Into the Wild by McCandless: Finding Adventure in a Small Town Life
“The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.”
~Chris McCandless, Into the Wild
Small Town USA: The Average Girl’s Life
I am small town girl living a small town life. I teach in the hometown I grew up in. The most exciting events in our town are the opening of a new restaurant and the annual tree lightening festival. I have a set routine that I pretty much adhere to.
Our “exciting outings” on weekends usually involve going to dinner and, if we’re feeling mighty adventurous, a movie too. Most nights, my husband and I melt into our sofa, feeding our addiction to Netflix and greasy foods. We are in our twenties, but sometimes our sedentary lifestyle seems to hint to an age older than our years.
Playing it Safe: The Introverted Life
Adventure has never been my first, middle, or last name. I’m not a risk taker. I’m the child who worried the Ferris wheel was going to break or that I would be killed by a shark in the ocean even if only my big toe was in the water. I’m afraid to fly because I picture images of crashes in my head even considering it. I’m an introvert for the most part, so my social scene basically consists of my five cats and Henry.
But today, when reading this passage in my English class as I did last year, these words struck a chord. Here was a man, Chris McCandless, not afraid to break out of routine, to live an unconventional life. He would never pass up a journey, a new experience, or a chance to do something extraordinary.
Chris McCandless: Inspiring Adventure
Certainly the tale doesn’t seem to end well for Chris–he dies in Alaska. However, one must ask if he truly died unsuccessful. He lived the vision he saw for his life. He lived a life of adventure, of travels, of not being afraid.
I don’t think I’ll ever journey into Alaska–I can barely last five minutes outside in my backyard when I lock myself outside of the house. I doubt I’ll ever be the skydiving wild child or daredevil. But Chris does inspire one to look for new opportunities, even in a small town life.
Out of the Comfort Zone: Small Steps
I’ve been trying to push myself to experience new things, no matter how small. My mom and I tried the Salt Spa in State College for the first time in October, something we’d always wanted to do. I went for my first massage and pedicure this summer as well. There was the trip to Hershey with my husband, our first time there in a long time. This Saturday, we’re going to Ebensburg for our first time at the Dickens Christmas celebration. Sometimes it’s about the small moments, the tiny chances to get off your couch and do something new.
For Chris, adventure meant Alaska. For some of us living in the conventional world, we might not be so brave. However, Chris reminds us there is adventure to be found in many forms.
We just have to be willing to look for it.
