trying to let go of that fear. The terror that this is such a scary place".
Compass check:
- In which ways are YOU going through the wilderness of experience?
- In which ways are you being challenged?
- What are you doing about the challenges?
- How are you trying to let go of that fear?
Here's to joy in the journey and to adventures wherever they may lead!
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