Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Ready for Adventure


Today's Wednesday Word is AdventurousWilling to take risks 
or to try out new methods, ideas, or experiences.


I like to think I'm somewhat adventurous.  I like to try new things, see new places.  But, I'm sure my adventures would pale in comparison to others.  Perhaps I'm getting adrenaline confused with adventure.   I do enjoy that adrenaline.
We flew "sideways" a lot.

Would my water skiing be considered adventurous?  I also snow ski, enjoy theme park rides {Tower of Terror!}, love my half marathons and race vacations. I've zip lined, snorkeled with stingrays and massive sea turtles, and ridden on an angry horse on a narrow mountain trail.  I've been in a Mexican two-seater speed boat with a roll bar {what purpose is a roll bar in the ocean, might I ask?}.

I recently took a helicopter ride over the Gulf.  What's still on  my to-do list?   Parasailing, Dog Sledding and Hot Air Ballooning to name a few. Would any of these make your list of adventurous activities?  Perhaps. But, I suggest it's all relative. What is adventurous for one person is not necessarily adventurous for another.

What you don't see...
my fingernails digging into the cushion.

Oh wait, I regularly ride in a boat while PoPo drives at full speed.  Yes, yes...surely that's adventurous!  HA.

Having a brother who struggles with mental issues, I've been in his therapy sessions and learned some interesting things about the brain.  If it is not stimulated, it atrophies just like an unused muscle.  Presenting it with the same activities day after day (or no activities at all) does it no good.  It craves new things.  It must pay attention and learn when presented with something new.  Stimulation, in turn, elevates mood -- fights depression.

Along this line, I suggest some adventure is necessary to thrive and be healthy.  And, it doesn't have to be anything fancy, spectacular, or particularly thrill-seeking.  Just new.  Different.  No bungee jumping necessary. 


Tell me something you consider adventurous!


I'm linking with Deb @ Deb Runs for the Wednesday Word.
Please visit Deb and the other participating bloggers.
It's fun to see everyone's perspective!




35 comments:

  1. Maybe that's why I seek adrenaline as well--I have a tendency towards depression (it's genetic) and I think by keeping things interesting, I'm able to keep it at bay! Even my job is filled with adrenaline. I could never do a desk job.

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    1. I've very sensitive to the issue of depression as it runs in my family as well. I failed to mention one therapist said simply going outside stimulates the brain -- I could have told you that!

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  2. I would say I am less adventurous now than when I was younger. I no longer snow ski cus I'm too frighten and Tower of Terror makes me sickk ( I use to love it). But then again, when I was younger I never thought I would run one marathon let alone 2. I still love to explore new places so that counts right? Like you said, perhaps adventurous means different things to each of us. I do like the adventures you've been on. I would like to go in a hot air balloon one day too!

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    1. I think running a marathon is an adventure! I'm trying to pick my next adventure now. I just love to go and do. Suggest something and I'm there.

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  3. I love your insight about how adventure helps your brain. And I think your adventures look quite impressive! And yep, I too had my fingernails dug into the seat when my father in law had my teenager son gun their boat up to full speed. Yikes.

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    1. I admit, after all these years -- no horrific tragedy has happened while riding in the boat at high speeds. So, my fingernails aren't dug in quite as hard as they used to be. But it's still quite an adventure.

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  4. Flying sideways... oh heck no.
    That just shows you my level of being adventerous.
    My speed? Going to the grocery with cash instead of a credit card & having to do it on a budget :) haha

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    1. Ha! Grocery shopping is usually an adventure all its own. I wish someone would explain how to eat healthy AND on a budget. Those two things don't seem to mesh.

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  5. I want to parasail, ride in a hotair balloon, SUP. Jumping out a plane - Nah!

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    1. I'm not sure I could jump out of a plane. But, never say never. Maybe something I'll do for my 75th birthday?

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  6. Intriguing to hear about how the brain atrophies when not challenged. I've tried to mix up the routines as much as possible for this very reason - even just little things like taking a different route in the car or using my left hand instead of my right hand for an activity. It's really important to keep ourselves diversified, even in little ways!

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    1. Absolutely, the little things count too. They say to try new puzzles or games. I forgot to mention that going outside is very important for the brain. I think I already knew that!

