Category: Adventures

Over the MLK weekend, I found myself in the middle of a gorgeous forest, hurtling down the mountain and conquering nature. Then I realized I was participating in a weird bourgeois endeavor: luxury adventure. There I was, savoring the exhilaration and conquest typical of adventurers, yet insulated from any real risk. I realized that skiing is part of a larger luxury adventure movement, epitomized by the commercialized expeditions to Mount Everest’s summit, where ventures have shifted from pioneering exploration to a form of commodified conquest.

When things get boring, I try to add some dramatic flair to everyday activities to spice them up. When I worked at Citibank, I’d picture myself as an adventurer. I’d imagine I was a quest to solve a large complicated problem, getting clues from various people on the way. Sometimes I’d come across a treasure chest with some tool in it. I wouldn’t know exactly what the tool was for, but I’d file it away in my toolbelt for later use. I didn’t do it every day, but something fun came up every month or so. It made daily tasks more interesting and provided motivation for my team. I learned that I can add excitement and drama to things that aren’t inherently interesting by changing the way I look at them.