Adventure is all about the art of letting go. Letting go of what you thought it was going to be like, letting go of that little voice inside you that says maybe you should've stayed home, and letting go of negativity. I, for example, have the worst time with directions so I often wouldn't do something unless someone who knew the way was there with me or I had a DETAILED perfectly drawn and labeled map. Now I think of my "problem" with directions as my blessing. I find the best things when I get lost. Now instead of being afraid to go out because I get lost, I purposely go out knowing that I have a tendency toward taking wrong turns. Most of the time I don't reach my intended destination but I see some pretty amazing sights. Other times I reach my destination, but then I get lost trying to get back to where I started. Through my experiences, I've learned that panicking gets you nowhere and since you always have to be somewhere, might as well enjoy it. Google maps on my iPhone is my savior though when I'm in a time crunch and really do have to make it somewhere.
Another part of adventure is accepting certain facts that you cannot change. For example, I arrived in Japan and stayed in Kinomoto for a few days and left my belongings there, bringing only necessities for a few days in Osaka for teacher training. Well the day before my training ended, they told me I wouldn't be going back to Kinomoto or moving into my new apartment in Hikone just yet. I wouldn't even have time to get new things or repack. I was going to Izumo in Shimane prefecture for a little over a week. My initial reaction was shock and frustration, then I realized, I had no choice in the matter, so why be upset the whole time. My time in Izumo was so valuable to me now that I can't imagine my time in Japan without it. My company paid for my 6 hour bus ride and 2 hour train ride and I got to see a part of Japan many people will never see. A friend from college also just happened to be staying there so it all worked out that I got to see him too! Crazy how sometimes the best adventures are the least expected ones.
