As I sit here in a Bolivian coffee shop with an awkward hour between the time the health department office closed and the immigration office opens, I can't help but think about how important flexibility is in adventure. Now, flexibility is an art form. It requires patience, patience (even more of it), and a lot of creativity. Needless to say, the beauty of adventure is so often found in our willingness to be flexible--to openly embrace change and spontaneity as our guides. It won't come easily, but the more you are able to incorporate a flexible mentality into your life, the more you will begin to realize that adventure is everywhere. You just have to be willing to open your eyes...and your time.
Time. Time is a concept created by humans and maintained by humans. This is why attitudes toward time so easily change from culture to culture. Even after 8 months, the lax attitude towards time is something I'm still getting used to in Bolivia. Compared to the rushed deadlines and the hurried nature of the United Stats, Bolivia is as close to turtle-speed as one can get. For North Americans, this is just another thing "to get used to" here, but for me, this is one aspect of life that I'm really trying to appreciate. Many times, this includes bringing a book or a notebook to any meeting or to any place that may have a line. It often includes swallowing any immediate thoughts that are about to run out of my mouth when I'm frustrated or becoming increasingly impatient. It is a constant reminder that time is what I make of it.
What if we were to loosen up our sense of time in our lives--to understand that so often our sense of time is based upon situations outside of our control...how late you were to work this morning because of an increased amount of traffic or how long you had to wait to see your doctor when you had an appointment. What if you could stop and have a wonderful, unexpected conversation with a friend when you run into her at the store before dinner? What if you could take the time to walk to the end of the street that you pass every day just to see what is around the corner?
This concept of time reminds me so much of what I learned on retreats in high school and college. This is God's time--the beautiful conviction of time in which relationships, conversations, and the beauty of adventure take the reigns of our lives. We are able to embrace the unexpected and focus on the most important parts of our lives. It is in this sense of time that we find the most beautiful adventures.
Embrace it and find adventure in every moment :)
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