Join our conversation about How To Take The Adventure Of A Lifetime.
This post is the first in a series showing you how to make those huge adventure dreams a reality… AND your comments, questions, and dreams will influence where we go over the next few months.
Your wisdom is important, so please share below.
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Ask The Readers: What Is Your Adventure Of A Lifetime?
Huge adventure dreams are hard to share at first, right?
- Your parents might be disappointed.
- Your Nana could drop dead from shock.
- Your buddies might think you have turned into a selfish, insane narcissist.
- Your girlfriend might dump you.
Are you scared of sharing the Adventure of Your Lifetime with your closest friends and family?
Yo, if so… You aren’t alone.
I constantly get asked questions from Posse members about how to tell people about their dreams.
This isn’t an easy question AND there is no right way to do it (although usually I say, “Wait until you have a plan, be confident, be honest, and don’t look for approval”).
You see… most people are “Normal People.”
Most of our parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, co-workers, classmates, and even our lovers try to fit in, avoid change, have a stable life, and do normal things.
“I’m just like everyone else… PLEASE like me!”
Normal People have no idea how to process huge adventures.
Normal People will warn you about all the dangers. “Benjamin, if you try hitchhiking around the USA, you are going to get robbed, raped, and diced into tiny Lego-shaped pieces. All it takes is ONE PSYCHO…!!!!!!!!”
Normal People will assume you went crazy (one of the worst sins in the Normal World.) Or they will dismiss you as young, idealistic, and naive. “You don’t understand how the world REALLY works…”
Normal people don’t think you can make your dreams a reality… even though they may have even told you, “You can do anything you put your mind too” or “The sky’s the limit” or “Just follow your dreams.” BUT MAKE SURE YOU back to your Economics 101 class to learn the boring and irrelevant information that would take you 0.29 seconds to Google. Or go back to your computer job and keep typing those keys… say your prayers the economy stays strong, more people buy more stuff, and you don’t get downsized.
You are supposed to choke your dreams down inside, just like Normal People do… right?
Watch what some people have to say about their Adventure Of A Lifetime:
Normal people never make their dreams happen.
AND they will try to make sure your dreams don’t happen either. Not because they are evil, but because they don’t want to face a very harsh reality…
The life they are leading could have been so much richer.
They could have experienced more adventure than a Hollywood blockbuster. Their stories could be more interesting, than the latest Harry Potter novel. They could feel alive in the way Jesus, Buddha, and Eckhart Tolle describe.
Normal people never want to face this reality.
But, hey… I know I can be blunt sometimes to make my point… make no mistake, I love Normal People. I’ve met thousands of Normal People and they all hold a place in my heart.
- I just never take advice from Normal People.
- I never share my dreams with Normal People and hope for their validation, encouragement, or inspiration.
- I never base the viable-ness of my dreams on how Normal People judge them.
I don’t care what Normal People think of me.
Check out what our Posse says below… (and throw down your wisdom too)
If you have the courage to go on the Adventure of your Lifetime…
- Don’t expect support from Normal People.
- Don’t expect your Mom to get it.
- Don’t expect your boyfriend to pack your backpack and kiss your cheek.
- Don’t expect anyone to approve of you.
If you have courage to take action on your dreams… you will be alone. You will know something that 99% of people will never know. You will know more than your parents, you will know more than your Papa, and you wil know more than your crew of friends.
You will be a unique, powerful, and badass force of nature.
You will be a leader of our generation.
So… look into the soul of Normal People, see their beauty, hug them, kiss them, and love the fuck out of them. But never base your reality on what they think. Take their discouragement with a smile… AND go live your dreams anyways. Not only for you, but for the sake of Normal People too.
Give them a gift that they might not get from anyone else.
Show them our dreams are an invitation to be our True Self.
Your travel dreams are a call for you to start the journey towards your Highest Self. Your Adventure of a Lifetime is an invitation from God to unleash your full potential on everyone that is living now and everyone that will ever live.
You don’t have to go. You can reject the call. You can ignore the pull. You can try to forget that alive feeling in your belly.
You can be Normal too.
But if you do choose to embark on the Adventure Of Your Lifetime… then one way to start is to share it with a supportive person, group, or Posse.
Here at Adventure Sauce… you can share your adventures, get encouragement, inspirational advice, and practical information to make your adventure dream a reality.
You can’t find this shit anywhere else.
So… I invite you to start your Adventure Of A Lifetime right now with us.
Share your dreams of adventure in the comments below.
There are no rules. The definition of adventure is up to you.
What is your Adventure of a Lifetime?
I’ll go first.
My Adventure Of A Lifetime: I will travel around the world. I will visit the places that have the most impact on the culture of our world right now. I will go where the action is. I will talk to gurus, leaders, and artists. I will learn as much as possible about the people of our world.
