Turns out now, we’re all on one big adventure together.
By some strange coincidence the challenge of navigating your way through a global pandemic has remarkable similarities to going on an adventure. We can apply some of the strategies we use on a ‘normal’ adventure, like trekking, to help us succeed on this one.
Firstly, you might ask, what on earth are the similarities with trekking? Let’s look at the stages of an Adventure Project, as we like to call it…
THINK
Be careful what you wish for! Perhaps this year you’ve been thinking about doing something different – to see what you’re capable of or to get some new perspectives on life.
Then a new challenge presents itself. OK, in terms of a trek you do have some choice, but either way – you think about it, you learn a bit more and then tackle it head on.
PREPARE
Then there’s the “oh sh*t” moment. What on earth have I signed up for, or in the case of a pandemic – what on earth are we facing? We can’t assume it’s a walk in the park – we need to prepare ourselves!
- have we got enough gear or supplies?
- are we fit and healthy enough, and how do we stay that way?
- have we got the mental toughness to see it through? There will be uncertainty, hardships, emotions
GO
Your adventure is underway. You’re going to experience new things. Your world is turned upside down. If we liken it to a Himalayan trek …
- you’re focussed on the basics of survival – food, sleep, and getting through each day. Maszlo’s Hierarchy of Needs comes into play – the basics are important before anything else
- you’re sharply aware of good hygiene and staying healthy
- your priorities come into clear focus – what’s important and what’s not. In some ways, life gets more simple
- in isolation, you make the most of what you’ve got with you
- you appreciate the small things – a smile, a pretty flower
- while the big things give you perspective, whether they’re mountains or the threat of a virus
- you feel more connected with nature – the world around you is more in focus
- everyone’s in it together and we all have to pitch in and help
REFLECT
At the end of your adventure you need time to recover. You come away with some new insights – what did you learn about yourself and about others? What would you do differently next time?
One thing leads to another. As this project finishes, what will you do next? What new opportunities have appeared?
CONCLUSION
Yes you can succeed in this adventure. It takes some time to work out what it means for you, how you’ll prepare and how you’ll cope. But we’re all in this together and we all have something to offer.
In the meantime, read our post on What Happens When Your Plans Go Out the Window. and play Adventure Bingo: Things To Do While You’re Waiting For Your Next Adventure. You might also like our other resources on self-discovery. Or this article we found that compares Living With/Through the Pandemic to Climbing Everest.
