Many have a hobby to enjoy. Some collect vintage postcards. Others spelunk or search for treasures with a Geiger counter. Some prefer to be indoors with their DVD collection, arranging them by genres, sorting them alphabetically or even watching one for the eighth time.
Some climb up a 600 foot cliff in Acapulco and dive into the small area of shallow water beneath, hoping they will land in it.
Have you ever wondered what drives people to extreme hobbies? What inspires them to risk their life for fun? What inspires them to push themselves beyond the boundaries of what we as a society consider to be "sane"?
Perhaps they suffer from a mental disorder. Perhaps they have a no regard for their corporeal lives. Perhaps spitting in the face of death gives their lives relevance. Perhaps they are related to the Kneivel family...
Some might say yes. Others would argue that the passion that drives people from the tops of the mountains to the bottom of the ocean, from one side of the globe to the other, is much simpler.
Passion and Adventure Don't Disappear Just Because You Get a Little Bit Older
Children envision all sorts of fantastic adventures. They battle giant squid. They climb up tall, dark towers and encounter dragons at the top. They set out on crusades to conquer every unknown terror that crosses their path in their quest for the buried treasures of yore. They always win whatever battle they are engaged in. At the end of the day, they trundle off to dreamland, where even more fantasies await them. They do it all over again the next day.
What are your dreams? Do you still battle dragons? When was the last time you took a sword in hand and parried around your living room, or wielded your shield against a mighty blast of flame that would turn you into a crispy critter if you weren't quick enough, smart enough, savvy enough, well trained in the art of combat?
The truth is when we grow up our monster enemies all have faces. This is the end of fantasy. Before we know it, we are on the ground looking up into hard, cold reality. We get stuck in a rut of non-fiction as we take on the responsibilities of adult life. Our dragons are gone just like Puff. There is no more Honalee.
And there is no more passion. I ask you, who wants to live like that?
Not Extreme Sports or Hobby Aficionados
Why is it that fantastic adventures were so much a part of our childhood? It was not just the fun of it or because it gave us an excuse to delay homework for another hour. There was also the adrenaline rush of realizing that someday the bad monster would win. The day may come when we let down our guard a little and let the enemy in. That day a whole village will be looted, pillaged and destroyed because we couldn't hold back the terrible, vicious beast.
Now if that isn't enough inspiration to keep the brave child going, I can't imagine what would be.
That attitude is what keeps extreme hobby lovers moving forward. They know there's always the chance that one day the dragon is going to win, so they have to push themselves harder, farther, faster than they've ever done. And in beating the dragon, they feel more alive than they ever have in their lives.
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