Ask five different people to describe what adventure means and you will most likely get five different descriptions. This isn’t necessarily surprising to most of us, as it is true of almost any topic you ask people about. What I find surprising is that we don’t take this variability of what adventure can be to heart.
I work every day with a wide range of people, who are overcoming a variety of challenges, to help them and their canine companions live their best lives. I don’t compare one against another, because it just doesn’t work to do so. But I do find that everyone faces very similar challenges and limitations when it comes to getting started on their adventures.
Recently I was working with a woman who is pretty much home bound due to health challenges. As she put it, “Getting to the bathroom is my biggest adventure.” We had a lengthy conversation about that simple statement. I was fine if that was her choice. What I hate to see is when someone limits themselves because they believe that anything more isn’t possible.
She has an older dog who is quite content being with his human. He shows no stress, is in reasonable health for his age and has no behavioral cues that give me reason to believe he is dissatisfied with his life. His owner is very stressed that she isn’t giving him his best life and worries constantly about her lack of adventurous spirit.
My first job here was to dig deeper on that stress and guilt on the human side of the equation. She’s missing adventure in her own life, but doesn’t feel capable of anything that others would perceive as an adventure. My second job here was to change her definition of adventure from what others think/believe to be centered in her own definition and beliefs.
In the end, her adventures are the mundane and everyday for many. That doesn’t reduce or minimize her adventures. Taking her dog for a walk around the block is a huge adventure for her. It has all the highs, lows and risks that many of my RTW (round-the-world) adventuring friends face. That simple stretch of going around the block is slowly opening up other possibilities for her and her dog for even bigger adventures in the new year.
Another person I recently worked with is one of those folks who would like to do an around the world adventure. He has a middle aged dog that should be with him for a good while yet. We were working on some basic skills training and began to talk about his desire to go on a big RTW adventure. When asked why he was waiting, his excuse was his dog. “She couldn’t go with me. I’ll just have to wait until she’s no longer with me.”
Exploring his timeline and expectations for his future adventures, it quickly became clear that if he waited for ten years or more to start, he most likely never would. Also, a good bit of his planned adventure was very dog friendly. So I began a guided discussion to further explore the barriers to starting now.
In the end, shifting his view from an “all or nothing” perspective and helping him see the every day parts of adventure, he realized that the only thing preventing him from starting his journey was himself. I’m happy to say he and his dog are on the road and enjoying new adventures everyday.
For both of these individuals it came down to helping them define adventure for themselves and realize that adventure is what they define it to be. It’s not YouTube, books, tv or movies that define what adventure is or isn’t.
As we enter this new year, I would hope you too can find the adventure in every day life. It is not defined by the distances traveled or the height of the peaks you scale. For some, the uprooted sidewalk in front of their house is an insurmountable climb, while others climb snow capped peaks for a fun day outing. Adventure is about experiencing achievement, overcoming obstacles and challenges, conquering a fear or turning discomfort into fun. Get out there – whether it’s an urban walk in the rain, a stroll in your garden, a motorcycle or camping trip, sailing around the world or even just getting around your house. Take your best friend and start having adventures. If we can be of help getting started or overcoming a challenge, we’re here and happy to be of assistance – even if it’s just cheering you on from the sidelines.
Happy 2024 Adventurers!