When I’m offered free books I almost always bite. Despite overfull shelves and access to one of the best libraries in the country, I’ll gladly hold and support the work of friends and colleagues — and occasionally even books being purged from the shelves of the homes I visit. So when Chris Guillebeau offered to send a prepublication copy of his new book The Happiness of Pursuit: Finding the Quest That Will Bring Purpose to Your Life
I responded with an enthusiastic “yes.” Of course, the offer came with the expectation of a good review for Amazon, but I’ve done that before. So with a month or so to go, I figured why not?

One of Chris’ passions is travel and as I’m not really happy unless I have a pending airplane ticket, I figured we at least shared a similar wanderlust, So I began to read the book and found Chris’ definition of “quest,” a concept that forms the heart of the book.

A quest according the The Happiness of Pursuit:

1) Has a clear goal and a specific end point. I was already in trouble: the passion I share through Spirit Moxie is promoting how we can change the world through our day-to-day actions, which certainly sounds vague. What and when would be the end point? World peace? Honest news? Less pollution? Nope, “changing the world” is simply not measurable.
2) Involves a clear challenge — clear? Certainly “changing the world” is a challenge, but where is the clear part? Maybe to get others involved, but that’s not “clear” either.
3) Requires a sacrifice of some kind Well, up to now, Spirit Moxie has involved some financial sacrifice for me, but otherwise? Where is the sacrifice in being called?
4) Is often driven by a calling or sense of mission. Now that fits.
5) Requires a series of small steps.Maybe that could mean “little things that can change the world?” But I don’t think Chris and I mean the same kind of steps. Besides, while they are small (e.g. “smile”), they aren’t really steps…

The more I read Chris’ book, the more I felt a failure in the quest arena. I don’t set clear goals (I’m the despair of financial advisors who always want me to give a concrete money goal answer,. “I don’t know. An extra $1,500 a month? $5,000-10,000 would be fun. What could we do with 6 or 7 figures?,” etc. And now, as we approach the end of 2014, we’re beginning the challenge of making concrete goals for 2015. Sigh.). I make lists only under duress (so sometimes they do refocus me) or when planning a major party or event.

Plus I’m a great believer in things coming together or “falling into place.” The closest thing I currently have to a list based quest is to at least set foot in every state in the United States. It’s been a casual pursuit. If this were a quest I’d be plotting how to make getting to every state happen. But the game for me has been seeing how things just sort of show up. My last two states were New Mexico and Hawaii and I’d gotten frustrated enough to start investigating New Mexico time shares to coordinate with a friend’s schedule.

That didn’t happen. But out of nowhere, last April, I got the opportunity to represent a group at a conference in Albuquerque. So now I have just one state to go. If you have the perfect invitation or opportunity for me in Hawaii, send me a note! I was recently invited to a conference on one of the islands, but it was the wrong conference for the wrong price. But that should mean something should show up soon.

However none of this sounds like Chris’ quest guidelines.

So I gave up. Or at least didn’t finish reading the book before its publication date or respond to the “we need your review and extra publicity now” emails. However I usually do finish what I promise so I kept reading. And slowly I started saying to myself, “yes, that fits! That’s interesting…”

The stories of other people’s quests are fascinating and engaging. And I learned that The Happiness of Pursuit is as much about a calling as it is about a quest. Even if I failed (or even cared if I failed) as an organized, list-making, clear goal setting, quest pursing person, I did fit the “having a call,” claiming a dream profile in spades.

Quest, goal, calling… for me one gift of this book was realizing that I do have a stubborn streak that kept me reading. Another was the realization that I don’t need to follow Chris Guillebeau’s definition, or even embrace the concept, of quest to be adventurous. I learned that for me the importance was call. And that some of the same principles apply.

That not following a call is as painful as failing in it.

That while regret comes for some if you don’t walk across the United States or sail the globe (both stories in this book), regret could also come if you have a dream to help people engage in the little things that can can change the world and don’t offer them that vision.

So buy your very own copy (or give one as a present to that complacent or adventurous friend). [You can find it here ] Come see where you fit with quests, callings, and challenges. What The Happiness of Pursuit seems to offer most is some choices for truly living beyond one’s current day-to-day activities. You can engage in a full blown quest with goals, plans, lists, mini-steps, and challenges. You can embrace your calling as you finally figure out where your true self is guiding you. You can make and pursue a “bucket list” or life list as it is named in the book. You can take up a cause that seems overwhelmingly crucial.

It will be slightly different for everyone. But if you follow that pursuit, you will change just a little and the little will be part of changing the world.

And meanwhile you, too, may dare be part of doing the little things that can change the world.

________________________________
Photo credits from top:

Happiness of Pursuit in Irvine with 106 Miles. October 1, 2014 — Dennis Cabarroguis
075/365 – Don Quixote (figure of paper and wood) —Gabe AKA TheRogue
Buried on a desk — Spirit Moxie
Rider: Knight on the Quest —Hartwig HKD