I will create videos that will inspire a generation of Thoughtful People to create masterpieces, find their definition, set up freedom businesses, build their own Posse, and live a life they never regret.
Plus… I want my grandchildren to shit themselves, when they see what their Papa did. :)
Your turn…
What is your Adventure of a Lifetime?
Please take a minute and share in the comments.
If you have 20 more seconds… give one other commenter encouragement on their dreams.
We are all in this together.
Your bud,
- Benjamin
I feel you 100%, man!
The greats that people still read about had the courage to take the first step in adventure. They had the courage to learn to love others with their whole heart.
Some powerful inspirations to me have always been Yeshuwa (jesus’ true Hebrew name, meaning ‘salvation’), Cervantes (who was poor his whole life and wrote the greatest novel ever written, Don Quixote// his life is more interesting that Don Quixote’s), Thoreau (lived in his hut with hit plate and his spoon). The poets LIVED and LOVED.
My favorite quote from all the poets comes from the pen of ee cummings, “to be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best night and day to make you everyone else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight and never stop fighting.” These word’s are my life’s blood.
My adventure of a lifetime: to travel all around the North American continent on very little money being kind to everyone and doing thanks to those who show me kindness. I want to immerse myself within a Spanish-speaking community and acquire espanol and I also want to play the ukulele and learn all that I can about music.
Shalom (deep peace)
So POWERFUL!
I have to check out Cervantes too. Thoreau and Jesus are my home boys though.
That quote is the absolute jam too.
Travel on friend
I would love to travel overland from Kuala Lumpur (where I am right now) > Thailand > Bangladesh > India > China > Kazakhstan > Russia > all over Europe > fly to Iceland.
WOW!!!!
How would you do it?
Ride horseback?
my dream is to become a caretaker and caregrower of medicinal cannabis in a legal state for termanaly ill patients/elderly. anytime i try to tell people this they either think im nuts. “normal people” that dont know me personaly think its even worse because they assume its for $$ or w/e. in all honesty it is the mostselfless thing i have ever actualy really wanted to do. i mean ya i like helping people out but how many hours do i want to volunteer at the local homeless shelter or boys and girls club? this is something i want to do to releive the pain and suffering of those people 100% non profit.
people think im insane.
=(
I think you are insane too, Phillip.
BUT to me, being insane in our culture is ACTUALLY BEING SANE.
You have a dream in your heart and you know it is truth. Don’t expect people to support you. Get connected to your dream, and speak it with presence and confidence… AND some will listen and you will change their world.
i always wanted to see the world ,i like books and movie’s like into the wild ,the beach, Walden,on the road ,motorcycle diary’s etc .
and if i had more courage and a free spirited friend or two to come along,i would travel all of Asia north/south america and Africa ,look and act/live like the people from the area also do some voluntary work and along the way expand my boundary’s and learn how to make a fool out of myself and realize the world would not end when i do. yes that’s my dream
i went to Thailand , Spain, Israel with my backpack all by myself and going to china in February for 6 months or more
but if i where rich in a poor way
Ahhh… doesn’t that feel good to write.
Asia and Africa call me too. They are so different from the West.
I would continue my efforts as a cancer survivor. The goal, visit 28 countries, 28 cancer centers, collect 28 survivor stories, and write a book about the adventure. Oh and did I mention, I am doing this by bicycle. Why 28, simple, there are currently approximately 28 million people living with cancer.
WELL, how do… Vicky!
I’m going to check out your work by clicking your name write there.
Thanks for sharing and for doing your adventure.
Thanks Ben..I’m inspired by no BS people like you and a few others..
Good luck with your adventure Vicky, I wish you all the best.
Thanks Jamie..kind words and encouragement keep me inspired on this mission..
Awesome adventure, Vicky. I too want to travel by bicycle, but I don’t have as clear a vision of what I want to achieve yet. I have a lot of respect for your response to cancer (and your other experiences) and your concept of paying forward (as opposed to payback). Best of luck to you spreading those waves of kindness.
Yo Adam,
Me too… I’ve been logging a lot of miles recently AND LOVING it.
Thanks Adam..I will give you one piece of advice..don’t worry about a clear plan, get on the bike and go..I have learned that planning for more than a few weeks out just doesn’t work..life happens
That sounds pretty awesome!
Thanks Jefferson..it is pretty amazing..
As someone currently going through chemo treatments, I stand in awe of your efforts to raise awareness of the many of us that are going through this battle & offering “unlimited smileage” to everyone in all 28 countries your bicycle rolls across. My prayers go with you.
Namaste. May the Force be with you.
Thanks Jerri, I wish you much love and healing on your journey. It sounds as though you have been on the website..check it out again in about a week..we are rebuilding it and it will have more awesomeness than ever..more smiles, more inspiration..please let me know if there is anything I can do to make your journey just a bit easier..you are in my thoughts..
let me know if you need help in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. my mom is a (breast) cancer survivor and i have been involved with the support group here.
and i also can hook you up with the bicycle community here.
