Adventurous Life Newsletter - Inviting You to Find Inspiration in Odd Corners (September/October 2005)

Have you ever longed to accomplish something -- to really sink your teeth into a project or finally pursue a lifelong dream -- and wondered why it seems so easy for everyone but you? Either you can't find the time, or you don't have the energy, or life just seems to keep getting in the way? Experts make lots of money helping people create and keep on top of their stated priorities for precisely this reason.

We've all been there. But it wasn't until I was on the receiving end of a random comment that I realized how insidious the delaying of dreams can be. I was in a workshop on marketing yourself as a voice talent and, during our round of introductions, had mentioned that I was a freelance writer. During a break, a woman came up to me and said, "I'm so envious. It must be so nice to be able to focus on this full time."

At first, I was irritated. I began ranting inside my head: Who did she think she was, making assumptions about me like that? Did she think freelance life was easy? That because I didn't have a "real" job, I had nothing but time on my hands? If anything, I had less time now than when I was working at a job I could walk away from at the end of the day. It was as if she was, with a single off-hand comment, discounting all the effort I put in on a daily basis to reach my personal goals.

And then I realized: Her comment wasn't about me. It was her excuse. (Just as the many similar comments I had probably made in the past to others were my excuses.) What she was really saying was "If only I weren't working full-time for this demanding employer, I could certainly make this dream of mine a priority."

Underneath that, of course, lay the simple fact that she simply hadn't made this dream of hers a priority yet, period. If she had, it would be happening -- or the steps toward it would be, anyway, which is all any of us can hope to control: the phone call that needs to be made, the letter that needs to be written, the question that needs to be asked. The rest is out of our hands.

And perhaps that is what is so terrifying. What if we put forth our best effort and fail? Better to look longingly at other people's lives and feel the envy wash over us.

Or we could take a chance. See what happens when we do try and fail. The secret I've learned so far is that, shockingly enough, the world doesn't end. There's still another phone call that needs to be made, letter that needs to be written, question that needs to be asked. Sometimes it's like clawing your way up a long, steep slope, but at least you're moving (albeit agonizingly slowly) in the right direction.

"But what if I don't even know what direction to crawl in?" you may be wondering. Ah, but that's the beauty of this miniature revelation: let envy be your guide. Not the "I wish I could have a big house and never worry about money again" sort of envy, but the "That person is living my life" sort of envy. Then, once you've identified your cliff, the next step is to trim your nails, dig in, and enjoy the view.

Warm Showers for Bicyclists
Two of the most delicious experiences while touring by bicycle include (1) meeting friendly new people who offer to host you and (2) a warm shower. This site maintains two lists: one (more limited, but still with nearly 2000 hosts on it) available to anyone browsing the web. The other, full list requires that users register as a member -- which seems only fair, since the best way to perpetuate a resource like this is by reciprocating. Hosts choose what they want to offer visitors, from directions or tent space to food, bed and a hot shower.

Global Volunteer Network
Launched in 2000 by Colin Salisbury, the Global Volunteer Network was formed to create affordable, wide-ranging volunteer opportunities around the world. Their mission? "At GVN we align with the idea of 'local solutions to local problems', so we work with local community organisations in each country. We believe that local communities are in the best position to determine their needs, and we provide volunteers to help them achieve their goals." Volunteers 18 and older join these programs from all over the world, working on projects in Alaska, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ghana, Honduras, India, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, Uganda and Vietnam.

Intentional Traveler
If you've been wondering where your people are, check out this web site. Its mission? "To gather stories and ideas, comments and suggestions from planetary wanderers and global citizens whose purpose in life is to make the world a better place in which to live.

"If possible, the intent of The Intentional Traveler is also to bring together like-minded people, in one space at one time, to share their experiences in a variety of genres including storytelling, story writing, conferences, author readings, multimedia events, art, workshops. . . and just plain entertainment.

