Happy New Year - A Little Late

The first full week of 2017 is in the history books and week number 2 is in full swing.

For some, the new year is a time to start over, resolutions have been made and likely already broken.

For others, January 1st is simply another day, other than a welcomed day off.  Nothing new planned and no resolutions made.

There is a group of people, however,  who view the new year as another phase in their life.  Their 2016 was mapped out with specific goal.s  Personal goals and professional / economic goals.  The beginning of the new year is spent reflecting on the prior year.  Where they fell short of their goals and what needs to be done to get back on track.  Their successes, celebrating them, learning from them and most importantly, gaining energy from them.  These individuals live their lives with a purpose, seldom complaining about politics or outside influences.  Instead they change what they can and adapt to what they cannot change.  Constantly moving forward with purpose and with a specific goal.

Often times people in this group are viewed as "Lucky", "Smart", "Advantaged", "Privileged", in other words, they have something that the rest of society doesn't have.  In reality, members of this group have made the decision to control the direction their life will take and have set, purposeful goals they wish to achieve.  In short, they live with purpose, their purpose.

Living with purpose will be a challenge.  You'll have to be dedicated to controlling your own life and outcomes.  There will be events out of your control that will cause you to alter your course and may even block the path your on.  It will seem "unfair" when this happens and many will use a lot of energy worrying and complaining.  Someone living with purpose will choose to use their energy to take a different path.  A path that may at first look like it's moving away from their goal to those on the "outside".  The key here is CHOICE.

The hardest part of living with a purpose is deciding on what you want.  The more focused, the better.  The second hardest part is making a plan to achieve what you want and then taking action daily until your goal is achieved.  Yes, you'll likely have to make changes in your daily routine, saying NO to things you really don't want to do and realizing that a few of those people around you will be "unsettled" by the changes you'll be going through.  (See Expect Resistance From Those Around You).

To gain confidence, start with something small that you've always wanted to do.  It could be reading a book that you've wanted to read for sometime or participating in a 10k run.  Pick your goal and plan what you must do every day to reach that goal.  The final step is scheduling the time each day to work toward your goal and being very "stingy" with that time.

What destination have you chosen for 2017?

All my best in 2017 and I trust you'll reach the goals you've set for yourself.

Gerald Trees
Musings And Observations Of An Adventurous Life Seeker

Gasoline, Water and Food

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I'm heading to Baja California, Mexico in a few days with friends and we'll be spending 12 days riding our motorcycles from the California border to Cabo San Lucas.  Most of the places well be riding has gasoline, food and water available.  However we will be riding in some off road sections where gas will be in short supply and if something goes wrong, having food and water will be important.  We've planned for this by packing protein bars and other snack foods.  Each of us will carry 2.5 litres of water in a hydropack and we'll also carry more on the motorcycles.  We'll also carry extra gasoline for those long sections where gas may or may not be available.  Along with the necessary items already mentioned, we'll be carrying spare parts and tools, just in case...

Gas from a roadside vender is common in some countries and not always available

Gasoline, Water and Food are three physical and consumable items that a large number of the world's population take for granted on a daily basis.  Sure, we'll complain about the price of these necessities but we know they're readily available at the local store.

What happens when Gasoline, Water and Food are not readily available?

If you think this couldn't happen to you, take a look at what's happening in Italy today following the countries 2nd large earthquake this year.  Italy is a developed country and yet it will take days or weeks before supplies to the effected area will be restored.

I'm sure many will read this and think "I'm OK".  Please think again!

If you live on or near an earthquake zone, you could be without these three items for days, even if your area isn't directly effected.  Unlike a hurricane, earthquakes come without prior warning so quickly preparing or evacuating isn't an option.

Hurricanes can be monitored and tracked, giving people time to prepare and evacuate.  Usually.  Often it's those who are not near the full impact of the storm who will suffer.  Heavy rain, power outages and impassible roads could happen, cutting off supplies.

I'm not trying to scare anyone, however I am asking that you think about what you'd do if you didn't have access to Gasoline, Water and Food.

Now that you've done that, make a plan that will supply yourself and your family in the event something goes wrong.  It's quite easy to do.

