We are isolating in the hills north of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia. Suddenly the usual one and a half hour public transport commute to work is worth it because now we’re surrounded by trees and nature and have that wonderful, rare thing called ‘space’ in which to isolate. Suddenly we’re armchair adventurers.

In the time of COVID there are lots of reminders of the pressures that uncertainty puts on people. Usually most of us like to know what is happening and prepare for the future in order to feel safe and secure. But today there is no certainty for anyone. And this uncertainty is now, sadly, shared globally. 

Disease does not respect borders. It does not respect man made rules. It operates predictably unpredictably because it operates through humans. And so, we are left in a state of uncertainty, with a sense that control is totally and inextricably (at least temporarily) out of our reach.

And for many, that is not a comfortable place to be. But for adventurers, for the greats of history, for the men and women who pushed physical barriers to explore, discover, and challenge, uncertainty was sometimes their only certainty. So this series of posts entitled “Hallmarks of Adventurers” was conceived.

This is a series of little one page posts designed to help us understand the attitudes of adventurers and how these attitudes helped them survive.

The posts are based on portrayals from an extensive selection of adventure stories which we will share with you over the coming period.  Perhaps we can take lessons from their trepidations and apply them to today, to help us frame life and make progress, despite this virus. It should also help frame the difficulties of adventurous pursuits, especially when things go sideways, as they often do. That’s when you really need the right attitude.

If you haven’t already subscribed, sign up now to receive notification of when the first post “Preparedness” is published. 

From your fellow isolating adventurers. Keep strong.