Saturday, September 22, 2012

Try an Adventure



Love, like life, should be an adventure. We should go into it with an open heart, full of wonder and excitement. An open heart can be a scary thing, but it is necessary to experience all the journey can offer. Planning the adventure, trying to anticipate all the twists and turns, make it less adventurous.

With hard work the outcome can be amazing, like climbing a treacherous mountain with little or no equipment. When you finally reach the top, the view is spectacular and fills you with awe and a sense of calm and peace as well as a sense of achievement. You could never have experienced that without the danger of the climb. 

Sometimes the outcome can be dark, like finding yourself in a dark and tangled forest. Each turn seems to plunge you in deeper and a way out seems impossible. However, there is always a way out, with effort and help there is always a way out. And when the way becomes clear and the other side is within reach, daylight never seemed better. Knowing that we have made it through is a lesson that we should always remember. It is one of life’s most important lessons.

Sometimes it can feel like you are in over your head, like swimming out too far from the beach, the waves pushing you farther and farther away, becoming too tired to fight your way back. With determination and focus the seemingly impossible can be achieved. And there is always the lifeguard on duty, who is there to help. All you need to do is wave your arms and let them know you are in trouble and help is on the way. Always ask for help. 
Adventures can offer so much more if we are willing to take a risk now and then. Trying something new can be exhilarating and exciting; experiencing feelings we’ve never had before. Without the experience we can never know the true extent of our emotions.

The experience can go both ways. It can hurt us and it can exhilarate us. We should never shy away from the opportunity of an adventure, as long as we take lessons from the experience, and know our limitations, we will be fine.

There is, of course, a time to take a break from the journey. A time to just relax and take a breath or two, but don’t wait too long to get back on the road. Opportunity comes in many forms, and you don’t want to miss it.

I have an adventure this weekend that I wasn’t even looking for, but as soon as it presented itself I grabbed it. I can’t plan its outcome, I can only go along for the ride and take from it what I want.

So get out there and have an adventure.