Comments on: Here’s the Thing about Adventures

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sun, 23 May 2010 18:38:20 +0000

Hey Becky!

irreverent comment first:
We know many friends for whom, those class IV-V rapids are a playground! but lethal to people not experienced paddlers… Maybe they can loan us some play boats.

serious comment now:
Yes, as a modern woman, the course ahead is uncharted, but it’s at least as uncharted for a modern man. I think you are stumbling upon a human question, as much as gender question.

You are stumbling upon a question relevent to men & women of our time & place in the world.

Now gender of course, does play a role, but the dragons are still there for all of us. Women have an advantage though, one that you are looking fully at here. Women have more social acceptance about speaking doubts, about community support of expressing your fears. About naming the dragons.

For guys, socially naming your fears, admitting your lack of direction or worry, makes you seem weak, if you are not a dragonslayer/dragonrider, you are not a man. Both genders will distain you.. So men are experts in faking it, faking the certainty, when really, they are often bewildered at the journey

But the modern question is still there for all of us, your expat status just makes the journey explicit & more pressing.

good luck & definitely keep writing.

By: Maggie Doyne

Maggie Doyne — Sun, 23 May 2010 16:46:48 +0000

thanks for sharing this rebecca. i loved every word. sooo sooo true.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Fri, 21 May 2010 10:07:36 +0000

Hey there, Swirly! Thanks! Welcome home.
Letha and I were just talking about you – will send you a separate message.

By: Swirly

Swirly — Fri, 21 May 2010 04:37:16 +0000

I never really had a “plan”, but after a very painful period in my life – during which I lost just about everything – the reality that there was no map really sunk in. This didn’t bother me as much as it inspired awe. Awe as in, “Wow, it is impossible to know what is around the corner.”

I am sending you a great big hug my friend….thinking of you and missing you.

By: Lori Wostl

Lori Wostl — Tue, 18 May 2010 23:00:42 +0000

Yikes! PROFOUND Yikes. As long as all that hangs out is your sox what is there to worry about? Thanks for this post and I will go look at the link from Beth too. I hadn’t run across EG as a speaker before, I’m in the middle of her book Commitment and loving it, her speaking is awfully good too – so I guess I’ll love it all. Remember the self-forgiveness and self-love (pun intended) Love Lori

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Mon, 17 May 2010 16:35:59 +0000

Thanks, Beth! Yes, I like that talk, too. It’s a totally different topic, and they are both great! When the blog started it was just us… us girlfriends… and I knew you all knew me well and liked and me and were on my side. You know, this was our little personal way to stay in touch through the Adventure. Now, goodness gracious, former bosses, current course participants, future employers… they’re all here part of the conversation — it isn’t just us girls anymore, you know? Yikes!

By: Beth Hayden

Beth Hayden — Mon, 17 May 2010 16:06:11 +0000

Hey Reb – I totally think you should share your next twists and turns here. What is blogging about, if it’s not about perilously hanging out the window with your socks flapping in the breeze?

I love this talk from Elizabeth Gilbert at TED last year – http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

May be similar content, not sure – I’m going to listen to the O talk your recommended this afternoon! Thanks for being brave and continuing to inspire me toward adventure!

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Sun, 16 May 2010 19:58:16 +0000

Hi Donna! Thanks so much. Right now I’m just holding on tight through all the unexpected twists and turns, hoping the boat doesn’t flip (to continue my last metaphor there). Thanks for commenting… it’s so nice to keep in touch this way…

By: Donna

Donna — Sun, 16 May 2010 19:34:03 +0000

The fact that your adventure “doesnâ€™t read like any story I thought would be my life” is all the more reason to share it. It’s the stories that take the unexpected twists and turns that are the most interesting and contain the most teachable moments. I’m thinking of you.