What shapes our personality, our behavior, and who we are? Psychologists have been asking these questions for many years and the debate is far from over.

People often ask me how I became so adventurous because I definitely didn’t grow up in a place where there were mountain sports. Central Oklahoma is flat. And when I say flat, I mean FLAT. I can, however, brag that I “hiked” up to Mount Scott with friends when I was in college.

Having difficulty reading this? Go to the adapted version!

For those of you who are not familiar with the geographical features of Oklahoma, Mount Scott is part of the Wichita Mountains near Lawton. The summit is at 751 m (2464 ft) and the elevation of Lawton is approximately 339 m (1112 ft). You can do the math!

Maybe this is just a hill compared to the Alps, but we were very proud of our ascent! It was quite the adventure! And even though I had a great time and many great memories were made, my adventurous spirit didn’t start there.

Growing up, every weekend seemed like an adventure. We’d pack up the car and go to the lake. We’d spend the weekend sailing to the other side of the lake, which some days seemed like the edge of the world! We would drop the anchor and I’d swim to the shore and “explore”.

When I was maybe ten years old, I remember hiking with my family to the top of a tropical island to an observatory. I don’t remember why we were going there. I think there was supposed to be a meteor shower we were going to watch. At any rate, we were going to watch the stars, so when we were headed back down the mountain, it was nighttime and pitch dark.

Maybe there was a “trail” when we started heading down, but it quickly deteriorated. I would describe it more as a goat path that went through a tropical forest. There was a lot of scrambling. There was a lot of laughing. There was a lot of speculation as to when we’d get to the bottom. Eventually we made it back down safe and sound, but it was one of the most adventurous evenings I ever had as a kid.

I could go on and on about the adventures I have had with my family, but is it because of these experiences that I want to do even more exploring? It’s difficult to say. Because of the experiences I had with them, I am definitely more open to explore new places and try new things. I do, however, have my limits!

Extreme sports are not my thing. I’m definitely not an adrenaline junky. Actually, a lot of things scare me, but I like going on adventures and exploring new places. I’m happiest when I’m not in a life or death situation and I can just “discover”. I’m completely okay with the fact that Everest will never be on my bucket list!

Living in France, I have the ultimate playground to discover the mountains and try new sports. My adventurous spirit isn’t going to die any time soon, but I can’t help but wonder… If I didn’t have all of these great childhood memories, would I be as adventurous as I am today? Or is my love for mountains and adventure in my blood? I guess I’ll never know!

Now let me ask you! Where do you think you got your adventurous streak? Did it come from your parents? Was your spark for adventure ignited when you were ten years old, after a week filled with fun and thrills at camp? What do you think?

No matter where your love for adventure comes from, I hope that spark never dies!

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain

Adapted Version

Adapted Version

Nature Versus Nurture

In parenthesis () there are explanations of words and phrases. These explanations are in italics.

What shapes (forms) our personality, our behavior, and who we are? Psychologists have been asking these questions for many years and the debate (doscussion) is far from over.

People often (many times) ask me how I became so adventurous (someone who likes adventure) because I definitely didn’t grow up in a place (location) where there were mountain sports. Central Oklahoma is flat (does not have a lot of elevation change). And when I say flat, I mean FLAT. I can, however, brag (say) that I “hiked” up to Mount Scott with friends when I was in college (university).

For those of you who are not familiar with the geographical features of Oklahoma, Mount Scott is part of the Wichita Mountains near Lawton. The summit is at 751 m (2464 ft) and the elevation of Lawton is approximately 339 m (1112 ft). You can do the math (You can see how flat it is)!

Maybe this is just a hill (an area with an elevation smaller than a mountain) compared to the Alps, but we were very proud of (satisfied with) our ascent (going up to the summit)! It was quite the (big) adventure! And even though I had a great time (I had fun) and many great memories were made, my adventurous spirit (mind) didn’t start there.

Growing up, every weekend seemed (was) like an adventure. We’d pack up (load) the car and go to the lake. We’d spend the weekend sailing to the other side of the lake, which some days seemed like the edge (end) of the world! We would drop (place) the anchor and I’d swim to the shore (land) and “explore”.

When I was maybe ten years old, I remember hiking with my family to the top of a tropical island to an observatory. I don’t remember why we were going there. I think there was supposed to be (scheduled to have) a meteor shower we were going to watch (see). At any rate (anyway), we were going to watch the stars, so when we were headed back (went) down the mountain, it was nighttime and pitch dark (difficult to see because the sky was black).

Maybe there was a “trail” when we started heading down, but it quickly deteriorated (disappeared). I would describe it (use a description) more as a goat path that went through (traversed) a tropical forest. There was a lot of scrambling (climbing with the feet). There was a lot of laughing. There was a lot of speculation (questions) as to when we’d get to (arrive at) the bottom. Eventually we made it back down (to the bottom) safe and sound (safely), but it was one of the most adventurous evenings I ever had as a kid (child).

I could go on and on (continue to tell stories) about the adventures I have had with my family, but is it because of these experiences that I want to do even more exploring? It’s difficult to say. Because of the experiences I had with them, I am definitely more open to explore new places and try new things. I do, however, have my limits!

Extreme sports are not my thing (they are not something I like to do). I’m definitely not an adrenaline junky (someone who likes activities that raise your level of adrenaline). Actually, a lot of things scare me (I fear many things), but I like going on adventures and exploring new places. I’m happiest when I’m not in a life or death situation and I can just “discover”. I’m completely okay with the fact that Everest will never be on my bucket list (list of things to do before you die)!

Living in France, I have the ultimate playground to discover the mountains and try new sports. My adventurous spirit isn’t going to die any time soon, but I can’t help but wonder (ask the question)… If I didn’t have all of these great childhood memories, would I be as adventurous as I am today? Or is my love for mountains and adventure in my blood? I guess I’ll never know!

Now let me ask you! Where do you think you got your adventurous streak (desire to be adventurous)? Did it come from your parents? Was your spark (desire) for adventure ignited (started) when you were ten years old, after a week filled with fun and thrills (excitement) at camp (organized activities away from home)? What do you think?

No matter (despite) where your love for adventure comes from, I hope that spark (feeling) never dies!

“Twenty years from now (in the future) you will be more disappointed (feel regret) by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines (disconnect the ropes from the boat to the dock). Sail away from the safe harbor (from the safety of the harbor). Catch the trade winds (feel the wind) in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain

This post was updated October 11, 2019 to include an adapted version and an audio version.