How to Become an Adventurer

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How would you define adventure?

"Adventure" is defined in the dictionary as "an undertaking or enterprise of a hazardous nature; an unusual or exciting experience; participation in hazardous or exciting experiences. 

http://www.wikihow.com/Become-an-Adventurer

1.     For many people, "adventure" means being inspired to participate in extraordinary feats and experiences as an ordinary individual, to conquer something we once thought impossible, to find an outlet for freedom that our restricted working lives have taken away from many of us, and to leave us wiser, more fulfilled, spiritually lifted, and more in touch with ourselves as a result.

     A few things to remember for anyone who wants to be an adventurer: 

              1.  Be sure that your concept of adventuring fits well with what is possible, affordable, doable, and of interest to you in the long-term. Some ideas for adventure might involve the following: 

• Extreme physical adventure: such as climbing a mountain; sailing, diving the deeps (including free diving and base jumping underwater sinkholes); kayaking down a fjord; or spelunking, extreme running, etc
• Helper adventure (often under conditions very different from what you're used to): Activities such as helping to set up hospital or health services in a place without such facilities; training people and generally helping out in places without educational facilities; volunteering with a charity doing major overseas projects, etc
• Travel adventure: Not quite as rigorous or hazardous as the extreme physical adventure testing but still requiring a tough will and rough living, such as traveling to out-of-the-way places and pushing yourself to take on activities that are taxing and sometimes confronting, adventure involving retracing the steps of a well-worn path from another time in history.
• Charity or sponsorship adventure: Doing something intrepid and raising money for charity at the same time, including seeking sponsorship to travel or perform challenging activities, getting donations in return for completing a difficult adventure, etc.
•  Cultural discovery adventure: Learn more about a region in the world, the culture, the crafts, wine and food, art, music, etc., it's about discovering something you are passionate about but still have much to learn from.
•  Occupational adventure. Choosing a career can involve adventure if you select something like marine biology, space travel, missionary work, the military, art, journalism, historian, anthropology, or archaeology. These adventures are self funding when you complete the training, which may be long and expensive, short and paid for (military service overseas) or lifelong (art, music, writing). Academic ones may require developing a skill. Don't forget that with enough skill, anything can become a career - mountaineering guides, bicycle tour leaders, any form of coaching or guiding can become a way to make a living.
•  Self defined adventure. If it is challenging, demands the best of you and involves taking risks you can consider it adventurous. Adventurers are passionate, if you have a goal that you're willing to throw everything to the wayside to achieve and approach it with common sense, you are an adventurer. Adventure means accepting hardship instead of taking the easiest course in life, willingly grasping it to accomplish something wonderful. Choose something difficult that only seems impossible, then find all the ways that you can to bring the impossible into reach. An inner journey can be as perilous as traveling across the globe and as rewarding. Adventure demands and teaches believing in yourself and in what calls you.

     2.  Plan the adventure. A successful adventure requires good planning based on detailed research. Even if you're usually very spontaneous, the success of an adventure will depend very much on knowing what to expect and being generally aware of what you intend to do and get out of your adventure.

•  Do a lot of reading of people who have trodden in a path similar to yours before. Their inspirational stories of failures and success will give you an idea of what's involved. 
•  For some, planning for an adventure might mean taking a few years to gain qualifications, abilities, or fundraising.
• The mundane matters. Always have a mind on the details. If possible, talk with someone who has taken the same adventure.

      3.  Consider whether you intend to go solo, with a buddy, or with a group. Adventure is still adventure whether you're alone or with others.

• Any adventure that involves danger should have you considering going along with a buddy at the very least, and perhaps trained guides or adventure groups, to ensure your safety as much as is possible. 
•  Don't forget that you will also most likely meet up with new friends along the way of your adventure.

     4.  Get your health and fitness checked

• Know your health; see the doctor for a check up and if you have ongoing medical issues that need managing, talk with your doctor about what you can do to take care of medical needs.

     5.  Check your budget. Have you got enough money to become an adventurer? Most likely you have but you might need to scale back on the more glorified ideas of adventure in your head. Tailor the adventure to fit within the budget, or delay the adventure while you save up enough for the adventure of the lifetime you're keen on experiencing. 

•  Does being an adventurer have to be costly and not for those earning less? Absolutely not! Real adventure is simply living for new experiences, people, and places. Some of the most exciting adventures actually come from those times when a person has insufficient funds.
•  If your adventure is so exciting, quirky, and interesting, you might be able to get a sponsorship deal.

     6.  Clear the adventure with others. Do consider your loved ones. If your adventure is going to impact them through your absence and in any other means such as financial or emotional, then start talking to them about it soon. 

     7.  Consider updating people about your adventure via a blog, website, or social media network. Adventure seekers take time now and then to update their blog or to leave a note on Twitter or Facebook to let everyone know how their adventure is proceeding. 

•  Take a journal and document your adventure. You will appreciate being able to read it later in life, to recall the glorious fun and hazards that you experienced when you were free as a bird.

     8.  Get on with it. Most importantly, after you've done all the organizing, planning, checking and re-checking, get out there and love every moment of your adventure. 

• Not everyone has the courage to become an adventurer, to discover new things about the world and themselves, so give yourself a big pat on the back for being open-minded, energetic, courageous, and ready for anything!

If you've never considered being an adventurer and would like to try something new or have wanted to do something for a long time, I encourage you start with a list (no, I'm not talking about a bucket list) of what you would like to do. Think about things you would like to especially do in the next 1-2 years. Remember to make it realistic, but challenging!
To read about my adventures go to my post "My Adventures"
Sample list:

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