What is an adventure? well I can tell you not to look in Websters Dictionary because the definition is absolute BULL. Truth be told, an adventure is what ever the individual thinks it is. I define adventure as an experience that teaches something positive or something negative. For example, smoking weed for the first time can be an adventure, but what you learn from it is negative. Now going on a journey to find out the true meaning of life is an adventure that teaches you something positive, but as I stated before adventure is what ever you want it to be.
One adventure that I had took place during the Christmas break of my Junior year of high school. My Father, Stepmother, Stepbrother and I all went down to Tybee Island in Savannah Ga. It wasn't my first time ever being in Savannah but it was my first time ever being on a beach. First I was a little nervous because I thought a shark was going to attack me, but that's another story for another time. We stayed in a bed and breakfast(also a first for me) and I found it extremely soothing. What made this an adventure for me is that for the few days that I was there, I remember getting up at the crack of dawn to walk the cool beach and collect sea shells(which to this day is still have). There's a soothing affect of knowing that you are next to the Atlantic Ocean and seeing all of the sea life that's there. I would put my feet in the water and let my toes explore the sea floor, and I would pick up the conch shells and examine their pretty colors, they reminded me of Ty-die t-shirts. I would try my hardest to get lost while walking down the sea side just so I could walk back just to see if there was anything that I didn't see before.
I also visited the local businesses and one of the owners gave me a pretty shell that was painted white and had glitter on it, I think I put it back on to the beach so some little snail could call it home. I also found a pet crab and named him Mr.Krabs but when we got back home he was no where to be found and I saw melted butter in a bowl...(kind of makes me wonder). When we left I remember taking one more stroll down the beach just to smell the fresh sea water, and put my feet in the water one more time.
What made this an adventure for me was the fact that it was something I had never done before and that it taught me to really appreciate sea life. It spoke to me, and that adventure made me want to do more to help keep our natural beaches clean. Some wouldn't consider this an adventure because they've been to beaches plenty of times or their sky divers and the thought of staying on the ground and searching beaches leaves a bad taste in their mouth. Now, the ones who would think this was an adventure would see the beauty and understand the serenity that comes along with being on a beach. They would know that you can learn to appreciate nature by taking a stroll down the beach. But as I stated earlier, an adventure is whatever the individual wants it to be.
I think this is a great blog. Your claim, evidence adn explanation are very clear. It's entertaining and witty. There is a clear and decisive point to it; you're not just babbling on for no reason. The only critisim I have is maybe you could make your claim more specific. It seemed a little broad to me.
ReplyDeleteI love your story Temprah. I have been to the beach many times and still find it the only place that truely clears my mind and lets me appreciate the beauty of nature. Those walks on the cool sand watching the sunrise or set is a one of a kind feeling. I do however think your definition is a little broad like Casey said. With that in mind you did explain it extremely well and gave a great example. The example fit the definition almost perfectly it was that good, but the definition can be left up to too much interpretation and so therefore wasn't specific enough for my taste that is. Other than that this was an amazing piece of writing and I look forward to reading more from you.
ReplyDeleteYour story was really interesting, Temprah. I like nature just as much as an average person, but your story really reminds of my cousin, who is a complete outdoorsman and that is something to be really proud of. Your interpretation of the beach was really becoming an image in my mind, which was really good in your story. Can't wait to read more.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the others here that your definition isn't very useful. Maybe what you experience was just a nice, new experience, but it wasn't an "adventure." There was no risk involved, no physical challenge or mental or spiritual challenge. ... To say that doing something new is having an adventure isn't really convincing. If you called out "going to the beach" I don't think anyone would think "adventure."
ReplyDeleteThe focus on gleaning some kind of personal meaning or experiencing some kind of *shift* is very interesting and will probably make a solid basis for a good definition.