Adventure. Heros/Heroines. Quests. Bows & Arrows. Swords.
These are all things that are part of myths. They are all things that we can imagine going on (Adventures & Quests), being (Heros/Heroines), and using (Bows, Arrows, & Swords).
Why is it that we want to go on Adventures so much? Not your "I'm going on an adventure in the Mall" but the real adventures. Across countries, through mountain passages, a fight for what is right, a battle against time, companionship at it's best and worst. Why is it that we long for adventures like those? Because in today's world, they are almost non-existent. With technology, you can click on Skype, and talk with someone thousands of miles away. Facebook chat enables you to send them a message for later viewing. Snapchat sends your picture for a few seconds. If you need emergency help, or need to be protected, you have the police, fire departments, hospitals, FBI, etc. all there to help out. The world has been almost entirely explored. So it feels like there is nothing left for "little ole us" to accomplish that hasn't already been done, or can be done better by someone else. & we already have instant contact with people countries away.
Why is it that part of our soul and mind hope and long for thing like dragons, fairies, elves, Hobbits, and things of myths? Why is it when exploring that old cave, our heart skips a little like a little kid's, and you can't help but wonder if there is such a place as Narnia, and maybe that if you explore hard enough, and long enough in that cave that we might discover the entrance? Or maybe the dragon's lair, brimming full of adventurers whom were long ago defeated, and all of the loot the dragon hoarded?
We want to feel like the world holds more meaning for us. We want to feel needed like Gandalf in Lord of the Rings. We want to defeat a great evil like Harry did in Harry Potter. We want to fight for a cause of greater good like Legolas in Lord of the Rings and William Turner in Pirates of the Caribbean (Ok, so William isn't as awesome as Legolas, but he's too awesome to be left out!). We want to have a mutual understanding with creatures unlike us, and yet so familiar to us like Hiccup and Toothless in How to Train Your Dragon.
So how do we come to terms with our adventure seeking spirits? For me, I know my adventuring spirit wants to at the very least see the world on my own. You can only learn so much through books, so I want to see what it looks like without photoshopped images. & what it feels like to me. if I can't explore the unknown, at least I can explore the "known" on my own, and travel over places that those whom did discover it traveled. I feel that this will feed my "adventurous appetite".
Another idea is to grab a backpack of supplies. No, not your Iphone, Ipod, Ipad, Tablet, Notebook Computer, Laptop, and Kindle. I'm talkin' necessities. Go find some abandoned train tracks. Follow them as far as they go! Or take a map, throw a dart at it, and travel on foot to where ever the dart lands! (if you hit the middle of a ocean, try for throwing for again for land ;) ) Then you can at least enjoy yourselves, and have a bit of "adventure". Sometimes not knowing where you're headed to, but anticipating it are enough "adventure" to satisfy you. Or knowing you can start another adventure at the end of the tracks might spur you on too! ;)
Granted there won't be Elves, Dragons, or Pixies, so unfortunately if you're looking for a adventure that includes something like that, I can't help ya. But There are many ways to feed your adventuring spirit! Each person has an individual "appetite" for Adventure. It's up to you to find your niche and go from there.
Whatever you decide to do, don't leave your adventurous soul starving. Feed it imagination. Feed it companionship/fellowship. Feed it adventure.
Happy Adventuring!
~Annabeth
