1st December: Your Call to Adventure
Your hero's journey in 2024 (or being the leading lady in your own life...)
It’s coming up to the end of the year.
1st December.
I’ve just done my end-of-year review.
It’s been a funny old year for me—lots of ups and downs and loop-de-loops.
We hosted our first ever Alnwick Story Fest (it was a grand success, hurrah!)
I sold my house after breaking up with my boyfriend, and we went our separate ways.
I moved into a tiny apartment and made it my home. I have renovated (vintage style) everything from the kitchen to the bathroom.
I’ve been building up my freelance writing career again.
I've even started dating again.
That’s lots of new beginnings.
New beginnings are about hope.
New beginnings are about adventure.
New beginnings are about not knowing what you’re doing and being, er, a beginner again.
It's good to remember that in Buddhism, a beginner’s mind is revered.
In Japanese, it’s called Shoshin; it’s about having an attitude of openness, eagerness, and a lack of preconceptions.
It’s the opposite of arrogance and closed-mindedness, or thinking of yourself as an expert.
New beginnings are what Joseph Campbell, author of The Hero with a Thousand Faces, might call a ‘Call To Adventure’.
Joseph Campbell was a mythologist who posited the idea of the 'monomyt’, one story that we all live by.
This story is called ‘the hero’s journey’.
The hero’s journey is the story of our lives.
Or in the words of Iris Simpkins, ‘‘You’re supposed to be the leading lady of your own life!”
The pot of gold is not the real prize
From our favourite bestselling books to the most popular film franchises in the world (Star Wars, Harry Potter), many follow the map of the hero’s journey: the protagonist has an invitation to go on an adventure to achieve a goal or chase a desire, and she will be challenged to face her inner and outer demons to find the wisdom within to transform her life.
Yes, the hero’s journey is ultimately about transformation.
It turns out that the prize that our hero is chasing is not what’s really important.
In fact, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow turns out to not be the real prize.
The real prize is the lessons you learn along the way.
Home is not a place, but a state of being. “There is no place like home.” (Wizard of Oz)
Connect to the force. “Use the force, Luke, let go!” (Star Wars)
Love will always win. “To have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever.” (Harry Potter)
I love the idea that no matter what happens on my adventures, it’s not about finding the pot of gold but rather what I learn along the way.
Don’t get me wrong, the pot of gold is always going to be a great added bonus, but what would it be like to focus our attention on the real gold to be won on our adventures?
What I know for sure is that whatever gold we seek, the only way to find it is by setting off on an adventure.
Be it an inner journey or the outer adventure of buying a canal boat, starting a business, writing a book...
So, this month, I would encourage us all to choose a new adventure.
Be bold, be brave, and be adventurous.
Go for it.
And no matter how Zen I aspire to be, if I’m honest, I’m still a little bit motivated by the belief that the shiny gold or goal will be the answer to all my problems. 😂
But I’m also comforted by the idea that whatever happens, the adventure will transform me or my way of seeing the world and pour light into the dark places I didn’t even know existed.
A new adventure gives me an opportunity to learn the lessons I didn’t even know I needed to learn.
If life is not about stockpiling the shiny gold (the house, the car, or the external validation) but rather about the real lessons you learn to transform your inner world, then we can only win by tying our handkerchief to our proverbial stick and setting off towards the lights twinkling in the distance.
My handkerchief is tied and gently waving in the wind.
I’m planning new adventures for 2024.
My invitation to you on the first of the month, December 1st, is to join me.
Choose a new adventure for yourself.
It doesn’t have to be big.
It doesn’t have to be scary.
But do something you feel called to do.
Hear the call to adventure; accept the invitation.
And may The Force be with us all.
Suzy xxx
Beautiful Suzy. I cannot tell you how many years I watched Iris and longed for the life I have now. Most of all of it was realising I’m already here. Much love. ✨💜✨
Loved the build up to the end and invite to “choose a new adventure”, it’s really got me thinking ! What adventure am I being called towards 🤔