"Finally, the goal of this network of travelers and writers would be to create a Center, or headquarters, where people of similar interests may gather regularly under their own control rather than relying on the whims of bookstore events or author readings."

Travel Corner: Let's Talk Toilets

This is one of the most over-hyped areas of world travel, with a peculiar ability to stimulate levels of outrage rivaled by few other topics. I personally live in a rich and highly developed nation with exceptionally invisible waste disposal systems. People who leave the U.S. expecting the same rigid standards of public sanitation that we demand here are often sorely disappointed.

Not everywhere in the world has running water, much less the ability to flush, collect, and process every ounce of human excrement in one central location. And not every citizenry thinks western-style sit toilets are such a great (or sanitary!) idea. So you may encounter all kinds of new experiences (and aromas) in this previously routine subsection of your life.

There are two basic styles of toilet...

Read the complete article on my web site.


	Welcome to this month's edition of Adventurous Life!
I welcome your thoughts, feedback & suggestions for stories. This newsletter can also be found online. Please don't hesitate to contact me or swing by www.judywolf.com to see what's new. Pass this newsletter along to a friend!			In this issue: What's Your Excuse? Let Envy Be Your Guide Top 5 Ideas to Inspire You This Month Travel Resources Travel Corner: Let's Talk Toilets Everyday Adventures

What's Your Excuse? Let Envy Be Your Guide Have you ever longed to accomplish something -- to really sink your teeth into a project or finally pursue a lifelong dream -- and wondered why it seems so easy for everyone but you? Either you can't find the time, or you don't have the energy, or life just seems to keep getting in the way? Experts make lots of money helping people create and keep on top of their stated priorities for precisely this reason. We've all been there. But it wasn't until I was on the receiving end of a random comment that I realized how insidious the delaying of dreams can be. I was in a workshop on marketing yourself as a voice talent and, during our round of introductions, had mentioned that I was a freelance writer. During a break, a woman came up to me and said, "I'm so envious. It must be so nice to be able to focus on this full time." At first, I was irritated. I began ranting inside my head: Who did she think she was, making assumptions about me like that? Did she think freelance life was easy? That because I didn't have a "real" job, I had nothing but time on my hands? If anything, I had less time now than when I was working at a job I could walk away from at the end of the day. It was as if she was, with a single off-hand comment, discounting all the effort I put in on a daily basis to reach my personal goals. And then I realized: Her comment wasn't about me. It was her excuse. (Just as the many similar comments I had probably made in the past to others were my excuses.) What she was really saying was "If only I weren't working full-time for this demanding employer, I could certainly make this dream of mine a priority." Underneath that, of course, lay the simple fact that she simply hadn't made this dream of hers a priority yet, period. If she had, it would be happening -- or the steps toward it would be, anyway, which is all any of us can hope to control: the phone call that needs to be made, the letter that needs to be written, the question that needs to be asked. The rest is out of our hands. And perhaps that is what is so terrifying. What if we put forth our best effort and fail? Better to look longingly at other people's lives and feel the envy wash over us. Or we could take a chance. See what happens when we do try and fail. The secret I've learned so far is that, shockingly enough, the world doesn't end. There's still another phone call that needs to be made, letter that needs to be written, question that needs to be asked. Sometimes it's like clawing your way up a long, steep slope, but at least you're moving (albeit agonizingly slowly) in the right direction. "But what if I don't even know what direction to crawl in?" you may be wondering. Ah, but that's the beauty of this miniature revelation: let envy be your guide. Not the "I wish I could have a big house and never worry about money again" sort of envy, but the "That person is living my life" sort of envy. Then, once you've identified your cliff, the next step is to trim your nails, dig in, and enjoy the view. Travel Resources Warm Showers for Bicyclists Two of the most delicious experiences while touring by bicycle include (1) meeting friendly new people who offer to host you and (2) a warm shower. This site maintains two lists: one (more limited, but still with nearly 2000 hosts on it) available to anyone browsing the web. The other, full list requires that users register as a member -- which seems only fair, since the best way to perpetuate a resource like this is by reciprocating. Hosts choose what they want to offer visitors, from directions or tent space to food, bed and a hot shower. Global Volunteer Network Launched in 2000 by Colin Salisbury, the Global Volunteer Network was formed to create affordable, wide-ranging volunteer opportunities around the world. Their mission? "At GVN we align with the idea of 'local solutions to local problems', so we work with local community organisations in each country. We believe that local communities are in the best position to determine their needs, and we provide volunteers to help them achieve their goals." Volunteers 18 and older join these programs from all over the world, working on projects in Alaska, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ghana, Honduras, India, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, Uganda and Vietnam. Intentional Traveler If you've been wondering where your people are, check out this web site. Its mission? "To gather stories and ideas, comments and suggestions from planetary wanderers and global citizens whose purpose in life is to make the world a better place in which to live. "If possible, the intent of The Intentional Traveler is also to bring together like-minded people, in one space at one time, to share their experiences in a variety of genres including storytelling, story writing, conferences, author readings, multimedia events, art, workshops. . . and just plain entertainment. "Finally, the goal of this network of travelers and writers would be to create a Center, or headquarters, where people of similar interests may gather regularly under their own control rather than relying on the whims of bookstore events or author readings." Travel Corner: Let's Talk Toilets This is one of the most over-hyped areas of world travel, with a peculiar ability to stimulate levels of outrage rivaled by few other topics. I personally live in a rich and highly developed nation with exceptionally invisible waste disposal systems. People who leave the U.S. expecting the same rigid standards of public sanitation that we demand here are often sorely disappointed. Not everywhere in the world has running water, much less the ability to flush, collect, and process every ounce of human excrement in one central location. And not every citizenry thinks western-style sit toilets are such a great (or sanitary!) idea. So you may encounter all kinds of new experiences (and aromas) in this previously routine subsection of your life. There are two basic styles of toilet... Read the complete article on my web site.				"If you always do what interests you, at least one person is pleased.." *-Katherine Hepburn*