I often feel like a visionary beyond visionaries — and my dreams feel super sensitive and touchy.
On the one hand I wanna show off and blow everyone’s minds by sharing my dreams. I also know this is 1 way to get people on board.
On the OTHER hand, one of my main role models, Jay-Z, shares some pretty powerful reasons not to “Run Your Mouth” – see tip #5 here:
http://www.incomediary.com/decoded-17-secrets-to-jay-zs-entrepreneurial-success
So far, I lean towards the latter, but I’ll eagerly support any positive dream anyone lists here, regardless of scale.
I’ve been really diggin’ into Derek Sivers lately.
He says the same… that you are more likely to achieve your dreams, if you don’t share them at first. I’m betting you watched that TED talk, Jason.
http://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_keep_your_goals_to_yourself.html
Good point about scale too… it is tempting to want to have HUGE dreams to blow people away, but the most powerful adventures I see are ones that are closely linked to a person’s nature. Who their True Self is.
My second adventure of a life time is happening in two days… Leave on a road trip with the best of friends to travel the entirety of the country and to learn about as many cultures as possible and do things that I have no idea how the fuck to do because that’s adventuring!
THE adventure of a life time is back packing Europe… but that one’s happening next year…… c;
Powerful post Ben!
Like you, I want to travel the world and see as much of it as possible with my time on this planet. And also like you, I want to inspire others to go for their dreams and adventures instead of being stuck in monotony and normalness. (Working on my own site now, complete with a shout out to you in the future!) I’m fed up with seeing people unhappy with their lives, in part because they never really went out and did what they truly wanted to do. I won’t be one of those people.
If there was one thing I had to pick to see more than anything it would probably be the Egyptian pyramids.
oooo… yeah, the sun coming up over the Pyramids.
There have to be some SICK time lapse material over there.
Keep me posted on your blog too and hit me up if you need help!
Benjamin,
Thanks for all the legit videos you have posted and disseminated, they have made me change the way I deal with social situations and thoughts of adventure.
As for the adventure….. I think I would want to continue my medical volunteerism in far away places such as India, Nepal, Southeast Asia and Africa. But the biggest challenge I foresee would be my chosen mode of transportation – a motorbike or hitchhiking. I cannot imagine a better way to see the country side, see the small hidden villages and converse with the peoples of the world. I mean come on… random white man on a moped speeding down the road? Can’t be beat!
Thanks for the good vibes. I’ll be in touch.
-Zach
I have a thang for mopeds too, Zach.
They are so slow and dorky… they are sucking me in.
I actually have a broken down one that I want to get fixed and do a little trip here in the USA.
But you are right that would be a sick way to see those places.
Happy to hear your feedback too!
my adventure? hitchhike all through central america, get to mexico, fly to cuba and other islands then get to venezuela and hitchhike all through south america.. UFF..
I just don’t want to stop
Too bad you couldn’t add a dubstep beat to your comment, Risseth!
You have to know that song, “I can’t stop”
If you aren’t into dubstep, don’t go there! Once you are in, those crunchy beats will make other music sound like crickets.
Benjamin, you are my hero! All you have pointed out here is absolute true and I do experience it. So I don’t listen to Normal people, I stopped doing it, because they will never understand my passion of solo travelling and exploring new things.
My adventure is to hitchhike and backpack around Europe, to see how people live in villages, experience loneliness, being crazy, express myself, scream out loud and be happy being free!
We are going to need a Sweet Blog on that…
Especially the screaming out loud part.
Rock on Jenny, I’m happy you are here.
I like music and photography, therefore i’d like to travel around the world to the most craziest events and parties and make a book about it =D
Go to Burning Man.
Cool Idea Felipe!! I’d buy that book.
My adventure of a lifetime.
Strangely I have been pondering about this so much, that I think it is important to remember that it isnt necessary to travel to a new city, state, country, nation, or world to have an adventure of a lifetime.
“Everything you want should be yours: the type of work you want; the relationships you need; the social, mental, and aesthetic stimulation that will make you happy and fulfilled; the money you require for the lifestyle that is appropriate to you; and any requirement that you may (or may not) have for achievement or service to others. If you don’t aim for it all, you’ll never get it all. To aim for it requires that you know what you want” _Richard Koch
I have spent many years of my life imagining, I spent many of my years doing. My balance lies within.
My adventure of a lifetime involves first within my community (right now that is SLC, UT.
Its my passion to expand and get to know people, be the support that others need to provide themselves their own ability to achieve what they want. There are no wrong answers or right, its all relative. When my work is done, my life will lead me to my next destination, yes I do have my choice of where that will be and the time will come, but to me the physical location is not what is important.
I find people forget to live with their senses. How important are they?
My adventure will involve tasting the spices of new cooking,new dirt or earth that flutters into my mouth, a first kiss, a first delicacy of freedom.
