By Julie Reichhoff
Listening to Calvin, it may initially sound like he had an adventure we would not choose. Seeing that he does not feel that way, reminds us that hard work and adversity bring us something that watching a good TV show never could: life fulfillment.
There is a concept out there that life is full of different types of fun:
- Type 1 fun is enjoyable while you are doing it and fun to think back on.
- Type 2 fun is not fully fun, and even uncomfortable in the moment, but creates great memories.
- Type 3 fun is not fun in the present or when looking back. For most of us, that adventure probably won’t be repeated.
The question is why would we seek out anything other than Type 1 fun? In Type 1, the satisfaction from of a known and predictable activity is usually short lived. Being attainable in everyday life, it lacks excitement. It lacks the energy that invigorates us and reminds us we are alive.
To even consider attempting something that you predict may be at least a Type 2 experience, you have to be open-minded (and a bit brave). We never know what is out there for us or how something will go. To be comfortable with that uncertainty, we need to have experienced that feeling or been exposed to something similar. Your support network and community are hugely important when considering venturing out of your comfort zone. Without others around you to inspire, encourage and invite you, it is often overwhelming to plan and execute a challenge. So, step 1 is to find your people.
Once you have found others, their contagious excitement and life experiences can open up your world view and the myriad possibilities for adventure. Whether you choose to venture out on your own or with others, having that base is vital.
Many of my best memories are of the Type 2 variety, which have way more stories and photos documenting them. These are some of mine: Floating down a cold spring river (a poor choice as it turns out), canoeing unknown waters far from civilization, biking to the cabin (successfully convincing the kids that sport beans could give them the energy they needed to finish), bushwacking on cross country skis and snowshoes to a family cabin at -10F, hiking a poorly marked trail for 5 days (and only going off trail once), or participating in multisport races.
I have found that the hard work involved brought with it a sense of achievement which led to feeling empowered enough to contemplate the next adventure. Knowing that I had pushed through the frustration, fear, or pain involved and emerged intact on the other side gave fuel to my desire to keep attempting new things. You see the point is not that all Type 2 experiences have to be epic, they just have to be noteworthy to us. They give us resiliency. They give us perspective. They give us a renewed sense of self. The adversity we encounter in life teaches us a lot about living. While it is a privilege to be able to dream up and execute epic adventures, it is within reach of us all to get out there. Try something new with no assurance that it will go perfectly as imagined. It definitely will not always turn out well, but that is the point. Be curious! We learn the most when we do new things. We push our limits, whether it is past our knowledge base or physical experience.
It is hard to imagine a life without all types of experiences. Many of them are part of the every-day we all have. It is definitely easier to seek the comfortable experiences and avoid the ones we see as difficult in some way. But without all varieties, our life is less full. Type 2 experiences bridge that gap between comfort and that which seems out of reach or undesirable. Embrace the opportunities that pop up in your life.
There is no guarantee in this life other than there is a beginning and an end. What is worthwhile is the space in between: be curious, be brave, be inquisitive. Put yourself out there and gather those experiences. Learn from them. Share them. Remember them, and feel free to get a little dirty in the process.