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  7. I would think riding in a boat with PoPo would be a nail-biting adventure lol! I would love to take a helicopter ride like you did over the coast! I still want to see the Grand Canyon and it would be an adventure to ride a mule down it too! Oh and something else I'll admit on the lines of adventure. I'd like to be lowered into shark-infested waters, in a cage of course!! That would be cool! I wonder what adventures were going to get into in a couple of weeks, in December maybe????

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    1. I bet we can find us a beach themed adventure. Are you up for parasailing? I've seen a shark or two while swimming and snorkeling in the water. I think I'm good!

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    2. Mr. Sippi went parasailing, I did not... not that I wouldn't who knows!

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    3. We'll create our own adventure, I'm sure.

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  8. I've been dog sledding, in Minnesota! And it was an absolute blast! And 1000% an adventure. It was challenging physically & mentally which I think made it all the more enjoyable.

    I would love to do more hiking & traveling everywhere. Those are the best adventures in my book. They present all sorts of new situations that you just have to fix // solve // deal with. & all the new sights to see keep me engaged.

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    1. We saw dog sledding out in Colorado, but didn't take the opportunity at the time. We were on our way to a particular slope. That's one of my regrets. Why didn't we just stop and do it?

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  9. I consider riding most rides at an amusement park to be adventurous, and the Tower of Terror to be down right scary! It sounds like you're quite adventurous, Holly! :-)

    Thanks for linking up!

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    1. The older I get, the harder it is to ride coasters -- especially over and over. It hurts my brain. LOL. But, Tower of Terror I can still ride...multiple times too.

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  10. I agree, anything new is an adventure and when the adventures stop I am worried I will wither away!

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    1. Oh no, never let the adventures stop! They don't have to be spectacular, just new and fun.

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  11. The mere thought of a helicopter ride makes me nauseated but I did go parasailing in Hawaii - the things we do for our kids!

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    1. Ha!! Actually, I'm usually the one dragging my kids into the adventure.

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  12. Last fall, I went white water rafting near Jackson Hole, WY. I was scared, but I knew that I'd be sorry if I didn't do it. Loved it!

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    1. That is also something I'd like to try! My husband has done it but is not interested in a repeat.

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  13. Starting a blog was adventurous. :) Well, it stimulates the brain, anyway.

    I highly recommend a hot air balloon! It was fun.

    I actually really do enjoy learning new stuff. I get very bored with the same old, same old.

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    1. They aren't many (if any) opportunities to ride a hot air balloon around here. I may have to save it for a vacation item.

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  14. When I think of adventurous I think of things outdoors and active. But I would agree, one mans adventure may not be to another. I once had a guy ask me out and said we were going to do a fun adventure activity. I was so off track on what I thought we might do as he picked me up he said he wanted to take me golfing. Sounded dull, so I changed his mind and we went hiking instead. LOL
    So heck ya I would say water skiing is adventurous.
    You will like parasailing, it's a relaxing type of adventure.
    I've never done a hot air balloon, so I'd like to do that! I've done the skydiving thing, loved it. But I'd really like to try paragliding (it's basically hangliding but with a parachute), I watch them jump off one of the points of the mountain by my house all the time and some of them stay up there forever, and it looks like something fun to try sometime so it's on my list:)

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    1. I love the Amazing Race and wish I could be on it! I would absolutely do any of the things required. They just recently had to paraglide. It looked awesome.

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  15. I think you are definitely adventurous! One of the most adventurous things I've done (ahem... or stupid) was swimming in a tank of sharks. I also went snorkeling in Mexico and did some free diving and there ended up being sharks there, too. They pulled us out of the water for that one, though.

    I've heard that about the brain before... how it can atrophy if you're not stimulating it. I also read that one thing that can help you stay sharp is not using your GPS once you know how to get somewhere. It helps the synapses at the end of neurons in your brain stay closer together and thus messages and signals travel more quickly.

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    1. Swimming with sharks would definitely be an adventure! I hope the ones in the tank are kept well fed. LOL. There are a lot of little things you can do to keep your brain stimulated. I've it suggested to take a different way to work each day.

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  16. You seem very adventurous to me with waterskiing and your overall personality that shines through your blog. I might be frightened of riding in your boat with PoPo at the wheel, but I may be saving the same thing about Tom this summer. He just bought another boat after being without one for many years.

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    1. What fun you'll have boating! After all these years, I have come to terms with PoPo's need for speed and realize it's not the hazard it appears to be. But, I still hold on!

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  17. Jumping out of a plane seems scary (more so than a hot air balloon)! But, I'm not saying I would never do it.

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