Are the adventures over? Is the second half of life one of slowing down, sitting back, and soaking in the memories and fruits of the adventures of our youth?
For most? Yes. For you? Not a chance. You can feel it - that restlessness deep inside, crying out for more than the status quo, beckoning us onward to poet Robert W. Service's Land of Beyond. We're not done yet! We know there is more to uniquely contribute, unexplored mountains to climb, and new dragons to slay. But where do we start? How do we distinguish between that still, small voice inside each of us and the veritable onslaught of messaging coming at us from all directions the moment we slide out of bed each morning?
Have ever you heard of the Land of Beyond,
That dreams at the gates of the day?
Alluring it lies at the skirts of the skies,
And ever so far away.
- Robert W. Service - The Land of Beyond
I don't have the answers. As we established from the outset, I don't pretend to be the expert; merely a fellow traveler who's a pretty good funnel, gathering, applying and then sharing the insights of others. Perhaps together we can light the unique path awaiting each one of us...
The Call
In his 1949 book The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell brought forth the concept of the monomyth, the commonalities across narratives of all cultures, from ancient stories to the most recent Marvel films. He highlighted the template: the hero steps into an adventure, is victorious in a decisive crisis, personally transformed, then returns home, bringing benefits to others.
The depth of insights contained in Campbell's work not only provides a fascinating look back but also a practical template for our own development. Decades later, Hollywood executive and screenwriter Christopher Vogler tapped into Campbell's work, circulating an internal memo based on the Hero's Journey at Disney. Originally intended to be a guide for writers, it soon became required reading and lead to The Disney Renaissance - a period of critically and commercially successful films released between 1989-1999, including The Little Mermaid and Beauty & the Beast. Eventually turned into a book (The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers), the model mirrored the Hero's Journey with a few modifications.
While there is an abundance of potential application contained in these models (some of which we’ll return to in the future), the Call to Adventure is our imperative ticket in the door. With this call as our launching point, there are a few preliminary considerations before we set sail:
The call is the necessary first step forward. No call? No journey.
It's a call - not a demand. It's an opportunity - not a requirement. We must first hear the call (which requires listening) and then choose to answer it.
The call occurs while we're living in the everyday, ordinary world.
It's an upward aim, a challenge that moves us, stretches us beyond what we may believe is possible.
The call to adventure exists on a higher plane, a deeper dimension. It's far from being low-hanging fruit nor is it simply clicking on an exciting-looking advertisement appearing in our social media feeds. The call is not simply a "next logical step" in our lives - it's a calling taking us outside of - and beyond - our current path.
While I'm no expert, my sense is the following guardrails also apply:
It's a calling, not a "telling." While wise counsel is valuable at every crossroads, and garnering feedback about a potential call holds value, this is not a time to simply step into a role your mentor, spouse, parent or other trusted confidante recommends.
The call doesn't involve putting loved ones, our valued relationships or our health at risk (don't make the mistake of replacing the potential for adventure with ego-driven idiocy).
This also isn't a selfish, hedonistic pursuit (classic sex, drugs, rock 'n roll). The Hero's Journey stretches us personally and benefits others. The call to adventure isn't simply a passive escape from our boring lives - it is a calling to bring forth a better version of ourselves for the greater good.
Dimensions of Adventure
Adventures are far from one-size-fits-all. They come in all shapes, sizes and from multiple directions, with their dimensionality being defined by each individual based on their history, support systems, available margin and more. Broadly, it may be helpful to view adventures as falling into three, overlapping buckets.
Micro-adventures involve moving outside our daily settings and routines or taking on an isolated challenge. Examples might include signing up for a 5K, visiting a new city, or trying a new hobby. Suzanna recently provided a good example, hesitantly but actively stepping into an opportunity to swim around sharks in spite of a significant life-long fear of doing so.
Macro-adventures adds the element of time to the above, moving from a one-time or limited pursuit to an expanded timeline and repeated challenges. Pursuing a PhD at the age of 50 was an example of this dimension in my own life. It repeatedly pulled me outside of my comfort zone (research, academic writing and politics, traveling/speaking in Europe and more). Each step forward revealed new potential doors of combined challenge, opportunity and impact I hadn't anticipated from the outset.
Transformative adventures represent precisely that: transformation, for both ourselves and others. When Suzanna and I launched one of the first health & wellness coaching organizations back in 2007, it shifted everything in our lives. It clearly wasn't "the next logical step" for a couple entering mid-life with 3 young children who had grown accustomed to a regular paycheck and benefits. But doing so was life-changing for our family while simultaneously providing the opportunity to meaningfully serve 100,000+ employees, coaches and students since making that decision.
We're all unique in terms of our backgrounds, personalities, support systems, perspectives, risk tolerance and more. What one person sees as "just another day" may be considered transformational for others. Our call to adventure is OUR call to adventure. It's not a competition nor are we being graded on a curve. However, there is no doubt our willingness to answer our unique calling will change us, grow us, engage our hearts, and benefit others in the process. Let's tie a ribbon on this initial exploration with some questions worth pondering for those desiring to move forward...
Questions to ponder
What adventures (regardless of perceived outcome) have you leaned into in the past? What opened you to their calling? How did they stretch you? Why did you decide to move forward?
What whispers are you currently sensing from that still, small voice? What potential "call" have you been hearing in the distance (or are beginning to sense)?
If the above creates little more than a shrug of the shoulders, perhaps a different question will provide a spark. Consider whether there is a value in creating additional space and silence to hear a potential call that may be getting drowned out by the distractions of life? What might that look like for you in your daily rhythm (e.g., morning time of quiet, afternoon walk with phone silenced, etc.).
“That ship has sailed” is a common deflection often utilized by those in life’s second half who prefer security and certainty over possibility and wonder. You’re different. That ship may, indeed, be sailing, but you’re on board, ready to explore all that awaits over the horizon. We'll continue our exploration together in future columns, including logistical hurdles and other points of resistance, crossing the threshold, and more. For now, let's aim high and true, remain attentive to the whispers in the trees, and prepare our packs for the next step of this journey through this 2nd half of life!