Spirit of Adventure

Extremely late once again (I keep promising myself I'll take earlier nights...) and I'm reviewing a home-made card I received last week for Fathers' Day. It features musical instruments and family - clearly the things my daughter thinks best depict my life. Not far off it, sweetheart.

We appear in the picture to be on a very steep hill. Family life certainly feels like that most of the time (although it's not clear whether we're going up or down the hill... Which would be the more positive imagery?)

I was left in with the kids tonight so watched Up with them. (I was once an avid Pixar fan but shamefully lost the plot with all the new films sometime around The Incredibles, so I've a bit of catching up to do.) What a great film, and what a great message for young and old. It got me thinking once again about those things that are important to me, the dreams I've held all my life and not yet seen fulfilled, and the fulfilment right now of adventures I didn't perceive as dreams - like having three beautiful kids to sit and watch a movie with.

Sometimes the things you think are getting in the way of the adventure *are* the adventure.

So on the subject of dreams unfulfilled, I've been thinking once again of my long-term ambition to learn another musical instrument - the Chapman Stick. It will happen. Some day.

My own musical ambitions aside, I'm just hugely inspired by Emmett Chapman - a true pioneer who has devoted his life to the instrument he invented. He's a man who knows what it is to work at your dream, to face obstacles and not give up, to persevere, to perfect your ideas, and to leave a great legacy.

There would be something very special about receiving an instrument that has been handled and played by its inventor.

Watch the mini documentary about his life. If, like me, you relate to that pioneer spirit, you will find it inspiring - even moving.