When I was growing up, I asked my mom once “Why don’t I have adventures?” I’d just finished reading one of the Famous Five books and their adventures had captured my imagination.
My mom told me “You can make your own adventures, they are all around.”. I never believed her. Adventures can’t be made. They happen to you. Or so I thought.
Well, my mom was right. You can make your own adventures, depending on what happens around you. It might not seem like an adventure at the time – you stumble on something different and novel, you meet someone new, you get inducted into a different way of life – and when you think about it, that by itself is an adventure.
Dictionary.com defines “adventure” as:
1. an exciting or very unusual experience.
2. participation in exciting undertakings or enterprises: the spirit of adventure.
3. a bold, usually risky undertaking; hazardous action of uncertain outcome.
4. a commercial or financial speculation of any kind; venture.
An adventure is about taking risks. It is about stepping into the unknown. It is trusting that you are making the right decision in embarking on the experience even as you wonder if you are doing the right thing. It is a leap of faith.
Life is an adventure. If you know how to look out for it.
And I’ve just discovered that the Enchanted Wood and the Magic Faraway Tree is in a sense, real. You just have to look for it.
So I have discovered that I seem to be climbing the Magic Faraway Tree of late. The different “dimensions” I’ve been experiencing lend themselves to a magical air of experiencing different “lands”. It might not all be good and I’m sure the odd horrid land will swing by at some point. But for now, I’m living a bit of a magical adventure.
Mom was right. Adventures are there for the finding. You just have to look hard enough 
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I used to love, love, LOVE the Magic Faraway Tree! I had the whole series when I was a kid, including the Folks of, and Up the Faraway Tree. at first I didn’t like Moonface ‘cos he looked silly, but eventually I liked every character.
ooooh, such a stroll down memory lane!
*wishes to go to somewhere magical*
p.s. I was just reading the Wikipedia update for the main characters, and I can’t believe they’d change the kids’ names (the way the spell them) just ‘cos they might sound vulgar or politically incorrect in these so-called modern times! LOLOL!! gone are the days of innocence…
May: Yes I was horrified to read they actually changed the names of the kids. And I don’t think I really liked Silky the fairy very much. Or don’t they call them fairies anymore?
I love the Faraway Tree series! My first exposure to Enid Blyton’s books began with this! I used to borrow them from the state library here. And I’d even wished for the stories to be made into cartoons, and guess what, they were eventually shown on TV!
Another one I like is the Wishing Chair tales. All those magical lands with pixies and fairies, ahhh, so magical!
I always preferred Enid Blyton’s action adventure stories like Famous Five and her Naughtiest Girl to her faerie fiction.
Can I go on an adventure with you, PB?
Can I be your Saucepan (Wo)Man, PB? I’ll bang the pots and pans to scare away any demons that may spoil your adventure.
Oh yes… Rinnah! Famous Five Rocks! And even the Secret Seven, if we go back even further.. but Faraway Tree? I missed all that..
KYH: Yay! we all need some magic in our lives yes?
Rinnah: Yes you may *brings rinnah along on adventure* and I loved all Enid Blyton actually – mysteries or faeries
Cheesey: Yes you can! *clangs pots and pans*
LB: Aiyo! How could you have missed this one? Lor Mai Kai land?
I love The Faraway Tree – what a stroll down memory lane! I used to really believe that the faraway tree existed somewhere in my neighborhood and would go and look for it.
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