“Serve in the military” , How about defend your borders first, or stop violent thugs like BLM or Antifa from destroying your cities? What is the point in flying halfway around the world to “serve your country” when you can't stop it being destroyed from inside?
It’s never too late to start this. When I turned 49, I wanted to do three things before I turned 50: complete the Great Loop solo on a pontoon boat, the winter Mammoth Sniper Challenge, and a particular endurance event in Normandy, France for the 80th anniversary of D-Day. France conflicted with the Great Loop, but achieving other two were life altering. After swearing I wouldn’t do another Mammoth, I did again the next year, in worse weather, and finished as one half of the first team to finish with a combined age over 100. Doing man shit keeps you young and makes you harder to kill.
The common denominator in all of this is taking a chance. We now call that risk, in a world plagued with probabilities—what if I do this, what if I do that.
We are taught to be like this for a young age and following it is what makes us ordinary.
My favorite post of yours to date. Items for consideration to add to the list:
- Build to a 3-min breath hold
- Skydive solo
- Raft or kayak level 5 rapids
- Serve: military, first responders, community-based professions or volunteer
Great additions Kyle
“Serve in the military” , How about defend your borders first, or stop violent thugs like BLM or Antifa from destroying your cities? What is the point in flying halfway around the world to “serve your country” when you can't stop it being destroyed from inside?
Thanks for the considerations Roy. You seem to have a productive mindset on things you can control.
Thank you
Love this article! This is the kind of guidance young men need 👏🏻
this was so good, inspired me to write my own list post, I hope you dont mind that I linked this for giving you credit, my list is here https://open.substack.com/pub/psalmsandperspectives/p/life-is-about-the-side-quests?r=1lvbg2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
This is who I want to be.
Thank you so much for this one. Great impact on me
Build a structure from the ground up.
Join your local volunteer fire department.
PADI Open Water Scuba certified
Good idea. Be real. Had to chuckle at Churchill he lead Brutain into 2 Wars not thru them.
What if instead I just invent a pseudonym like Jack Krucial and call it a day?
Unfortunately you’re not as blessed as I am with my family lineage, and instead your name is Flounder…
I'm a descendant of the Flounders of Flanders; we were medieval royalty!
Larping on your lineage - what is your body of work exactly?
I make prosthetic wigs for dogs with alopecia
Thank you for this post. This gives guidance I didn't realize I needed.
It’s never too late to start this. When I turned 49, I wanted to do three things before I turned 50: complete the Great Loop solo on a pontoon boat, the winter Mammoth Sniper Challenge, and a particular endurance event in Normandy, France for the 80th anniversary of D-Day. France conflicted with the Great Loop, but achieving other two were life altering. After swearing I wouldn’t do another Mammoth, I did again the next year, in worse weather, and finished as one half of the first team to finish with a combined age over 100. Doing man shit keeps you young and makes you harder to kill.
I love this.
Well said. The world boxes you in, and you have to work your way out.
The common denominator in all of this is taking a chance. We now call that risk, in a world plagued with probabilities—what if I do this, what if I do that.
We are taught to be like this for a young age and following it is what makes us ordinary.
You're having a giraffe.
To be a modern Renaissance man is to read Goethe.
Beautiful writing. Straight to the point and actionable.
Thanks.