• Make sure your car is full of gasoline (diesel if that's what your car takes).
• Store enough food to keep you and your family fed for at least a week.  Non-perishable foods are the best.  Store food for your pets, if you have them.
• Buy 2 or 3 large water cooler jugs of water to store with the food.
• Buy water purification tablets and put them in your kit.  They're available at most camping and outdoor gear stores.
• Have flashlights and candles in your kit, along with fresh batteries.  Make sure the batteries are stored separately and not in the flashlights, they will corrode if you keep them in the devices.
• Along with the battery powered flashlights, have a couple of rechargeable flashlights and keep them charged.  If all else fails, you'll be able to charge the flashlights and other electronic devices with your car.  
• Buy an AM / FM band radio that runs on batteries.  This is "old school" but it works and it will help give you information if you're cut off from the rest of civilization.
• Extra clothes and blankets.
• A well stocked first aid kit, which can be purchased at Walmart and most outdoor / camping supply stores.
• Check your kit regularly and change out anything that's close to expiring and refresh the batteries.

Planning for the unexpected makes living in the present more enjoyable.

Gerald Trees
Musings And Observations Of An Adventurous Life Seeker

"Perfect" Kills Adventure - And Other Things

Wanting things to be "Perfect" is really a fear of failing. 

You can either play it safe and do nothing...

or take a chance and find something unexpected.

A few years ago I asked a friend if they could go anywhere they wished for a vacation and do anything they wanted, where would it be and what would they do?

My friend gave me an answer that went something like this.  "I'm unable to answer that because I need to know what the weather would be, how much it would cost and if the activities I want to do are even available when I'm there."

So I added another "parameter" to my question in that "Let's assume that the weather would be to your liking, money isn't an issue and what you want to do is available."

My friends response was "you can't guarantee that things will be perfect so why bother."

I one respect my friend was right, if you're trying to find the "perfect" time to do something or waiting for the "perfect" weather to go somewhere or any other stipulations that must be "perfect", I can guarantee that will never happen.

"Perfect" is a concept that kills dreams, plans and adventures.  Our society has drilled into us that there's no point in doing something if something bad may happen or unless there is a guarantee of success.  This has happened because failure in anything is looked on as a bad thing.  This is one BIG reason why so few people achieve the goals and dreams they had when they were young.

Without getting too caught up in issues of society, the best way to break out of the need for something to be "perfect" is to simply get on with it.  Pick something you want to do, something you want to learn or some place you want to go and do it!

• Start - make a basic plan and get going.
• You will have setbacks - learn from them.
• You may have to "sacrifice" to make it happen - it'll be worth it.
• Your plan may have to be altered along the way - that's were the real fun takes place.
• At the end you'll feel a great sense of accomplishment - the unexpected is better then perfection.

Forget "Perfect" and get on with life!

Plans that take an unexpected change of direction are often the most memorable

Gerald Trees
Musings And Observations Of An Adventurous Life Seeker

Adventure Must Be Planned

You're likely thinking "how can you plan for adventure?" or "that sounds boring".

Here's how planning adventure works.

Adventure takes place during the journey to a destination.  The destination can be a physical place on a map, a personal goal, a business venture or anything you can imagine.  Picking a destination is the first part of the plan.

The second part comes in choosing the time to begin your journey.  Pick a specific date and time as "someday" is dangerous word and usually means "never".

The third part is making sure you have what you think you'll need on your journey.  For a trip, it could be clothes, insurance, emergency numbers, and copies of you're travel documents.  For personal goals it could be a mentor or taking classes.  This part is important, however be careful as you'll never feel fully prepared.  Get the basics ready and then go.

Finally, and this is the key part.  GO!  The hardest part of any adventure is taking the first step.  That first step is also the most important part.

The view from an unplanned side trip that was part of a "planned" trip

Remember that the journey to the destination is where adventure will be found and adventure can happen even if you fall short of the destination.

Gerald Trees
Musings And Observations Of An Adventurous Life Seeker

Real Adventure Begins When The Plan Falls Apart

Adventure can be found by doing something that places you outside of your comfort zone.  Even though activity may put you out of your comfort zone, you've probably researched and planned as much of the activity as you possibly could. 

Real adventure takes place when that plan falls apart...

This is when you'll be forced to think on your feet and most likely do something you never though you could do.

I've had a mechanical breakdown in the middle of nowhere Peru that I knew how to fix until I realized that the necessary tool wasn't in the tool kit.  There was no other choice but to improvise.

Evaluating the situation

 

 

Having a flight canceled or missing a connection is always an adventure and one that can either be a fun experience or one of frustration with attitude making the difference between the two.

 

 

The aftermath...

 

A more recent "real adventure" took place this past summer when I managed to get really stuck in the Utah mud, out of cell range and by myself.  Not the highlight of the trip, but the best story of the trip.

 

 

 

Plan for your adventure and be prepared for when the plan falls apart.  That's where real adventure is found along with experience on steroids.  You'll also find out what you're really capable of, which is much more then you realize.

 

Gerald Trees
Musings And Observations Of An Adventurous Life Seeker