Have you ever been experienced?

Experience. What a strange concept. When you are young and trying to get a job you must have experience to get hired, but you can't get experience, because nobody will ever hire you without it. That is quite the pita I must say...but as an adult, where does experience come in? Do we restrict our experiences due to maturity and responsibility or does adulthood just bring different forms of experience? Personally, experience is important, but more so as a verb. I want to experience. I don't necessarily want my experiences to morph into expertise, no, I just want to...you know try stuff.

I think the importance of experience has held value in all cultures from day one...usually they are called rites of passage. Whether it be a tribe in Africa that allows a boy to become a man after his first wild game hunt, or the loser dad who buys his son a hooker to lose his virginity. It all roots at experience. If we stop and think about all the rites of passages we had no choice on encountering, some we can reflect on and say, wow, what a great experience that was. And of course we all have those that we look back and may regret or try not to remember that experience. Either way both are character building and become part of who we are. I also think there are experiences that are just there, neither wowers or regrets. For instance, I got a tattoo about 9 years ago. I didn't do it because it was cool, it is hidden. I didn' t pick something all that meaningful...no real symbolism. I just wanted to do it for the experience. I wanted to know how it felt, what it felt like later and so on. It wasn't a defining moment, although now my headless carcass could be identified if needed be.

The reason why I am focusing on such subject is because I am finding it more and more rewarding to provide my children with experiences. We went camping again this weekend, much more successful that the bug infested rainy weekend. My kids loved it. They enjoyed every waking moment and already have asked to go again. My parents took me camping, my man and I went camping all the time, I even camped in college with friends...it was one of those good experiences that I wanted to do over and over again. I think I gave my kids the itch...which then will hopefully have them grow into being nature loving ,outdoorsy, get dirt under your nails, not showering loving your own BO, crazy haired, micro brew drinking, tenter, hiker and general granola styled kids.

Are there things I wish I had never experienced. Of course. Do I wish I could say that I didn't have the experience to bury family, pets and friends all in a two year span. Hell ya. Do I wish that I didn't have to go through a parental divorce and all the massive BS that goes along with it...duh. Do I wish that I could have plunked down an big ole check and had someone build my addition and not live without a kitchen or heat for 3 years.....okay. BUT....all of those experiences make me who I am today. Good or bad, they become me. They don't define me, they just are there and some really bad experiences turn out to make positive changes in your life.

As an adult, a wife and most importantly a mom...some of my experiences are limited. I used to want to bungee jump...not so much anymore. I used to want to skydive and take more risks...just to dangerous. I used to want to see exotic destinations, eat indigenous foods and travel the world...Oh wait I STILL DO! I weigh things now...I ask myself, "is this experience worth it?" If I say yes and there is a low change of maiming, dismemberment or death, I will embark on the new experience. Otherwise, I take the responsible mom route and focus on creating safe and fun things to do with my kids and seek enjoyment from their learning and excitement.

I just want to experience. I rarely turn down things to do...that is why I am always creating experiences....it is my job...my duty...life is too short to watch others live. I want to live this life as full and rich (not money) as possible. I think I will go and eat some sea urchin then go bowling naked....now that would be a new experience....(spending the night in jail for indecent exposure) that is, I always bowl naked...I just haven't been caught.