Once you’re near the end, there’s no time for bullshit. But what if you decided there’s no time for bullshit—or regrets—far in advance of the end? What if you vow to live life the way you want right now, regardless of what stage of life you’re in?

If you can’t wrap your head around going everywhere, or producing a symphony with hundreds of performers, or undertaking any of the other quests I’ve described so far, it’s important to remember that dreams tend to grow as you pursue them. As you gain confidence, “I can do this!” becomes “What else can I do?”

Dissatisfaction + Big Idea + Willingness to Take Action = New Adventure

To climb out of a post-quest funk, you start by realizing that the real world is what you make of it. You’ve grown, you’ve changed, and you can’t go back. You’re not the same, so don’t expect everyone else to be the same either. Next, you start again. You need a new quest and a new mission.

It is always important to know when something has reached its end. Closing circles, shutting doors, finishing chapters, it doesn’t matter what we call it; what matters is to leave in the past those moments in life that are over. —PAULO COELHO

Branching out beyond travel, the categories of learning, documenting, and athleticism were also fairly self-explanatory.

In the ancient stories there is often a search for a mythical object (a sacred necklace, a holy grail), or a need to reclaim something that has been stolen. A “wise old man” figure who foresees tests and trials for the brave adventurer often offers guidance. The hero is joined by friends and allies, some of whom may have their own agendas.33

The long, slow grind of working toward something is all about loving the process. If you don’t love the process, the grind is tough.

Relax. Or don’t relax, because a quest is rarely about taking it easy. It’s about challenging yourself however you can, learning new things and exploring horizons outside your environment . . . even if you never leave home. You can do this no matter where you live and no matter how old you are. If you want to make every day an adventure, all you