This was outstanding - at 59 and having broken an ankle just 4 years ago chasing my son down a black diamond, the war of the mindsets between “wisdom” of old age and the stubborn nature I have has been an adjustment like you describe.
But like you say there are many reasons why it doesn’t end and time out in nature doesn’t have to be the do or die of high adventure.
Getting old sux, but still being around to witness kids get out and enjoy is also a new set of discoveries waiting to happen.
I've always been outdoors and active and certainly into some pretty intense sports but never really got the adrenaline junkie feel though I saw it in a lot of my friends. It's like they had an itch and couldn't really appreciate the fun of what they had. My university owned a ski hill just 10 minutes from door to lift and, after class, I'd jot over for just an hour to play around and clear my head. A housemate of mine would rarely come because he wouldn't have enough time to get warmed up for the 'big hit' and actually didn't board for as many hours that year as I would. It was interesting to see and cemented then the idea of being in the here and now vs. looking for that dose of adrenaline.
There’s definitely some wisdom here. Feels reminiscent of the expression about the man who enjoys the journey walking farther.
I may eventually do a follow-up explainer article on this, but there is a REAL adrenaline junkie biochem phenomenon. When your body gives you epinephrine for doing something like skiing fast, it also usually gives you dopamine. Its easy to create a very powerful reward loop that overtakes the enjoyment of an activity itself
This was outstanding - at 59 and having broken an ankle just 4 years ago chasing my son down a black diamond, the war of the mindsets between “wisdom” of old age and the stubborn nature I have has been an adjustment like you describe.
But like you say there are many reasons why it doesn’t end and time out in nature doesn’t have to be the do or die of high adventure.
Getting old sux, but still being around to witness kids get out and enjoy is also a new set of discoveries waiting to happen.
I've always been outdoors and active and certainly into some pretty intense sports but never really got the adrenaline junkie feel though I saw it in a lot of my friends. It's like they had an itch and couldn't really appreciate the fun of what they had. My university owned a ski hill just 10 minutes from door to lift and, after class, I'd jot over for just an hour to play around and clear my head. A housemate of mine would rarely come because he wouldn't have enough time to get warmed up for the 'big hit' and actually didn't board for as many hours that year as I would. It was interesting to see and cemented then the idea of being in the here and now vs. looking for that dose of adrenaline.
There’s definitely some wisdom here. Feels reminiscent of the expression about the man who enjoys the journey walking farther.
I may eventually do a follow-up explainer article on this, but there is a REAL adrenaline junkie biochem phenomenon. When your body gives you epinephrine for doing something like skiing fast, it also usually gives you dopamine. Its easy to create a very powerful reward loop that overtakes the enjoyment of an activity itself
Thanks for reading!