Answering the Call of Adventure

Right now, I’m feeling stagnant. My life feels like it’s in neutral—I’m just surviving, going through the motions. But lately, there’s been something stirring deep inside, a “call” that’s growing impossible to ignore. It’s not just any call, but the call of adventure—the yearning to explore, experience, discover, and even get lost. This is a familiar feeling for me as a man in my mid-30s. I’ve answered this call many times before. When I joined the military at 17, when I left to work in the oil fields, when I returned to school, and when I took a leap of faith to leave my job at the National Personal Training Institute to start my own business, even when that decision left me homeless. Most recently, I followed this call again, packing up my life and moving to Arizona to build and expand Earn It All and Earn Your Booze with Justin Cross.

This isn’t just a fleeting desire for change; it’s something that resonates deep in my bones. It’s a craving for the unknown, a hunger for adventure. I find myself longing for the untamed jungles of the Amazon or the vast, limitless expanses of the Gobi Desert. The urge for exploration, to venture into the wilderness and away from the predictable, is all-consuming.

In our modern world, we can easily fall into a routine—getting comfortable with the day-to-day. But that comfort can start to feel like a cage, slowly robbing us of our zest for life. I think we often forget what’s out there beyond our regular surroundings. The incredible experiences waiting for us, the unknown that beckons with open arms. When was the last time you pushed your limits? Took on a challenge that scared you? Ventured into the unknown without a concrete plan?

Answering this call isn’t about running away from your responsibilities or chasing cheap thrills. It’s about growth. Each adventure I’ve embraced has transformed me in profound ways. Joining the military taught me discipline and resilience. Building Earn It All with Justin gave me the chance to channel my passion for fitness and business into something bigger than myself. Now, I feel another shift on the horizon.

But answering the call doesn’t always have to be about quitting your job or embarking on a life-altering expedition. It can be as simple as stepping out of your comfort zone—taking a class, learning a new skill, or even diving into a passion project. The important part is recognizing when your soul is calling for more, and having the courage to say yes.

For me, this call is not just a craving for physical adventure, but also a reminder to keep evolving. To embrace discomfort and push past the limits I’ve set for myself. So if you, too, are feeling this pull—this deep sense that you need something more, something wild and unknown—lean into it. Step outside of your everyday routine. Don’t let life pass you by as you sit in comfort. Explore, grow, and rediscover the spark that makes you feel alive.

Finding the Inspiration: A Bookstore Moment

Today, something remarkable happened that added fuel to this deep, burning desire for adventure. I was wandering through a local bookstore—something I hadn’t done in a while. Aimlessly flipping through the stacks, I stumbled across a book by one of my favorite authors, Michael Crichton.

The book is about his own travels, and right there, on the front page, was a quote that struck me like lightning. It read:

“This is about getting unstranded, about going to the ends of the earth and the edges of experience in order to see oneself for the first time.”

That quote encapsulated everything I’ve been feeling. It put words to the fire in my chest, the pull I’ve been trying to make sense of. The idea of going to the farthest reaches, of pushing through the comfortable bubble of daily life, to truly find yourself. That’s exactly what this call to adventure is—an opportunity to get “unstranded,” to break free of the mundane and step into something bigger, something unknown.

It reminded me that these adventures we seek aren’t just about the thrill of the unknown, they’re about discovery—of both the world and ourselves. Sometimes, you have to get lost to truly find yourself. And I think that’s what I’ve been craving all along.

The world is vast, and there’s so much more out there for us to experience. So here I am, at the cusp of another chapter, ready to answer the call once again. The question is: Will you join me?

– Adam Niall