Most people I run into seemed bored with their life. The status quo for a “happy life” these days is pretty watered down, pretty blah. Once you get your demanding (and often life-sucking) career, the 2.5 kids, the dog, the house with the white picket fence, two nice cars, yadda yadda… you should officially find happiness (as if it arrives in a FedEx box upon completion of such requirements.) But does this magic formula for happiness really work? If so, why are so many people so darn bored, seeking fleeting moments of happiness in trivial things?
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”
— Helen Keller
Hate to say it, Helen, but I think too many people would categorize their lives as “nothing at all.”
In the words of my favorite celebrity chef, Gordon Ramsey, “What a SHAME!” (In an English accent, of course.)
Is YOUR life a daring adventure?
If not, I have to tell you that you are setting yourself up for a major case of the DBRs (death bed regrets). DBRs are in many cases worse than Adultitis because there is very little you can do about it. At least in identifying Adultitis, you can usually start turning things around immediately, but at the end of your life, time is your biggest enemy. DBR’s do not afford you the time to do much of anything, except wonder, “What if?”
One of the major goals in our company is to help people get to the end of their lives with as few “I wish I woulda’s” as possible.
I wish I woulda…
- learned to play an instrument.
- traveled outside of the country.
- earned a college degree.
- volunteered for that important charity.
- went sky diving.
- gotten my pilot’s license.
- learned a foreign language.
- gone to the Super Bowl.
- run the Boston Marathon.
- adopted a child.
You need to muster up the courage (moxie, guts, faith, matzah balls — whatever) to turn that “what if” into an opportunity — a new daring adventure.
What’s stopping you?
I believe that deep down, under the layers of fear and uncertainty, a childlike spirit is inside of you just DYING for a little adventure, for the chance to show your spunk. I GUARANTEE you that you were NOT a boring child!
If you let that child come out to play, what would he/she beg you to do first? (“Pretty please, please, please!!!”)
I once heard a story about an elderly woman who was encouraged to go back to college. It was something she’d always wanted to do, but concerned about her advanced age, she exclaimed, “Do you know how old I’ll be when I graduate?”
“Yes,” said her wise friend. “The same age you’d be if you don’t.”
If your heart is still ticking, you’re here for a reason. Don’t waste that adventurous childlike spirit on a boring life.
At the end of the Curious George movie that came out a few years back, the “Man With the Yellow Hat” said to George, “You don’t need to go around the world to have a great adventure. YOU brought adventure to my life and now that’s all that matters.”
Travel within yourself to find your adventure.
And go for it. Leave the “I wish I woulda’s” for someone else.
George and I will be cheering you on!
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Hi Kim:
Great post…I’ve got to say Helen Keller’s quote has to be one of my favorites. On some levels my life feels like an adventure and on other levels, it does not. Your post is a great reminder about something I don’t like: regret. And I love the wisdom you share from one of my favorite children’s book characters, Curious George.
Regret is definitely a four letter word. Nasty stuff. We all need to keep this in perspective on a regular basis, as it’s easy to get into ruts. Keep living your adventure!! Nice hearing from you, Tim!
I am doing something quite extraordinary for me – getting an academic education in my late 50s. Left school with just the very basics of education, couldn’t seem to progress…went through life on and wing/prayer and a lick/promise mode. Had some tough times, then slightly better which enabled me to think outside the box!
I’m nearly done (p/time) – not sure what is on the horizon in the middle of next year, hopefully another exciting adventure will unfold!
Cathy – this is awesome! What an adventurous spirit you have! Thanks for your example and good luck with “what’s next!”
Many people live the “status quo” and think they are happy. They think that being able to pay the bills, having a home paid off and securing an emergency fund is all they need.
But the mind and body needs adventure to be its healthiest. Without the stimulation from experiencing challenge and leaving our comfort zone we never grow. Without growth there is no change. Without change we our stagnant and our spirits die little by little. Nice post to remind us all to live our lives fully.
Suzy
I don’t actually have a great deal of money…the bills do get paid but then what is left over isn’t all that much.
For me that is not as important as widening my horizons be the bigger picture of getting an higher level education or just standing still and watch the world go by.
Some days though, I want to just lie down and not ever get up again BUT then something exciting reaches into my brain cells and I’m off again with the current challenge :–)
Thanks for your nice comment! Well said!!! Unfortunately there are too many people living what you described – but not you!! Knowledge is power… enjoy your adventure!
It baffles me why so many people leave “lives of quiet desperation.” A life that has no passion or no challenges is simply running in place until death. Jimmy Buffett said it well: “I’d rather die while I’m living, than live while I’m dead.”
As you noted, adventure doesn’t have to mean hiking Mount Everest or bungee jumping off a bridge. Learning to play a guitar, recording the sounds of nature and giving the CD as a gift to a housebound senior, making a little child smile. There are so many ways to make your life passionate, if you’ll just stop your routine long enough to think.
Bob – I love your insights here! Stopping the routine – the everyday merry-go-round of life – is so important, in order to reset one’s perspective on living. I love that JB quote- thanks for sharing and adding to the conversation!
One of my new favorite quotes is from a “poetry slam” portion of a show I was just in: “The future is a great white canvas waiting to be painted – if we were only brave enough to pick up the brush.”
Love it!! “If only we were brave enough” – what a powerful point. Thanks for sharing, Kristine!!