My adventure involves feeling uncomfortable, comfortable, sick from new illnesses, love from someone new, caring from a new culture, lost, found, disoriented, hurt physically , mentally, and/ or psychologically…..
My adventure involves hearing new languages, new words, new utterances that make no sense, new arguments, new perspectives, how one has 20 words to say coconut or love. Hearing new noises of people, animals, transportation, new sighs of exhaustion, happiness, sadness, cat calls.
My adventure involves seeing new faces, new ways, new clothes, new dirtiness, new cleanliness, new religion, new ways of life, new destruction, new lies, new truth, new colors, new futures, new misfortunes. Seeing life from my eyes in a whole new way.
My senses are flooded with extravaganza.
I am in complete and utter balance because there is no balance.
It is my world that I can take in that is so overlooked even outside my apartment door.
When I realize what I want and what I have to offer it will all fall into place, but to be more specific my life time adventure is ride my bike from the US to the southern tip of SOuth America finding all I find in between and documenting all of it, bringing unity with myself and being a person that can share the stories with the world.
ahhhhhhhh….
I really enjoyed reading this.
Your comment was a much needed addition to this piece. Adventure is all around us and it is a mistake to choose a big adventure for the sake of bigness…
Choose the adventure that is in your nature.
Live life as an adventure.
BUT if you do have a big adventure in your heart… then go for it.
Ruth that is deep man.
After residing in three different country’s and visiting a few more I have come to the conclusion that a life time is an adventure if you choose it to be no matter where you are.
Every moment is an adventure!
You’re post’s ALWAYS inspire me man. I’ve been introducing some of my friends to you to and they’re fascinated!
My adventure is to hitchhike around North America, write it all down, and make music out of it all. I want to run around the country with any instrument that I can fit into my pack to entertain and travel.
I’m nervous as fuck but I can’t wait! Maybe we’ll meet on one of our travels! Hahaha.
Keep up the good work man, I love what you’re doing.
Yo Zak,
Sounds like a fun adventure.
I gotta learn about music one day… my brain just can’t quite comprehend how it works. Happy you got it covered.
I don’t care how “naive” and “idealistic” this is; my dream is to bring back the spirit and the community of the 60s flower children. i want to organize a variety of free events weekly: drum circles, gatherings, free concerts, etc. We live life with such a fast pace, with so many desires that we stop caring about others. We are scared to get close to others; this society is all about “personal space”. It is my dream to bring back true, unconditional love for all. i have already created some events where everyone gives things that they no longer want, and get in touch with nature
People and love are at the core of all I do.
You know… true, unconditional love is here too. It may be hard to see, hard to feel, but in comments like yours, and the others on the site it is here. It is also in our every day lives as often as we can bring our own true and unconditional love out.
Nature rules too!!!!
I’ve hitchhiked across the country twice and paddled down the Mississippi River in a 12′ boat. The next adventure goal is to row across the Pacific Ocean from California to Hawaii. I know it’s a good idea because everyone I tell says I shouldn’t do it. That’s a strange form of encouragement for me.
A serious ADVENTURER… Phillip.
Thanks for sharing.
I wonder if that encouragement is because you dig expanding what you believe is possible AND showing others as well.
I know I get OFF on that
.
Rock it!
Good stuff mate, I’d love to travel across Japan or Germany, I’m going to see if I can get into an exchange program next year for Germany, I have a few friends who are living there now who could show me around. I’m just still a bit scared about studying abroad.
Random question, have you read any Terrence Mckenna?
[...] This post is the second in a series helping you learn, How To Make Your Adventure Of A Lifetime happen. Check out the conversation from last week’s post as Posse members shared their Adventure of a Lifetime. [...]
I did it man,
I completed my first big adventure.
A couple of years ago, i was working, building my own business and doing great. I had a good car, travelling a lot in Brazil and almost buying a apartment. But…i wasn’t happy. I always had a dream…travel the world.
I was 29 years old, no girlfriend, no kids, no big obligations. I realized that i could do whatever i wanted. So, i sold everything and started to travel. In one year, i visited 17 countries, i started a travel blog too, i decided to try a new career. Something that could make me happy…i want not just to live, i want a exciting life.
I want you to know that you are one of my encouragers. It’s the first time that i’m writing, but i always follow your work. I know is hard, but we can live and make money in a different way.
Cheers bro!!!
Yo Yo Yo! CONGRATS! APPLAUSE coming from here!
Thanks for sharing. Just checked out your blog (but I’m going to have to work on my Portugese to really dive in).
I’ve been to Portugal twice and I know a tiny bit… mostly “A mule mais bonito du mundo.” Although I can say it better than I know how to write it.
Stay in touch and I’d like to learn more about your story.
