“People say that what we’re all seeking is a meaning for life. I don’t think that’s what we’re really seeking. I think that what we’re seeking is an experience of being alive, so that our life experiences on the purely physical plane will have resonances with our own innermost being and reality, so that we actually feel the rapture of being alive.” -Joseph Campbell
The older I get and the further I venture into the world, the more I crave the feeling of being alive. I suspect this is true for many of us; it just takes different forms. My quest to discover what makes me feel alive has led me to various wildlife and water destinations, and it has inspired me to start my own travel company to help others experience these adventures, too. It has also guided me to pick up some pretty amazing books. These are four of my favorites. If you’re looking for a book that will help you tap into your truest self and discover what lies within, or one that will beckon you to push past perceived limits to try something new, I highly recommend these four titles.
The Lion Tracker’s Guide to Life by Boyd Varty
Boyd Varty grew up on Londolozi Game Reserve in South Africa, and in this short book he shares his wisdom for finding (tracking) your life’s purpose from the intersection of his own experiences as a safari guide, life coach, and author. The language is simple, but the lessons are profound. As Varty follows two veteran trackers on the trail of a lion pride in the South African bush, he draws parallels to the skills available to all of us when we pay attention to our deepest desires: stay alert, use your senses, recognize the wrong path, and trust your instincts to guide you to your destination. Over the past year I have repeated Varty’s mantra multiple times to myself, and it has consistently brought me peace: “I don’t know where I’m going, but I know exactly how to get there.” Though there is something to be said for hearing Boyd Varty read this book in his South African accent, I think it’s worth having a physical copy to highlight. Buy the kindle version here: https://amzn.to/3xDcLtS
Tough Broad: From Boogie Boarding to Wing Walking, How Outdoor Adventure Improves Our Lives as We Age by Caroline Paul
As a former firefighter and pilot, Caroline Paul knows how to feel fear and move past it. Years ago she wrote books encouraging middle school girls to be brave, but in Tough Broad (released just last month), she focuses on older women. While society tells aging women to retreat and settle, Paul provides examples of septuagenarians who are doing the exact opposite. Through interviews and psychological research, she builds a convincing argument for why spending time in nature, challenging yourself physically, trying something novel, and putting yourself out there to meet new people are meaningful pursuits at any age–and especially at an advanced age. I particularly love the range of her examples. Yes, there’s the 80 year old scuba diver and 52 year old BASE jumper, but there are also women who just want to learn how to swim, and the founder of the group Birdability who demonstrates that bird-watching can be exhilarating and accessible to everyone. I highlighted constantly while reading this book, and I want to press it in the hands of every woman I know. Buy the kindle version here: https://amzn.to/4avoHMO
Will to Wild: Adventures Great and Small to Change Your Life by Shelby Stanger
Shelby Stanger is an outdoor sports journalist, surfer, and podcast pioneer. Since 2016, she has interviewed nature-lovers and athletes on her show Wild Ideas Worth Living, and in her book, she consolidates all of that wisdom into an instruction manual for adventure. What sets this book apart is its scope. Chapters begin with reading the trail signs and digging deep into what you want, and then continue into how to actually find the courage, build the community, get started, and face your fears. Stanger reminds us that things will go wrong (even epically so), but there will also be “trail angels” to help. She extols the wonders of nature but also addresses the omnipresence of depression and anxiety when we venture into the unknown (and even moreso, after we’ve reached the finish line). I’ve listed the link for the audible version here because Stanger’s enthusiasm and relatability are appealing, but honestly, I want to buy a physical copy to dog ear and underline as well. Buy the audible version here: https://amzn.to/49CCLmo
Dream Save Do: An Action Plan for Dreamers Like You by Warren & Betsy Talbot
Betsy and Warren Talbot intended to wait until they retired to travel the world, but after watching a close friend suffer from a brain aneurysm, they decided life was too short. Two years later they had sold all of their belongings and saved enough money to become digital nomads. In their book Married with Luggage, they talk about how traveling together strengthened their marriage and helped them to become a team. Here they offer practical advice on how to actually bring your dream to life. The first part of the book focuses on identifying your dream and giving it a deadline; the second part gives specific guidelines on how to strategize saving; and the third part provides advice for earning more and establishing social support. As I have discovered through my own (much smaller scaled) goal setting, a significant piece of the process is cultivating the right mindset. Though I didn’t know about their book when I started saving for our first trip to Africa, the suggestions they offer are consistent with the ones I applied myself–beginning with the decision to make my dream the priority and eliminate the habits that didn’t serve that higher purpose. I think this book is a perfect companion to Stanger’s Will to Wild for any big dream that’s calling you. Buy the kindle version here: https://amzn.to/3PZpBJq
Wildlife & Water Adventures 