Recently I got the opportunity to spend some time in Queenstown (New Zealand) the adventure capital. Not only Queenstown insanely beautiful, but it’s home to some pretty epic experiences.
One of these experiences is called the Shotover Jet, the company of which has the exclusive rights to navigate the Shotover Canyons. In another cool fact the company 100% owned by the Māori people of the land – very cool.
So, this experience was thrilling and scary, if I’m honest. You whip through these canyons at a startling pace. The driver spins the jetboat 360, narrowly missing sharp rocks, spinning the boat from side to side, your holding on with your entire life force.
When you get off the boat your face is frozen in this stunned smile that you can’t believe you survived the trip. The whole experience made me think about the value of doing dangerous things carefully.
The experience had the perception of danger. We were in a tight canyon, rocks and fast moving water whipped around us. But was there any risk? Minimal, the driver was well trained and confident in the surrounds, there were many procedures and safety precautions. We were able to do this seemingly dangerous activity carefully. The reduced risk meant we could get closer to the feeling of pure joy, that comes with novel experiences. That feeling, it’s good for the soul.
You can’t live your life avoiding the prospect of danger. In our everyday we encounter many precarious situations, for example, crossing the street, driving a car, plane trips. We don’t think about them as dangerous because they are done carefully. With planning, competence and focus, we can do a great many things that would potentially cause us harm if we were otherwise, unprepared.
Dangerous things done carefully pushes the boundaries of our experiences. It creates a foundation for courage and pursuit of more difficult tasks. It creates a ripple effect across your world view.
If you’re ever in Queenstown, give it a go!
LearnaBee: Thoughtful Growth, One Post at a Time 
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