6 / 10 ADVENTURE

6 / 10 Adventure

From Middle English aventure, aunter, anter, derived from Old French aventure, and Latin adventūrus (“about to arrive”), Âventiure (Middle High German) refers to a venture involving risk, such as a perilous journey or the exploration of an unknown area, departing from the protected realm of everyday life. The adventurer leaves their familiar environment and social network to undertake something daring, promising to be either fascinating or dangerous, with an uncertain outcome.

These pictures. So lush. So dreamy. So juicy. They all could carry the new-age quote: “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
From my current perspective: we Westerners have a deeply distorted idea of the “comfort zone.”

In all my years traveling, the worldview that Westerners are fed shattered into a trillion pieces countless times. Returning “home” became increasingly difficult. The deep desire to get stuck somewhere and settle has never ceased. Yet the ethical concern of being one of the Westerners with the unfair privilege of choosing where to settle has always stopped me from following that pull.

While my ancestors in the colonial realms embarked on expeditions to steal, destroy, oppress, and annex, I have always carried an insatiable desire to learn from the richness of other cultures—especially those that managed to preserve their precious heritage despite the cruelties of colonialism and imperialism.

Fortunately, I was able to travel as a child, long before my mind could grasp the unimaginable extent of destruction caused by greed. Those lived experiences became embedded in my being, even as I navigated through the highly biased “education” system. As they say, cracks are where the light shines through. Still, it remains so challenging to hold space for this reality.

Many of us (Westerners) fall into the trap of placing pictures and souvenirs onto the unconscious colonialist altar at home. From where I stand now, I wish to remind myself—and inspire you—to move beyond the “look where I’ve been” and “look what I brought” mentality when envisioning, planning, and embarking on adventures. Instead, let’s ask: What can I learn? What can I change in my behavior and mindset to give back, restore, and undo exploitative ties?

In these recent years, as I’ve become a steward of land and children, my idea of adventure has transformed into a journey of exploration—one that reflects a deeper intention and a greater sense of responsibility.

“… a perilous journey or the exploration of an unknown area, departing from the protected realm of everyday life. The adventurer leaves their familiar environment and social network to undertake something daring, promising to be either fascinating or dangerous, with an uncertain outcome.”

The colorful outer journey of discovering new cultures through traveling has become a journey
to step every day a few inches off the trotten path of “civilization”
to every moment being open to do things different as a parent, a woman, an entrepreneur, a tax payer, a human
to being brave enough to question the common narrative
To moving from “I can’t” to I’ll give it a shot
Releasing the overwhelmed small self, hiding in inaction, to courageously moving into the realm of informed action
From consumption to preservation
From fear to cœur-age a courage that’s based on the connection to the heart

Cover Pic sunset in Koh Payam

@acroyoga with dear @the_journey_of_nicki in the Abu Dhabi desert