Lots of people have hobbies. Some collect butterflies. Some spelunk and some collect DVDs they spend hours watching, arranging by genre and dusting.
Some people go flying off the face of a cliff with nothing but a rope between them and certain death.
You may well have wondered what makes people engage in such extreme hobbies. What is the motivation behind risking their lives for a moment of thrill? What inspires them to push themselves to the edge beyond all rational thought?
Is it some kind of mental disorder? A genuine disregard for their own life? A need to spit in death’s face on a regular basis to give their life meaning?
Some might say yes. Others would argue that the passion that drives people from the tops of the mountains to the bottom of the ocean, from one side of the globe to the other, is much simpler.
It Would be a Shame if Passion and Adventure were Just for Children
When we’re children we dream up some fantastic adventures. We battle dragons. We climb to the top of towers. We set out on brave quests to conquer unforeseeable challenges and take down unimaginable enemies. At the end of the day we walk away the victor. We stick another plume in our cap. Tuck our lady’s favor in our pocket and tumble into bed with a kiss goodnight. Then we dream about how we’re going to do it all again tomorrow.
What do you dream about now you are a mature adult? Do you still take your weapons out against fierce imaginary beings? When was the last time you took out your lightsaber and joined the ewoks in the battle for their lives? Of course, victory would have to go to you and the ewoks because you guys are totally awesome.
The problem is for adults those evil creatures have assumed human faces. There is no longer an imaginary world to live in. We are down on the ground and looking up with barely the energy required to heave ourselves out of our daily routine of duties and responsibilities. Those duties and responsibilities drag us down day after day until it is all a routine. No more adventure awaits us.
And there is no more passion. I ask you, who wants to live like that?
Extreme Sports. Not Just For Adrenaline Junkies Anymore
What made that battle with the dragon so important to you as a child? It wasn’t just that taking on dragons was fun, although it was. And it blew doing homework right out of the water. But there was also always the chance that one day the dragon was going to win. That one day your best wasn’t going to be good enough, and you were going to be left in the dust while the dragon went on to eat the entire village.
That was enough to keep anybody on their fight for truth, justice and the American way.
That attitude is what keeps extreme hobby lovers moving forward. They know there’s always the chance that one day the dragon is going to win, so they have to push themselves harder, farther, faster than they’ve ever done. And in beating the dragon, they feel more alive than they ever have in their lives.
In the event you were interested in the previous piece, you are able to go check out additional similar content at Bruce Tulio or this Bruce Tulio Website.
