There are those among us who collect “stuff” to make themselves happy. There are others who like to do “things” to garner happiness. There is nothing inherently wrong with either one; when stuff and things rule your life, however, it’s time to get some perspective.
Besides, are there that many new frontiers to conquer? Why even try, then? That is, unless you add a new challenge to the tired, time-tried adventures of yesterday. For example:
1. Climb Everest? Been done, lots of times. Try doing it wearing nothing but tube socks and a smile. Your climbing partner, Jack Frost, will nip at much more than your nose. Survive with most of your limbs and appendages intact and that would be a feat!
2. Automobile racing? So what if you won the Indianapolis 500? Or the Daytona 500? Or Le Mans? Puh-lease! There’s a winner at every race. Try racing a 1979 Ford Pinto ... backwards. Not only that, try it in rush-hour traffic in Dallas. You won’t even let off the brakes for more than 30 seconds at a time. If you are the victor, you’ve really won something. Same goes for bicycle racing. The Tour de France would be more of a challenge for Lance Armstrong if he was doing it on a car-filled Central Expressway.
3. The Iditarod? Come on! The sled dogs do all the freakin’ work. Why don’t you tow the dogs around for the duration? They deserve a break today. And you only get this to eat the whole time.
4. Circumnavigating the globe in a small sailboat? Magellan not only beat you, he didn’t have penicillin or GPS. Float around on an inflatable raft with nothing but 12 gallons of water and a volleyball. That would make even Tom Hanks proud.
5. Traveling to the North Pole? First, let me ask: why? Second, who cares? You don’t have to go that far to see some good snow or prove Santa Claus is a fig newton of our imagination. Just visit a Toys ‘R Us in the northeast during the winter.