Hey Benjamin, thanks for your motivating book “Shoot the breeze”. I read almost all of it. It was inspiring, and it gave me an Idea. I’m an aspiring musician. I’m trying to write songs and make music with guitar or electronically that I find interesting, but also that I hope will inspire others as well. But it’s more difficult than you can imagine. How do I write lyrics and text that inspire others when I can hardly make sense of myself? After I reading your book, I want to speak with people and find out their story, and turn their stories into songs. This is my Adventure. I’m still so hesitant of speaking to strangers, but I think the Idea is good. I would love to become a traveling musician, who goes from town to town, telling human stories in song.
Yeah, man.
Most great artists are kind of a mess, right?
Picasso was fuckin’ lots of women & chain smokin’ his ass off. Van Gogh was earless and painting away.
Just take it day by day my man. One person a day. Then when you got that. 2.
Benjamin, I’M IN!
Going to live MY dream for two months in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia.
Landing in Vietnam 30/10/12
My first trip outside Europe
My first trip with a person I rarely know
My first notable…and hopfully not my last
(AND I FUCKIN’ CAN’T WAIT TO GET ON THAT PLANE)
Read all your peoples posts and think you’re all amazing for sharing.
Wish you all best Vicky, do the 28!!!
Loved your post: Ruth Arevalo especially:
‘’My adventure involves hearing new languages, new words, new utterances that make no sense, new arguments, new perspectives, how one has 20 words to say coconut or love. Hearing new noises of people, animals, transportation, new sighs of exhaustion, happiness, sadness, cat calls.’’
Euphoria- I loved your thoughts about getting closer to each other!
Keep on fighting folks!
LOVE
/Rebecka
I dont know what form my ultimate adventure takes. I have fallen in love with a girl who live her life true to her passion in work and play, traveling the world and she has most of her shit sorted. She thinks i am pretty all right to, her example of how she lives her life shows me just how much I have been coasting along through life. Insert insecurities here.
I have been on a road trip around the US and that is where I met her and now I am living with this girl for the last 6 weeks and i have 5 more to go before I have to leave the US. The road trip was step 1 in my getting into adventure, 14,500 miles since the start of the trip. But I found my self in a rut when I stopped traveling to stay in denver. Then I shook my self out of it and got active, hiking yoga, training, I also took improv theater classes. I know i have anxiety issues to work through, I need to practice shooting the breeze with anyone more, without just talking about me and my crap. learning to let go of control and not over think everything. Listen to my heart to be able to do what is rite for my path.
I will have 6 months away from this wonderful woman back in my home country of Australia and I want to work on my emotional independence and what ever else I need to. before hopefully meeting up with this wonderful woman again somewhere else in the world.
So my adventure is to sort my own shit out, connect to my purpose and go where that leads. Maybe get back to this woman if that is where my heart leads when the time comes (hers too).
Yo yo yo!
Love on the road… warms my heart.
Cool keep me posted how it is going for you and ask questions if you need help.
What up, Sauce Posse??
I subscribed about two weeks ago . . . I love the energy and nonconformity of all you crazies!
Here’s my adventure of a lifetime . . .
I want to travel . . . for a LONG time, connect with people all over the world, experience their cultures, learn their stories, make friends, and help out. I want to see what non-profits are like on the ground level, see what common problems they run into, and find my focus . . . to find what type of organization I want to create. I want to write about it all . . . in a way that draws people in, helps them focus on the things most important to them, and helps make the world a little smaller. I want Americans to read the stories of Nicaraguans, Hondurans, Africans, Chileans . . . I want to pull back the cloak from people’s eyes and help them experience the JOY, PAIN, and PASSION of others all over the world.
I’m doing it, by the way . . . starting with baby steps, but I’m going in the right direction. I travel to Central America every four months and connect with random non-profits, I have four blogs, I write and read as much as possible to work on my style. I’m starting a small business in three months (I finally told my 9-5 boss I was quitting on last Thursday), and then I hope to pull back from the labor within 6- to 12-months, giving me the financial and time freedom to explore the world and study the things I love.
So . . . there’s my adventure
Woah Woah Woah!!!
Quitting… NICE! Congratulations…
Sounds like we are on similar missions, Jefferson. I’m excited to learn more
So I might already be on my adventure of a lifetime. Tell me what you think.
I graduated college in May and the day after my graduation, I met up with a friend in Costa Rica and we also travelled to Nicaragua for 2 weeks. Then I came back to Missouri, packed my car with all my belongings, and drove out to California. I was a camp counselor way up in the Sierra Nevadas for 2 months, then after began my next journey, cruising to San Fran first to visit friends.
From there, I traveled all over the northwest, going through Lake Tahoe, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Canada (I recommend Banff National Park, best sights I’ve seen) and back down the coast to San Fran through Washington and Oregon. We saw so many great, wondrous views and went through most National Parks along the way.
