When I grow up...

When I was a kid I remember being asked "what do you want to be when you grow up" and of course my answer was always something fantastic like astronaut, firefighter, tornado chaser, test pilot, owner of Alaska, etc... I never thought I'd ever want to run my own outdoor company, be the project leader of an NFP (and a consultant for others), help run the smallest stage at the world's largest music festival (Refugee Stage, Summerfest, check it out people... otherwise howler monkeys will have to be sent to your location!), or become and advocate for the environment and those who enjoy it. All in all, my vision of what I wanted to be when I grew up has turned out to be nothing like what I had anticipated it would be.

It's not a bad thing, just a moment of realization. It's fine, even better than fine in some cases... and sometimes, not so fine. I had thought I would be the guy that would change the world, be something big and become recognized for it. You know. Like first man on Mars, guy who cures cancer, giver of much to those who have little, maybe even the elected representative to greet an alien race (yeah it's nerdy, but you know you'd want that honor too). Maybe that's a bit of grandeur, but who can blame me for dreaming? SITREP: 26 year old male, living in studio apartment, super duper senior college student working on a degree I never had thought I'd be working on, driving a 97 Honda Accord, making next to nothing (sorry ladies, it's true...), not the ambassador to the moon, no Nobel Prize... Nothing that sticks out as big or bold...

But then there's the other moments... when it's really really good. Climbing/backpacking 4 peaks in 2 days, sending clean lines, studying rocks and the Earth, playing with my awesome dog, having a car that is an old friend that will work itself to death for you, having the opportunities to guide trips and share some of the most wonderful natural spaces in this world with others, the smiles and laughter shared with my friends (some of the most interesting and best people one could know), having the relationships I have with outdoor companies and organizations, meeting icons and role models like Pete Athens (Mr. Everest) and Juan Martinez (Director of Leadership Development and Natural Leaders Network for the Children & Nature Network and North Face Ambassador), giving back to the community and giving kids the chance to see some cool outdoor stuff they might never have seen or had the opportunity to experience, and (my favorite) sharing the tales of adventures I have...

I've been thinking about all this because I've been making some seriously big changes and choices in my life lately. I'm hoping they are for the best, but what is driving these decisions are the things I love and the interests I have. That phrase "Live the Life you Love" has been playing over and over in my head, and I've been trying to listen to it. But while I can listen all I want sometimes the answers don't always come when we want them too; sometimes we have to wait, go, stop, fall, get back up, or smell the roses for a bit before that mystery is revealed. I can be a patient person, but as my dad pointed out this weekend (and I quote) sometimes I "get the cart ahead of the horse".

As such I think being content with who you are as you grow is important. While we may not always become what we thought we would or maybe the circumstances aren't what we imagined they'd be like now... things are really ok. Life is amazing, you can see it in everyday things if you take the time to look. So while I'm just another 26 year old dude, I feel as if I'm, to quote Brendan Leonard, "Happily Semi-rad."

Having another year of school, guiding, and life in general under my belt is good... I can avoid the candles, songs, and embarrassing photo's for another year... And as many do when they age, I get to look back on the past year(s) and reflect on what has happened and especially what I'm thankful for. While things can come and go, experiences stick with you, and memories are priceless. And this cake... this cake is pretty epic tasting right now... ok, so maybe there's more than embarrassment to the whole song and dance ;)

If there's one thing I've learned in all this is that life is just like a trail, you don't always get clear blazes to mark your path, sometimes you just have to cinch up your pack and go forth into the unknown. Take a chance and explore something, even if you don't find what you're looking for you will at the very least have a good story! It's easy to forget why life can be so amazing and how exciting taking a chance can be. We are constantly bombarded by messages that tell us we should be afraid and not take chances in life. While the consequences may be hard and possibly set you back you can always count on getting a good story out of it and a lesson learned to pass on to others.

So take your time, jam-hike-climb on, but stop to smell the roses. Take the path less traveled, turn right instead of left, but don't circle back. Open your mind to new possibilities, surround yourself with good people, and give back as often as you can. Live well, be well. I'll be there when we grow up... assuming we do grow up! And, as always, cheers, beers, and the great outdoors!

~Eco