I have always found this quote inspiring. Well, when I say "always" I mean since I started doodling it in my college notebooks (which I still keep, yes, every single one) along with random self-written poetry and the epic beginnings of many, many novels (all still unfinished.)
I can say, even as a young girl walking endlessly around the perimeter of our farm, that I've always craved adventure. I have tried to "say yes" to most opportunities that have come up in my life, especially pertaining to travel.
Some examples (paraphrased by me)...
Dad: "Wanna drive 24 hours straight and climb this 11,000 ft mountain with a group of us and then immediate drive back home?"
Me : Sure!
Friends: "Wanna come visit me in NYC {Dallas, Fargo, Boston, Canada, etc, etc.}?!?!?"
Me: Alright! Booking flight now.
Dad: "Wanna be a counselor on this church youth group trip, even though you just flunked out of your first year of college and have no clue what your next step will be and probably should be getting your life together? PS - there are mountains involved!"
Me: Sign me up!
Future Hubby: "Wanna move back from the new state you just moved to two weeks ago and continue dating me, oh yeah, and get an apartment together for a few months even though that is something you swore you'd never do and your parents might literally murder you?"
Me: Yes - that feels like the right risk to take!
(PS...we ended up married, oh, like six years later, so... yeah... Also, my parents think he is awesome him so it ended up okay.)
Future Hubby: "Wanna move (again) to another state and see if our relationship might really work (living separately this time) now that we are four years older?"
Me: Um...alright!
My Parents: Wanna fly to visit us in Prague and travel around Europe for a couple weeks, even though you just birthed your first baby and are basically hot mess?
Me: Are there beer gardens? Then yes.
Hubby: "Wanna move to Amsterdam even though we just finished our dream home renovation and everything finally feels settled in life, oh and you just had another baby?"
Me: Yes. God help me, but yes.
Oily Friend: "Wanna fly from Amsterdam to Seattle to hang out for a few days with twenty women you only know through Facebook and Instagram?"
Me: Yaaaaaaaaaaaaas!
These are just some of the examples. It hasn't always been convenient or seemed like the ideal time, but I have never regretted a travel adventure so I will keep on saying 'yes' whenever it is possible.
However, this spirit of bravery cannot be limited to travel. I have begun to think about other areas in my life that I've started to be more adventurous in, or that I want to be.
Motherhood. Friendships. My business. Witnessing about Christ.
All require a spirit of adventure if life is to be experienced to the full!
So that is what I am working on this year. My word is 'brave.'
I want to speak my truth courageously, and set about doing things that I never thought I could do before. I want to attempt things that previously I've been too scared to do, believing the lie that those things aren't meant for someone like me.
I'm casting off limitations I've put on myself and living 'wild + free.'
What area of life are you most adventurous?
Where would you like to be more so?