I think another part of the adventure is trying to be a frugal as you can be. I slept in my car every night, bought some cheap food, and only spent money on a few experiences. And I used to be such a thrifter, so passing those stores was so hard to do. But I absolutely loved it.
I also believe what you know you’re going to do next makes the adventure even greater. I bought a one way plane ticket to Europe and I’m leaving in a week. All I’m carrying is my backpack. Exploring new cultures and sights. Meeting whoever is around. I just cannot wait.
Even writing all of this makes me realize how great my life is. Can’t wait to see what comes next.
I’m new to Adventure Sauce, but I’m all about this. Ben, you are the man.
You are the man, MantaClause (sweetest nickname, email thang ever
I love Banff too… and keep us posted in Europe
I love this post, Benjamin! Thanks for the encouragement!
My adventure consists of starting a non-profit business to help another non-profit >> https://www.ikat.org/ which builds schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. My business will (eventually) be selling equestrian products such as saddles, riding gear, and even just regular clothing.
Within the next few years, I’m also going to ride one of my horses across the US to raise awareness and support for the Central Asia Institute! Maybe after that I’ll do rides overseas, as well!
However, before I realized this dream, I had to drop out of college. I was miserable and there was no visible goal for me to reach at the end.
So, a few weeks ago, I quit.
And it was incredibly difficult. I had to break the news to my friends and family and most weren’t particularly happy with me.
But, what happened to me after I starting living my life how I wanted was absolutely incredible. Once I allowed myself to let go of the things that everyone else says are so important, it was amazing how quickly everything else fell into place.
I met an amazing group of friends (thanks, CouchSurfing!), am studying things that I actually enjoy on my own, decided to go back to school for a business degree in the spring or fall (boring for me, but I’m more than happy to be working FOR something!), and am just an all-around happier person. What I wanted and needed to do with my life became clear within two weeks.
The beauty of it is how my friends and family reacted. When I initially told them about quitting school, they told me I was crazy. BUT, when I explained what I wanted to do, they were so happy for me! I was shocked and elated. Not a single person has told me that I’m crazy.
Except for the solo horse-back ride across the continent. Mom doesn’t know about that one yet.
So, for those wondering how to explain your dream to your friends and family, my biggest suggestion would be for you to be absolutely overjoyed about your adventure. Explain it to them in such a way so that they can know just as well as you that your adventure is your life’s work. If you aren’t absolutely, extraordinarily, off-your-rocker excited about your adventure, it will be much harder to talk to people about it, I promise.
I love whats happening in the Posse. Such love and support is rare these days and is definitely something to be excited about! Thanks so much for allowing me to be a part of such an amazing group of people. =)
Much love and beautiful days,
Sarah
I loved your story, Sarah.
You are right too.
Show them how much it means to you… how much it makes you come alive… and if they love you they will see it.
Rock and roll!
My adventure of a life time would be to travel the world and embrace and experience as much different cultures ad I can.
I’m already starting my dream, I wanted to see the East Coast of Canada, so I packed my pack and hitched/walked all over the East Coast. Such a beautiful place!
Yo Steve,
Gotta go meet me a ton of Canadians one day. You Canadians are so nice
I’m finishing school this December and using my newfound horticultural skills to support my 10,000kms hitchhiking adventure around Australia. I’m going to volunteer on farms in India, eat in Italy and hop a freight train. I’m going to hike in Alaska and Peru and pick grapes in France. I’m going to be scared out of mind, meet the coolest people, be penniless and learn more than an infinity of books could ever teach me.
You will be a living book. You are the hero.
You will be the Thoreau… Kerouac… Siddhartha… Thanks for being a part of what we are doing here.
Well, well..I’m an extreme sports and travel adventurer. My number one on my bucket list was skydiving..and I have already checked that off this summer
now I want to see the northern lights. Also, travel the world and go on Christian and medical missions. btw, next summer my friends and i plan to go on a cross-country roadtrip. we wanted to hitchhike/couchsurf but is that safe for girls..what do you think??? lol
Yo Ria,
Number one done… NICE!
I gotta see the northern lights too… I was trying to see them in Banff… but they weren’t cooperating
.
As for hitchhiking & couchsurfing safe for girls… There are dangers, of course. Is it doable? Yes. Has it been done completely safe? Yes. It is all about maximizing all your opportunities.
If it is your first time, having a partner would decrease your risk. Women get WAY more offers of rides, so you can be much choosier. Or even wait at Gas stations near the highway and only ask people who look completely harmless (aka Old women
. Then, don’t hitchhike at night. Stuff like that.
I’d do a short trip with a friend (like to the next town) and see what you think. Then gauge it up from there.
Couchsurfing is very safe… especially if you just do a little screening of the dudes that look like they are trying to hook it up
.
