When someone speaks of the need to “seek an adventure” do
you immediately roll your eyes? Is the first thought in your brain “I’m not
adventurous”? For some of us
adventure tends to be described by activities, which create physical exhaustion
and push mental limits to create a thrill, but that is not really what
adventure is. An adventure can
happen anywhere, any time, it is experiencing something new, different, and may
be out of your comfort zone.
This past weekend my mom visited Moab, Utah from Stroudsburg,
PA. (My mom was born and raised in
Queens, NY) She is in her sixties,
now a retired teacher, and beginning to travel more. I decided this visit I needed to plan activities, which
would show her Moab as well as be fun.
First we hiked Fisher’s Towers, then went zip lining at Raven’s Rim Zip
Line (my current line of work), not limit pushing, but a first for her.
The next day we went Stand Up Paddle boarding on the
Colorado River! She had never SUPed before and I took her through rapids in a
river, which is currently flooding instead of on a calm lake. She stayed positive and had a blast! We
then packed the car and went camping for her first time in a place so amazing I
feel it cannot be described by words.
She made her first real Smore, slept in a tent, enjoyed breakfast and
coffee, then geared up to hike in Canyonlands National Park and Arches National
Park.
Every day was packed with firsts for her, which happen to be
normal activities for me. However,
being able to experience them with my mom for the first time allowed an
adventure for me as well! I was able to see my mom push through nerves and
fears of unknowing. I was also
able to be there for her to reassure it was okay. She fell in one time while SUPing, which was kind of my
fault. At first I saw panic wash
over her face until I talked her through holding onto the board and floating
through the rapids until calm water.
She took a breath and went with it, got back on the board and loved
every second after.
New experiences do not have to be limit testing for them to
be adventures all you need is the courage to take a chance and the mindset of
staying positive. I recommend in
any type of adventure, partake with a calm positive attitude. I have been in situations where
adventures have taken a negative turn, I can honestly say staying positive and
calm afford the best outcome. I
encourage all to switch up daily routines or help someone else venture into a
new experience.
Life is lived, experienced, and learned through
adventure.