				Top 5 Ideas to Inspire You This Month Learn to fly an airplane (many flight schools have affordable first-timer sessions to see if you like it) Volunteer at your local kindergarten Get yourself a globe Spin the globe, put your finger on a country, and learn about it (or better yet, go there!) Have a bonfire
				"While most accounts of adventure begin at the mountain base or the jungle wall, the adventure itself usually begins as an idea. This idea, if well watered with imagination, will grow into a dream." *-Alvah Simon*

				Everyday Adventures #471 We know that every snowflake is unique. What about every raindrop? What is unique about each drop's shape, volume and temperature? Go on a raindrop adventure; catch some with your tongue and see if in fact each drop is singular. This everyday adventure is from "A New Adventure Every Day: 541 Simple Ways to Live with Pizzazz" by David Silberkleit, excerpted with the author's permission.


		About the author: Judy Wolf is a world traveler, freelance writer, speaker, and whitewater kayak instructor. She's taken many long solo journeys around the world, traveling by foot, bus, jeep, camel, truck, boat, train, plane, elephant, and bicycle to over 30 countries on five continents. Her work has appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies, including Far From Home: Father Daughter Travel Adventures, A Woman's Europe, and The Risks of Sunbathing Topless. She's currently working on a book about her most recent adventures…that is, when she's not plunging off waterfalls or entertaining the dog. Learn more at www.judywolf.com.

Please feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone you feel might find it of interest. If you cut and paste content, please make sure you include all attribution, copyright, and contact information. Thanks! To subscribe to or unsubscribe from Adventurous Life, go to www.judywolf.com/newsletter To contact Judy Wolf: http://www.judywolf.com or e-mail now (or snail mail to 3786 Dawes Ave, Clinton NY 13323). Copyright © 2005 Judy Wolf