I have actually hitchhiked by myself in high school haha. it’s the risk taker adventurer in me..or just plain naive idk lol. it was raining after school and i had to walk home but it was all flooding so i went on a different route home and i kinda got lost so i asked if i was going the right way to this one man. and since it was raining and flooding (i didnt have an umbrella either), he offered me a ride home. i accepted and only when in the car, i realized i could have been in serious trouble Lol but all was fine, stranger was just nice enough to give me a ride home. im more scared of couchsurfing cuz it’s someone’s on own private home
some people think it’s dangerous for girls to hitchhike/couchsurf. but i like that tip about waiting at gas stations and choosing who to ask 
thanks!!!
I want to travel non stop for as long as I want. I want to see everything there is to be seen, and not the touristy shit either. I’m talking about the REAL, seeing all of beauty and depth of the real world and all the crazy fun people in it.
How will I achieve this? I’ve no idea quite yet, but I know it’s what I want.
BOOM! Adam. That’s where it starts. Admit you want it, then just start taking daily action towards it.
[...] He thanked me for commenting in his post http://www.adventuresauce.com/2012/09/atr-adventure-lifetime/. [...]
I am going to better the world. Even If I help only one person to make their life better, I am happy. I am going to show the world that achieving a healthy body and mind doesn’t need to be a chore. I am going to encourage people to go out there, move…exercise…get off their couches and do more stuff!
)
I am going to try yoga in India, Muay Thai in Thailand, surfing in Indonesia, Aussie Football in Australia etc.
I am going to film it all, keep a blog and get people interested in doing more shit!
I am going to help fellow travelers to stay in shape, eat healthy foods and do awesome stuff.
I AM going to make some money of my blog so I can do this for as long as I possibly can, and help as many people as I can achieve a better lifestyle while having more fun!
Thanks for letting me share my plans Benjamin(I am leaving for Thailand in May
P.s. You know Rúnar from Iceland, he’s one of my best friends and former travel companion, but now he’s living in a van in San Fransisco, the bastard
Ahhh… A Runar friend is a friend of mine.
I love hearing about your dreams, Skull. Stay in touch and let us know if we can help.
I’m living it. I left the corporate world to be a professional musician. Right now I’m on tour in Ireland about to head over to mainland europe. I am respected by my peers. I play in a bunch of awesome bands and lead another awesome band. I have crazy ambitious goals and sometimes I am not as productive as I want to be, but everyday I am moving toward greater mastery of my crafts and everyday I am learning something new. Even through times of troubles I’m thankful that I get to choose my own life and that there is such a dope community like adventure sauce to support.
Yo Marcus, WELCOME!
I’ve been waging war on Productivity for awhile now… and am finally getting it under my thumb
. Every day is the adventure, take the steps every day.
I am currently planning a trip from Canada to Uruguay. Woofing, couch surfing, guerilla camping the way down. I hope to learn about organic farming, eco building and eco energy which i have already started to learn on my spare time. The dream is to discover America (the continent) it’s people,history and it’s culture in turn I hope to discover more about myself, learn and practice a sustainable life style. A more recent adventure was an unexpected trip to Florence and Venice to meet up with my brother and father. It was a amazing and insightful experience.
Benjamin, what an awesome site you have! Your writings and video’s really inspire me a lot and motivate me to take ACTION!
Next thing is planning the trip of my lifetime: take the transsiberian express through Russia, Mongolia, China and then travel to Nepal, Tibet and India. Hopefully at the start of 2013.
Also great to read all the other people’s ‘Adventure Of A Lifetime’ dreams, I wish everyone the best luck to make it come true. I myself have started a new chapter of my life by quitting the job I didn’t like anymore. Yesterday I had my last day at the office, and it feels fantastic! Why keep doing and wasting your time with something that doesn’t make you happy? Now,a new adventure starts, everything is possible again
Congrats KEEZ!
Ahhhh… I’m taking a breath of joy for you.
I’m excited to learn more about your projects & adventures. Breadbox is pretty badass too.
What a wonderful site i found! i was surfing some videos on vimeo for some inspiration and i got there
I saw you video “CHALLENGE: The Simplest Way To Make Your Adventure Happen” . Now im posting here.. so…
At the moment i’m studing architecture, but i realized that I want not to become an architect and live all the day beyond a monitor and autocad! while I’m studing I feel like I’m wasting my time!!… I want to live and do what i want to become but I must finish university (5 big exams left) , in order to obey my promise to my parents, but after I will live… like steve McCurry did in his youth!!
My big adventure is becoming an iconic photographer, travelling the world in order to give emotions and inform the people with my art..helping people too and to ensure that the world may know! emotions emotions emotions! We live for the experiences, and maybe some day I will teach how to do what I did!
In the meantime I’m finishing university I do the photographer too (for free :-p) but sometime its difficult, when you must study 3-4-5-6 months without leave home… all day at the computer… I’m risking to lose my vision and my optimism
Sorry for my poor english im from Italy!
Yo Lorenzo, WELCOME!
