This is the final post in the Planning Your Adventure series. You’ve followed the map that you created and the only thing left to do is to go out there and enjoy your adventure!

Of course, there is still that nagging voice in the back of your head, “Are you sure this is the best time?” “What about that thing you were going to do?” and everyone’s favorite, “Did you turn off the oven?”

You will never get everything done that you want to do. There will be someone you wanted to talk to before you go, some last detail that you did not get a chance to take care of, not exactly the right amount of money saved up. If you allow yourself to do so, you can make excuses from now until eternity. It doesn’t matter how big or small the adventure, it is possible to find an excuse to put it off.

For the trip to Ireland:
• I can’t get all of the classes that I need.
• What if we can’t find a place to stay, or it costs too much?
• With the currency difference ($1 US is currently [Jan 2008] worth $0.77 Euros) we will be losing money, should we wait?
• and on and on and on…

We finally decided that we just had to go and quit making excuses. Once we brushed those excuses aside and focused on our goal, everything else seemed to fall in place! We didn’t immediately find a place to stay, but received a list of places that are available, including prices (which ended up the same or cheaper as our rent in the U.S.!) The classes mostly all worked out, we will only be missing two that we would have otherwise been taking.

Of course, that is a big example. We’ll be putting everything we own into storage and moving out of the country for nearly half of a year. It’s easy to see how one would make excuses for that. However, I had been making excuses for my painting for at least 6 months. 6 months for a few hour painting! I’d had the materials for at least that long! Hadn’t touched them yet, though.

For the painting:
• I don’t have just the right picture to work from
• I don’t have enough time to finish it right now, so I’ll wait until complete it in one sitting.
• I’m just not in the mood.

Until I made myself do it, it was never going to get done. I love to paint, I just hate starting. So even if I was not in the mood, it normally only took about 10 minutes for me to be thoroughly enjoying myself. I let that temporary displeasure stop me from doing something I love.

To ensure that you enjoy your adventure, whether it is big or small, you have to determine what truly needs to be done. You don’t have to leave your house spic-and-span, but you do have to make sure the pets will be fed and watered. You don’t have to visit everyone you know, but you should let them know what you are doing: email or a phone call will suffice.

Once you have taken care of the true needs, you can let everything else that is inconsequential slide from your mind. Relax and enjoy your adventure!