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Ruben F Salinas PhD's avatar

Hi Brad,

I like the framing of a quest because it gives effort a direction without requiring us to pretend we have discovered some singular, preordained purpose.

A good one creates uncertainty, resistance, and movement; in the process, it can reveal capacities that comfort rarely ever does.

I’m increasingly interested in what happens when one quest ends, though. We can get very good at pursuing what is measurable and difficult, then mistake the ability to complete quests for knowing what deserves our devotion next.

I think part of a well-lived life is learning to recognize when an old one has finished and allowing the next one to emerge from a different part of us.

Jenni Majumdar's avatar

Donating blood made the list!! That one can end up helping someone in an operating room, and it takes about an hour. Which quest are you picking first, Brad??

James Buckley's avatar

Yep, love this. I wrote about needing side quests recently.

Hope you don't mind me sharing (please delete if you do).

https://jambupaliv.substack.com/p/why-every-dad-needs-a-side-quest

Train Wrk's avatar

One I am trying out is squash. I haven't played since I learned in high school in the early 90s. It goes for about 5 months..and is a box league...If I drop to the bottom box and never make it out....at least I played a bunch of squash games and met new people.

Nathan Selvaggio's avatar

We are aware, it defeats gotti and online drug lords in the beaver pd

Michael Fletcher's avatar

I love the list and the idea that a side quest doesn't have to be a ten day trek across the country. Thanks for the challenge.