Your english rules (or is just as good as my Slangy Sauce-ese)
Congrats on almost fulfilling your promise and setting off on your Steve McCurry trip. He is a master!
Ahhh… I respect your vision and am a big fan of James Nacthwey… saw him speak at a Photography Festival and was moved to tears.
I hear you about the difficulty. Computers. Ahh… for the birds.
Keep in touch and let us know how your adventures go. Benjamin
My adventure of a lifetime is to see the world, take in some culture and experience people with a different perspective on the world then myself! Im 32 year old a Marine Corps vet, divorced with no kids, no car or owned property. i’m a near 15 year finance/business professional and now “former” entrepreneur.
When the ecomomy got tough and my then-wife got stressed out, I was forced back into the banking world (which I don’t love) from the business marketing, consulting and coaching business I ran, that I DO love.
Connecting with people is my gift and passion and I want to get out of the “rat-race”, “unplug from the matrix” or use any another other analogy you can think of to describe a man who’s gifts are being wasted and feels trapped in a life he doesn’t love. I want to gain a more global knowledge a perspective and return back to the states to restart my business, do what I love and share my newly found knowlege, experience and perspective with my soon to be new clients. I want to be a beacon of inspiration..a lighthouse for the lost, not an old dim street lamp of a man who knew he was chosen, but settled for mediocrity.
Here’s what I want to do.. I’ve listened and I feel God has given me direction to start my journey in Australia (work a little, go on a walk-about perhaps), from there I’m thinking some time in Southeast Asia, then to South Africa and up North for a Euro tour and back to the states. I’m thinking a year maybe more, maybe less..honestly I’ve got no clue. What I do know is that Australia is the start and that I’d like to have some ability to work with my hands or mind, earn money on this journey along the way, as I’ll have maybe $2K saved when I go.
The very evening, I “heard” my journey would begin in Australia and knew I would see this through, I told my buddy’s girlfriend and she said I absolutely had to check out this site and today is day two and now I’m prepared to say no to a job offer that would double my salary doing even more banking, in exchange for taking this leap of faith, making this investment in ME!! Sorry so wordy..I’m excited!!
[...] IF you want to have the Adventure of Your Lifetime. [...]
I want to travel around the United States and eventually the world documenting the lives of creators. Documenting their stories, struggles and successes. Ultimately to inspire myself and if it inspires someone else, then to me that is beautiful. I also want to build a fund to provide to creators with awesome projects and beautiful ideas. Lastly I want to try to visit every country, I think that would be amazing. That would be my ultimate adventure.
That is an ultimate adventure, Whitney!
My goal is to finish college, take a year off to save up money and produce some CDs and build up a following on the internet, and then leave the country and travel the world.. go to amazing festivals and meet beautiful people, take photographs and film… put them on the internet, post stories, inspire people.
I have no idea where to start haha… and I don’t know how it’s going to be possible… but it’s pretty exciting
[...] And run towards the Adventure Of Your Lifetime. [...]
[...] month, I asked our readers, What is the Adventure Of Your Lifetime? and there were 86 comments on that [...]
[...] They could have taken a stab at the adventure of their lifetime. [...]
[...] You want to embark on the adventure of your lifetime. [...]
[...] would the adventure of my lifetime… one I dreamed about, planned, worked for, and drooled over for the past 7 [...]
I believe that a relationship can also be an adventure of a lifetime, if you both view it and live it that way! The whole of two adventurers is much greater than the sum its parts. When you meet your soulmate, the adventure truly begins. Enjoy the journey.
I agree Paige.
Really anything could be an adventure if you add in some risk, purpose, and fun. Or at least that is how I define adventure.
Relationships are some of the most rewarding, challenging, and fun.
Paige, I fully support your tangential interpretation of an “adventure of a lifetime”. Lucky are the few who arrive at the possibility to share such a journey with their soul mate. Hence, the exceptionality makes your proposal the ultimate adventure; and inherently, the relationship element embodies the possibility to last a lifetime. Let’s hope we all have the opportunity to meet our respective adventurers!
Backpacking 6 months to 1 year through Asia with my girlfriend.
We spent 3 months between 2010 and 2011 backpacking through Thailand, China, Malaysia and Japan. Now we are saving for the big one. 6 months to a year.
Flying from Australia to bali, Bali to Singapore and hitting the road after that. Our loosely planned itinerary involves singapore to malaysia, fly into bangkok from there to get a 2 month thai visa. thailand to loas then cambodia. then on to vietnam. travel to the north and skip through to china and then a ship across the east china sea (again) and finish off in japan. the ship can also stop in korea but we are not sure about that yet.
we have been studying and trying to sort our lives out back home. but we have come to the realisation though that is all going well and good. our true passion is discovering the world for ourselves. staying in shitty hostels because its fun and a great story. we just want to be free. and we really cant wait to go.