Your Adventure Can Be More Than A Dream

I saw a movie a year or so ago about a young journalist who wanted the assignment of writing story on adventure.  Her boss recognized her comfort zone and strongly hesitated.  He was certain she could not do it.  But her insistence in her ability convinced her boss to allow her to try, even with his personal misgivings.

As she went to the huge sports complex, she had to face her fears of all sorts of challenges.  She ‘crashed’ a time or two but didn’t give up.  Finding someone to ‘guide’ her, allowed her to experience long hikes up a snow covered mountain, bungee jumping and much more.  She discovered exhilaration she’d never experienced before and discovered a side of herself she had no idea existed!

The very idea of experiencing sports challenges is inspiring, but like the journalist before she attempted going out of ‘her comfort zone’, I am horribly intimidated by the very thought!  I’m content sipping a cup of cider and staring at the mountain vistas in the distance or even along a peaceful lakeside.

While I’m not an ‘adventurer’, there are many who are.  They plan extensive trips so they can witness a live lion on a safari, go para-sailing, ride in a hot air balloon, bungee jumping, ride the rapids or a hundred other things.  Pictures prove they’ve been on these adventures and we just stare in awe.

There is another ‘people group’ who would love to have the opportunity to embark on different adventures, but live with barriers many of us tend to overlook.  About 25 million people in the U.S. encumbered with physical or mental disabilities, and those age 65 or older, also desire to experience the same exhilaration of the activities or adventures which their ‘able-bodied’ peers partake easily.

Accommodations for those with special needs, desiring these experiences are increasing, but are still limited.  However, there are groups, businesses and teams of people who are actively engaging in making travel and adventures available for those who wish to participate.

Outdoor sports activities like those who enjoy hiking trails have been designed for wheelchairs and walkers, while adaptive water sports equipment is being designed for kayaking, or canoeing.  Accessible tents and tenting equipment is becoming more available, as are fishing piers and adaptive fishing gear.  Adaptive bicycles for the cycling enthusiast have been built, and so much more.

We’ve come a long way in making the disability and aging communities feel like they belonged in the world we all live in.  Even within national and state parks, changes are being made to help facilitate visitors with any variety of disability.  This doesn’t mean everything is necessarily easy or perfect. but advances are being made, creating opportunities.

Calling ahead is always a good idea.  Try to have specific questions relevant to your situation if possible, rather than vague general ones.  Sometimes the person on the phone is uneducated or unknowledgeable about specific information you may need, and this applies to any travel agency you may wish to use, as well.  Be clear and concise.  While efforts are moving forward, not all things are as you (or they) wish they were.

It’s time our society recognizes that every person wants to feel ‘alive’.  We dream of visiting the Grand Canyon, taking a cruise, hiking the Appalachian Trail, riding a motor cycle, visiting Mount Rushmore, or a dude ranch, riding horses, experiencing some aquatic thrill or a thousand other ideas.  A disability or our age should not be the reason we can’t live our dreams!

Traveling ignites something within us that is revitalizing and recharging.  It gives us new energy and purpose, and often times even therapeutic.  It’s where we can experience new things, learn a little about ourselves and perhaps even grow in ways we hadn’t expected!  It encourages us to live positively, generates leisure skills, increases goal-setting abilities, and even has the power to facilitate long term friendships! Take a deep breath and go for it!