I was reminded yesterday (by a friend who in the moment seemed to know me better than I knew myself) that I am an adventurer.

Even being sick, my heart longs for seeking out new places and experiences. I love to hike and kayak and wander down trails.

Adventure is ingrained in my soul – so being tied to a bed and unable to walk down the hall without getting short of breath makes it impossible to get out and do the things that bring me such great joy.

Oh how crushing it can be to think about adventures I’m missing out on. We recently drove through the Avenue of the Giants. It is so hard to see a trail wandering off between the big redwoods and not follow it. I want to see what the trail sees. I want to stand in the middle of the forest and listen to wind trickle through the branches. I want to find tracks in the dirt and imagine the animals hidden in the brush.

It’s breaks my heart – if I let it.

Adventure now has to mean something different for me. It has to be a little more reserved and a lot less active – but that doesn’t mean it can’t still fulfill my desires.

I see adventure differently now. I wasn’t able to hike down the trails – but I did drive as far into the forest as my truck could go, soaking in the site of the giant trees towering overhead. I watched others disappear down pathways into the trees and I smiled as I thought about the things they might see and the way they might feel being dwarfed by the stunning wood creatures.

My world may have a different view now, but my adventuresome spirit hasn’t changed.

What drives you?
What gives you purpose?
What fills your soul?

Don’t let sickness rob your spirit. Find ways to feed your desires. Don’t focus on what you can’t do – enjoy the things you can, when you can, whatever it takes.

Life is hard when we aren’t able to do what we used to do. It can even feel like we aren’t the same person anymore. Nothing could be further from the truth. Who I am hasn’t changed a bit – I’ve just have to find new ways, different ways, to let that person live life as fully as possible.