I have always been a fan of author Pico Iyer. I remember reading his amazing travelogue Video Night in Kathmandu in high school, and it became an inspiration for me to travel to Nepal my first time in 1992.
I was browsing through my quote database today, and came upon one by Pico which I wanted to share:
The greatest adventure of all…is any episode that involves a risking of self, and with it, a vulnerability that promises to transform us into something new and different.
A truism if I've ever heard one.
And, isn't this what life is all about, anyway? By risking the self, by pitting ourselves against obstacles, challenges, and setting difficult goals in life, we push ourselves to our limits. We risk the self. We put our dreams, our ambitions, on the line.
And we grow. We learn. We reach heights we never dreamed of before. We transform ourselves.
If Pico is right and this is indeed the greatest adventure of all, questions naturally arise:
- What goals are you going to set?
- How will you risk the self and thereby transform yourself?
Jake,
Have you ever read...
"The Adventure Attitude" by A. Hobson...
I quite enjoyed it.
DSD
Posted by: DSD | July 03, 2007 at 03:18 PM
I haven't read it yet, but have it on the shelf. Looking forward to reading it! And, I'll be on a trip with Alan in October - see http://mountainworld.typepad.com/mountainworld/2007/06/everest-rocks-t.html
Thanks!
-Jake
Posted by: Jake Norton | July 10, 2007 at 12:43 PM