Pondering recently about the word adventure, we landed on a slight modification: the add-venture. As we step out into the world each day, we have the ability to add something meaningful to enhance our experience or not. Yet, we know that even if we opt to let something pass, that still creates an impact—just a lost opportunity. It just lacks intention. The choice is really whether we make an intentional addition or a deliberate withholding to the world around us.

Just getting out of bed each day is the start of a never-before-lived add-venture. Even with iron-clad plans, we acknowledge that they may or may not come to fruition as we imagined. To underscore the serendipitous nature of Life, we like to say, “make a plan, change a plan.”  With that simple phrase, (and a chuckle) we remind ourselves that Life is incredibly dynamic, and admit that we really have no idea what might happen next.

Yet, we accept the “universal dare” each morning by placing a toe on the floor. Then the day begins unfolding, one step at a time. Armed with the power of personal observation, conversation and exchange of ideas, we venture out into the day with high hopes. Within every fresh new choice, we invite potential along with those illusive and unpredictable upsides and downsides. We imagine that we’re seasoned risk-takers, adaptability experts, or even survival specialists, and in some ways we are.

Helen Keller is well known for her quote: “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” Well, if those are the only two choices, we’ve opted for the daring adventure. Just by adopting that attitude, we’re presented with revolving opportunities that we can grab or simply wait for the next one to come around, we alone decide—like kids choosing when to leap onto the spinning merry-go-round. We can jump on or off simply on a whim. We ask permission from no one as it’s entirely up to us. Now that’s spontaneous daring! That’s adventure in motion!  We’re beginning to realize the importance of life lessons learned on the playground.

All things imaginable and more appear before us as we spin around and around and around within this crazy add-venture. It’s a dizzying idea. Even when we think we’re standing still, we’re still, moving. It’s a swirling, twirling existence. You can almost hear the clock ticking off the countless possibilities as our Life spins around us minute-by-minute, all in the course of a day. 

Wishing you the best on your fast-paced, personal daring adventure!

Related Music

Below is the song we just finished called “Course of a Day” dedicated to the idea of a daily add-venture of creating whatever you want—or not. You can also go directly to the music page where you’ll find the entire album called “Hold to the Heart.”

(Insert music)

Lyrics—Course of a Day

In the course of a minute
Everything changes within it
What was given before
Just isn’t there anymore
Faded away, dust on the floor

In the blink of an eye, sometimes
Hopes are dashed or take flight
And we are left to make sense of it all
To stumble and fall
Or sweep it away, just dust on the floor

When viewed from far away
Everything looks just the same, it seems
Nothing really has changed
Details in the course of a day

Yet everything changed
Details in the course of a day
In the course of a day

Time flies, time heals
They say that time rushes by
Yet time stands still

Life crawls on, life flies by
They say that when your flame dims
Days flash before your eyes
Flash before your eyes

Knowing good from the bad
Sifting lies from the facts
What to hold to the heart
Or simply let go
Time sweeps away, dust on the floor

When viewed from far away
Everything looks just the same, it seems
Nothing really has changed
Details in the course of a day

Credits

From album – Hold to the Heart
Track released – February 1, 2026
Cheryl Martlage – Lyrics, Vocals and Production
Emerson Martlage – Music, Guitar, Vocals and Production
Graphics – Gemini and Canva

Another related musical story

Once we’ve chosen what to “hold to the heart,” the playful, spontaneous fun begins. This Musical Story called “Swinging Statues,” speaks to the childlike innocence that emerges when we let go of inhibitions and spin ourselves into an exciting and always surprising future.