Resist an Ordinary Approach

Earlier today I posted my weekly inspirational quote on the Know No Limits Blog and this week I chose “To live an extraordinary life, you must resist an ordinary approach…” by Frank McKinney. I hadn’t initially made the connection but as I sit down to write the article it fits just perfectly.

One person who truly epitomises that quote, and the live untamed and unafraid ethos, is Adam Shepard. Adam recently dropped me a line and sent me a copy of his latest book to review. He’s definitely ‘resisted an ordinary approach’ – right from the age of 19 when he set of with $25 in his pocket, a sleeping bag, an empty gym bag, and the clothes on his back with the goal of becoming free of the realities of homelessness and become a “regular” member of society within 365 days, through to his latest adventure travelling around the world.

His remarkable initial journey culminated in his first book ‘Scratch Beginnings’ and his latest quest gave birth to his latest book ‘One Year Lived‘. I’ve not yet had the time to read it from cover to cover, but from what I’ve read so far I’m both inspired and a little envious of his year of adventure. He hopes his story will inspire young people to get out in the world and start living their lives.

From late 2011 to late 2012, spending just $19,420.68, Adam visited seventeen countries on four continents and lived some amazing adventures. “It’s interesting to me,” he says, “that in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Europe, it’s normal for people to pack a bag, buy a plane ticket, and get ‘Out There.’ In the U.S., though, we live with this very stiff paradigm—graduate college, work, find a spouse, make babies, work some more, retire—which can be a great existence, but we leave little room to load up a backpack and dip into various cultures, to see places, to really develop our own identity”.

One Year Lived is the compelling and transparent account of Adam’s experiences abroad. I’ve found it to be both inspiring, and enlightening, and recommend it to anyone who has that itch that there’s more to life. Are you living life to the fullest or will you have regrets as you grow older? Check out Adam’s book and make your’s a life lived – he’s definitely modelling the ‘untamed and unafraid’ ethos. He’s most certainly a leader for his generation and I have no doubt that his book and future work will inspire change in many, many people. Full details of his latest book can be found here: www.oneyearlived.com – grab your copy today!