If given the chance, what adventure would you embark on despite your fear?
I’ve invited bloggers to tell me about their fearful adventures. It could be something epic, like circling the globe on a rusty unicycle, or something creative, like starting work on a novel. There are only two conditions: 1. It inspires you, 2. It scares you. Follow the various adventures on Twitter with the hashtag: #myfearfuladventure.
Here are the submissions so far…
My most fearful adventure is a reality check
“If I were to go on a truly fearful adventure, it would be somewhere I would be forced to face the reality of how many less fortunate people live in the world. No sipping a copa de vino tinto on a sidewalk in Spain. Just me versus reality. To acknowledge is to act.” Read the post – By Domestiphobia
Our biggest physical challenge to date
“In October we’ll be walking 509 km (300 miles) along the coast of Turkey from Fethiye to Antalya. I’m an adventurer trapped inside the body of a middle-aged woman, and this year I’m breaking free.” Read the post – By Married with Luggage
Quitting it all to move to Costa Rica
“When I got back from my trip, I called my mom and told her that I was quitting my job and moving to Costa Rica to work for a surfer. She laughed. I told her that I was serious.” Read the post – By Samba to the Sea
This is my declaration to fly
“I always try to picture myself up there, in the plane, looking out onto the sky, and just jumping. Going into it like a bird. Flying free. I have this feeling that if I want to fully embrace the freedom that I so crave, I absolutely must do this. I must be okay with soaring, and then plummeting from the sky.” Read the post – By Fel’s Got Swag.
Leaping into a canyon
“As I peeked over the edge of the rock I was meant to launch myself off of, the soles of my feet and palms of my hands tingled, signifying a familiar and overwhelming terror reserved solely for those moments when I’m either about to deliver a speech or drop from an unfathomable height.” Read the post – By Turf to Surf
From Athens to Hong Kong on a container ship
“Now it’s all booked and paid for, I am starting to feel just ever so nervous, maybe even fearful … I can’t keep thinking “What if I get kidnapped by a pirate?”” Read the post – By Leaving Cairo
I may have to land the plane
“It’s hard being the wife of an adventurer and I’m so afraid that I won’t be able to keep up with the man I married. He’s already talking about a round-the-world trip with the plane at some point in his life and I’m not sure if my bladder will be able to take such a long journey.” Read the post – By Chicks Travel Flicks
Speaking in front of a crowd
“So, I’m going. I’m going to get on an airplane and fly all the way across the country. I will face my fear, and I will come home to a full-schedule of speaking engagements throughout the Fall that I’ve already set up – you know… just to make sure I don’t back out.” Read the post – By The Vagabond Studio
Moving for love
“The thought that I’m actually moving 10,000 miles for the sake of love scares me shitless. I mean, isn’t that a lot of hoop jumping for a man? But then I thought about the thought of not taking a chance. And that was the scariest thought of all. The idea of regretting something that I didn’t do.” Read the post – By Nancy Da Costa
A life of ridiculous adventure
“I had no idea where I was going and everything looked the same. I felt exposed. Alien. As a 19 year old kid with nothing but a backpack, a few thousand bucks, and a long history of severe social anxiety, I was paralyzed.” Read the post – By Republic of Freedom
The boy who was scared of everything
“I made a clear conscious decision, I needed to lose the fear. I was sick of the complete and utter boredom I faced on a daily basis in my soul destroying job. Suddenly I realised there are so many opportunities out there and the only scary thing was ignoring them. Life on this planet is extremely short and it’s down to us as individuals to make the most of every second.” Read the post – By Hungry Escapades
Driven
“It gradually occurred to me, that I didn’t have enough time. There was so much knowledge out there left unlearned, so many places gone unexplored… and I had already wasted ten years of my life.” Read the post – By Jane Oh
Do you have a fearful adventure? I want to hear about it. Find out how to submit for a chance to win a round-trip ticket worth up to $1,000!
