Fredvent–who?
I may not conquer lands and wield swords like my Viking ancestors, or raft across the pacific like Heyerdahl, but I do try to stay adventurous.
Even though heroic adventurers often seem like a species apart, I think we are all adventurers at heart. But, man is it hard to (re)connect sometimes.
To be fair, we do live in different times now. Modern society, with its sedentary and comfortable lifestyles, can often work like an exorcism to the adventurous spirit. Adventure is also more subtle. Perhaps the greatest adventure these days is not so much about discovering new continents or lost cities, but about becoming our true selves.
So, if we do wish to come alive, we must seek to reignite this spirit. Through heroic daily pursuits we can – in the words of James Hollis – work towards our life’s greatest task: answering to the summons of our souls.
I try my best to live by the principle: “Don’t die with your art still inside you.“ And we all have art inside of us, defined by that which is inside and seeks expression through us. I do believe one of the greatest things we can do is sharing the gift of ourselves.
I love adventures. Not just for the thrill of it, but for the fact that it gets us closer to who we are. I’m not necessarily talking about climbing Kilimanjaro, or jumping out of an airplane, but about the Hero’s Journey, and the psychology of slaying dragons.
In order to become all that we can be, we must grab the bull by its horns and face our inner struggles head-on. We must seek out the experiences that bring true meaning to our lives, and by confronting our challenges, we will awaken the adventurous spirit.
Disclaimer: If it sounds like I’ve got all this figured out, don’t be fooled. I’m just a fellow aspiring adventurer striving to get there, one step (and misstep) at a time.
“Ok… But who are you?”
Instead of writing out the typical “about me” page, I wanted to share my perspectives on life. I think it’s easier to get an impression of the person, but to give a little background:
I started off wanting to become a stuntman, then moved on to making short films with friends, to becoming an actor. Along the way, I have founded four different companies, and work as a creative director.
Yeah, I’m often juggling too many things at once.
“I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world, and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day”, said American writer E.B. White. I sympathize with this.
Nothing fires me up like deep conversations, bringing new ideas to life, Jungian psychology, ancient mythology, and spiritual mysteries.
If I appear to be an adrenaline junkie, let me tell you I’m not. Though I appreciate spontaneity and the occasional peak experience, I savor quiet mornings, routines, and walks in nature.
I believe one of the greatest personal sins we can commit in our lives is succumbing to fear and lethargy. All it does is rob us of our power, and make us conform. It prevents us from waking up to life – to our own genius – and blinds us to the fact that life is now.
I think whenever we choose soul over ego; heart over mind; spirit over flesh, we make the world a better place. By transcending the ego, we clean our filters on reality, and see more of what actually is. And how little we are in the grand scheme of things. Maybe this is how we all come (a little closer) together as one.
Lately, I’ve been trying my best to still my mind so that I can better hear the whispers of my soul. Though I’m no enlightened ape just yet, there seem to be some benefits to taming this monkey mind of ours.
As of now, I enjoy following my curiosity and sharing my findings. The journey is always unfolding and I’m eager to experience more of the wonders a curious life has to offer.
If you ever need a sign, why not let this text in a seemingly random corner of the internet be your long-awaited call to adventure.
I hereby extend an invitation for you to live your authentic life to the fullest! So, light up that torch, noble adventurer – let’s venture out!
