HEALTH &
Wellness
A Formula for Adventure
W
BY DENNIS ANDRES
What a year! In four months, I’ve enjoyed as much adventure across Arizona as others might get in a decade. After a three-day pickleball boot camp in Chandler, I have hiked in Sedona, swam in Tucson, mountain biked in Superior, Kingman and Page, and snowshoed in Flagstaff. From Monolith Gardens to the San Francisco Peaks and Ventana Canyon, I have made the most of the state’s natural wonders, finding inspiration, beauty and joy. Not raised in the outdoors or by adventurous parents, how did close-to-home adventures become my middle name? I adopted a five-step process that can work for you, too.
2: REFORMULATE Not unlike college curriculum, the adventure formula combines requirements and electives.
1: REDEFINE Too many people confuse “adventure” with hazards and struggle. Properly defined, the word simply means “something is about to happen.”
The best outdoor journeys involve novel surroundings and physical movement. Both impact the human brain positively, not to mention the human spirit.
A more in-depth description involves recreation, which simply comes from the root, to recreate ourselves. It offers rejuvenation — literally “a new youth” — implying that we give ourselves new energy and freshness. Why is looking at adventure any different? It leads us to allocate our time, money and focus on planning more of them.
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GREEN LIVING
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greenlivingmag.com
Adding your own preferences to the basics can take your adventures to a new level of enjoyment. There are numerous options. My adventurous pal Phil prefers chances to find new routes, while I enjoy capturing photos of scenic landscapes. Together, we look forward to a delicious, healthy dinner at the end of a day outdoors.