Full List of Submissions
Mediocrity by Antijenic Drift
The Potent Blend of Inspiration and Fear by Colleen Conger
My Biggest Fears by Kathleen Fordyce
My Underwater Fearful Adventure by The Journey Itself
A Death-Defying Dive into Life by Laura Watts
Conquering Denmark by My Madeleines
Learning To Bluff by Franny’s Footsteps
Fearful Adventures in Becoming Unlost by The Unlost
My Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Biggest, Baddest Fear by Libby Segal
This is Not Your Typical Adventure Story by Elizabeth Halt
Leaving the Cage to Fly by Sarah Hansen
How to Kick Fear in the Gonads by Gigi Griffis
A Series of Adventures by Shana Mattheis
Standing Clear Of The Closing Doors by The Fab Life Project
Walking a Fine Line Between Fear & Intuition by Wander to Connect
What Would You Do if You Weren’t Afraid? by Lisa Overman
The Middle-Aged Adventurer by Married with Luggage
Face Your Fears or Face a Life Less Lived by Travel Without Pants
There Is Nothing More Badass Than Being Who You Are by Sally Hope
If My Most Fearful Adventure Is A Reality Check… by Domestiphobia
Fear by Samba of the Sea
How I Karate-Chopped Fear by Republic of Freedom
I’m Afraid I May Have to Land The Plane by chickstravelflicks
This Is My Declaration of Freedom by Fels Got Swag
Sometimes You Fall in Love, Even When There’s a Chance of Drowning by Srinivas Rao
Overcoming fear at Laguna Dudú by Turf to Surf
My Fearful Adventure by Leaving Cairo
Relinquishing My Inner Chicken-Shit by Vagabond Studio
The Final Frontier of Fear by Sarah Somewhere
Why I’m Moving 10,000 Miles for Love by Nancy Da Costa
The Boy Who Was Scared of Everything! by Hungry Escapades
My Biggest Fear by Limitless 365
My Honest to God Fear by Wandering Sasquatch
Driven by Jane
The Shadow of my Fear by 20 Years Hence
Love, Fear and Literature by Wander Lusters
I’m Leaving Student Affairs by Joyful Shimmy
Paradise and the Places that Scare You by Age of Plenty
Fear Factor: Beauty Pageant Edition by My Adventures and Cake
Travelling Back and Leaping Forward by Jan String
My Fearful Adventure: You’re Looking At It by Resituate
Throwing Off the Dock Lines by Tina Montgomery
Dentally Yours: An Adventure in Chinese Medical Misadventure by Lost n China
Scared Shitless by Quiet Discipline
Anxiety’s Grip by Durflowe’s in Bali
Fear of Two Wheels by Mid Life Cruising
Ms. Almost… Ms. Maybe….Ms. Halfway by Tammy Swart
Confronting the Past: A Story of Two Families by Fly Icarus Fly
Skye is Still a Big Scaredy Cat by Sky Vs World
When I Grow Up I Want to be Me by Clare Herbert
Fear of Vulnerability by Darcy Unrooted
My Greatest Fear is Being Different by The Savoury Soul
Confessions of a Thirty Something Wanderer by Helen In Wonderlust
That One Time I… Moved to Texas by Offbeat Ramblings
It’s All Very Clear to me Now by A Girl, A Dog, And A Blog
I’m Afraid to Take My Own Advice by We Are Adventure
If I Were Rich and Fearless by Linsi Brownson
Getting Off the Hampster Wheel by Sarah Steenland
The Loneliness of the Long-Distance, Angst-Ridden Relationship by No More Fat Guy
My Bags are Packed, I’m Ready to Go by thejaclynofalltrades
Time to Kill the Fearful Self Doubt by María Ortega
Fears and a Mother’s Dream by The Next Big Adventure
Heartbreak and Travel by Lowly Peasant Errand Girl
The 50 Year Old Vagina, And Other Baby Fears by A Brave Life
Say Cheese, Ya Know, If You Want To by Zach Aboard
Home is more than where you keep your stuff by Tatiana Louise
My Fearful Adventure: Writing by Socks in the Disco
Adventures and Misadventures by Janet Brent
My Fearful Adventure by Providence Smiles
Torre DeRoche is the author of two travel memoirs, Love with a Chance of Drowning (2013) and The Worrier’s Guide to the End of the World (due out September 2017). She has written for The Atlantic, The Guardian Travel, The Sydney Morning Herald, Emirates, and two Lonely Planet anthologies.
23 Response Comments
I’m loving this series Torre! The theme of overcoming fear is universal and yet our individual fears are completely different. I can’t wait to read them all!
I love this series and contest. Can’t wait to submit my own real soon!
Oh, I missed this announcement while I was in the mountains. Torre, I’m inspired by this topic of fear. If I can find some time I’m going to try to participate.
HI Torre! Thanks so much for posting the link to my story… unfortunately, I broke my site and then broke a bunch of links by accident. I don’t know how to redirect, but here is the current and correct link to my “fearful adventure”: http://turftosurf.com/overcoming-fear-at-laguna-dudu-cabrera-dominican-republic/
This contest was a great idea… brought out some great stories!
Tasha
What a great idea! I’ve just written mine!
Thanks for the opportunity Torre!
Brilliant series. ‘To acknowledge is to act’ – loved this.
I can’t wait to read the rest =)
Very inspirational. The best way to overcome our fears is to face it. As we draw closer, it begins to lose its power. Most fears are not real
I just found your blog and I spent almost 2 hours on your blog..Very interesting…:)
I just found this site and I love it!
I love reading all of those stories. So inspiring! It is amazing to read what humans are capable of if they want to follow their dreams.
Thanks for these great stories. Fearlessness is a myth. Every adventurer has to embrace her fear. It’s a tool that tells us to pay attention. But fear doesn’t have to rule our lives or strangle our dreams. Embracing fear and walking past it is truly courageous. Thank you for providing this footpath as guidance.
I love these all so much. When are you announcing the winner?? 🙂
Look like the library! Will take more time to read all. But that’s worth.
Thanks for sharing
Eye Opening!
Great post. I’ve had fearful adventures. But the most fearful one was when our speed boat ran out of fuel in the middle of the ocean at about 8pm. Your blog is interesting.
Can’t say I have read each and every submission, but of the ones I did read including My Fearful Adventure by Providence Smiles, it does hit on some nerves about common fears that everyone just fear including being ridiculed, judged, criticized – Especially in some 3rd world countries this would be more common than not.
This is an awesome stuff i really like it.The adventurous things mentioned in this was great.
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