The Ups and Downs of Adventure

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“Jobs fill your pocket, adventures fill your soul.” – Jaime Lyn Beatty

This past weekend I went on a bike ride with my kids. I think the below is a fairly accurate graph of the big emotions during the adventure. I didn’t chart the minor tremors as it’d look like we had been in an earthquake.

And this is how we remember it looking back four days later:

I don’t think this is limited to adventures with young kids. I’ve thought back and I can’t think of a single adventure that I have undertaken that didn’t come with at least one low moment. Tired, hungry, in pain, uncertain about success, sometimes all of the above. And yet, there are none that I wish I hadn’t done.

Now I’m just grateful that my kids keep my expedition muscles working. Because in the end, I think these adventures, big and small, teach us about life. We learn we can do it, survive the ups and downs, and in the process, do something worth remembering.

(all photos are mine)

You can find me on Instagram @wynneleon and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wynneleon/

I co-host a storytelling podcast featuring authors and artists with the amazing Vicki Atkinson. To tune in, search for Sharing the Heart of the Matter on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music or Pocketcasts (and subscribe) or click here. Or the YouTube channel features videos of our interviews. Please subscribe!

My other projects include work as a CEO (Chief Encouragement Officer), speaking about creativity and AI through the Chicago Writer’s Association, and my book about my journey to find what fueled my dad’s indelible spark and twinkle can be found on Amazon: Finding My Father’s Faith.

78 thoughts on “The Ups and Downs of Adventure”

      1. Wynne I will tell you a story…2 years ago I was in Kefalonia and I broke my phone !
        That is the wirst thing that has happened…how did I break my phone ?
        I tiook the back off it as you do…doh 🤷‍♂️
        What an idiot eh 😄
        I hope that made you giggle my friend 😉

        Like

  4. I love that quote. My dad used to say, “If nothing ever went wrong during a holiday, we would have nothing to talk about.” Smooth sailing can be boring. I love how our memory of the bad experiences fade over time, even in 4 days!! A great post, thanks.

    Liked by 2 people

  8. I can see that. The eyes of the child, especially a young one are wide open and full. But the stamina is short. Your story makes me remember something I hadn’t thought about in a long time, my son and I went on a bike ride and it was probably a little longer than he could handle and more uphill than on the way out. But we made it home and biked again. Childhood is so many events that shape and make us more resilient and fuel our curiosity. Keep sharing your stories and I’ll keep reading.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. We give grades to each of us while we travel. It maybe C plus for being annoying or a D for throwing a tantrum. When we come back home the trip would be an A! Your chart looks like that 💕!

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  12. Yes, there’s no doubt that often it’s the unexpected challenge or “disaster” that happens during an adventure that stays with us as our main memory of the time, in a good way.

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  13. Oh, Wynne. I was moving too fast as I read and I thought the word along the Y axis was “Enjoymeter”…you know…like a meter for joy and you’d coined a new word? 😜💕😜

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  15. Ooh family adventures are the best! Even small adventures are a lot of fun! The kids remember us playing the “left, right” game – when arriving at a stop sign or traffic light it was the next one’s turn to decide if we went left, right or straight, all in the name of discovering new neighborhoods and possibly new treats.

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      1. I remember those days. I had my kids a little younger than you, but mid to late 30s. So I was older than a lot of moms. But they still keep me going.

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  23. I think the chart is a great way to show that sometimes things aren’t as bad as we see them in the moment. Don’t you think the reverse can be true too? Sometimes I develop feelings of nostalgia about an activity or place, only to return later and realize it wasn’t all I’d built it up in my mind.

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  24. The chart is great – life is rarely all about “smooth sailing” – what is really interesting too is that it’s only the peaks and troughs that we tend to remember later – the absolute highs and lows of the adventure – a whole day gets compressed into tight helmets and good cookies! Fabulous, Linda xx

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  26. Pingback: The Ups and Downs of Adventure – Good news

  27. How fun for you to chart the emotional journey that accompanied the ride itself. It’s so funny how hindsight is so important in providing perspective on the recency bias too.

    I absolutely agree with you that the highs and lows will always be with every adventure we take. But there is not an adventure with my T that I wish I hadnt taken.

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  28. This is excellent, Wynne. I think pain, suffering, embarrassment—on and on—are part of life, but in the end, what really matters, as your second chart points out, is the end result. It’s like raising kids—a lot happens along the way, but what we ultimately see are their beautiful faces as they grow older and the love we have for them.

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  29. Now that’s relatable and it’s exactly that unpredictability that makes it so precious. You’re absolutely right, adventures are a journey of the soul, and it’s the messy, imperfect, sometimes chaotic moments that shape us into who we are. I’m sure your kids will always treasure these memories. I love the quote you started with – ‘Jobs fill your pocket, adventures fill your soul.’

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  30. Agreed, Wynne. Spot on. Also, the physical activity is important. So many children (and adults) are caught up in video games nowadays. When things aren’t going well, they can hit reset or just end the game. In real life, you don’t get an automatic do-over whenever you want–you have to tough it out and keep going. Good lesson to learn, when you look back at your adventures and see the big picture.

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  31. I love this perspective on adventure and its inevitable ups and downs! Your graph perfectly captures the emotional rollercoaster that comes with pushing ourselves (and our kids!) beyond comfort zones. It’s so true—every adventure has a tough moment, but those challenges make the journey even more memorable and rewarding. Thanks for the inspiration and reminder that the best stories come from embracing the full experience!

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  32. Great perspective! As a fellow parent, I agree every adventure my wife and I have had with our son has included obstacles. While most of them are unpleasant at the time, they make me smile now because they have taught me positive lessons about myself.

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  33. Oh yes! I love this. That first graph is most often what it’s like. Over time the line flattens out and we remember all the fun. It’s all about how we feel, right?
    Love this post and the visuals.

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