“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more dangerous to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.”
― Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild
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Every now and then I still get dreams about the day of my college graduation. The whole day was so surreal, and I can't believe how long ago it was at this point in time. Once you get out of college it just seems that time moves so fast, without recourse or thought for whether or not you are ready for the passage of time. I remember thinking on that day of graduation how I was on the brink of something new and great ... my life. How I had all these wonderful collections of memories that had somehow turned me into this young adult and would guide me seamlessly into the next phase of my life. But I also remember thinking, take this in - time please don't move by too fast ... I have so much that I still want to do, experience, and give.
Funny enough Sean Penn was at my graduation filming scenes at Emory for his movie Into the Wild - a story about an Emory graduate who tragically died while seeking out adventure on the open road. I remember getting a constant stream of text messages asking if I saw Sean Penn ... excited by the prospect of seeing such an amazing talent on my campus (at my GRADUATION!). Gosh, I had so many thoughts floating through my head on that day - mainly heartbreak at such a pivotal point in my life ending combine with frenzy of excitement that there was something new and different approaching. I made a promise to myself that day, a promise that I would really get myself out there in this big old world - exposed myself to all different kinds of things and people and places and advance myself through those experiences. I wanted to make every year, month, day different and distinct. Laugh, cry, smile, and scare - the whole garment of emotions - for I would have really seen and experienced things that would make me feel all of that.
Unfortunately, as I reflect back on that promise every now and then I feel as though I have somehow let myself down. But maybe that is just life being an adult - monotony and security moving in against the tailwinds of possibility and risk. I felt it as it was happening too, a closing off, a lack of openness that I remember having on that day of graduation. And I want it back, so badly do I want it back! I'm determined to have it back. Because really are you ever too old for adventure - for taking some chances, a little uncertainty, a new gamble? For after all "the very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure."
2 comments:
Very timely post for me. I can relate to the feelings you describe from graduating to being an "adult" and clinging to security. It's always comforting to read thoughts from someone else that align with yours. Thanks for sharing this.
Thanks so much for the comment! I'm also glad to know that there is someone else out there feeling the way I do too :)
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