What Stops You?

[@gadgetman_nz4092]

Nothing stops me. I decide to do something and I get what I need and start doing it. My wife understands and knows it is pointless to try and get in the way. It is being like this that brought us together in the first place with me leading and teaching groups in the outdoors. Five years ago I could spend 20 minutes on my feet every third day if I was lucky. I figured it was time for the wheelchair and went to see the doc about getting my lower body permanently paralysed. He offered hope with a change in diet. Now I tramp with teenagers and paddle for hours. I'm even making up for lost time on my feet by doing the 10km family shopping trip a few times a week with pack and footwear, generally bringing back 25kg at a time. The time I was unable to walk makes me really appreciate the time I spend walking.

[@AdventureOtaku]

That’s amazing, and something I am preaching frequently is stay active now so in 10 years, or 15 years or 20 years you can still do this things. Don’t train for now, train for later. Excellent story.

[@gadgetman_nz4092]

@@AdventureOtaku Yes, staying active is very important, physically and mentally. Although I married someone several years younger than me she cannot keep up with me. Even the young fellas I take for Boys Brigade (6-18+ years) couldn't match me for press-ups in my late 50's. I've never really trained, I've just got out and done things.

[@RyanWoodward-u7b]

Awesome video, we all know this information deep down but is great to hear it from someone with experience. Thank you for thinking about us who watch but need the kick in the rear to do what we'd really like to do or accomplish

[@AdventureOtaku]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.

[@MelvinaCoyco]

Loving the narration! Spot-on voice, diction, and timing are key to this video’s success.

[@AdventureOtaku]

Well. Numerically it wasn’t a particularly successful video - which I knew it wouldn’t be, going in. But I am glad you appreciate the work that went into it. It was a lot of work, a lot.

[@lauraphillips6512]

I just returned from the PNW. Awesome trip with my sister from surf kayaking, rock gardening with the kayak, salmon fishing, crabbing, and renting a Sprinter van the memories are forever.

[@AdventureOtaku]

sounds amazing!

[@philanderson3687]

This was inspirational. You're a good teacher.

[@AdventureOtaku]

Im glad you felt that way. Thank you for watching.

[@BrianScherf]

One of your best and most important videos. Thanks for making it.

[@AdventureOtaku]

Thank you for watching, and your kind words.

[@jamesiversen]

Wow. Well said!

[@AdventureOtaku]

Thank you. I struggled with this one, but thought it was important to say. And almost took it out the cue because I wasn’t sure what the response would be.

[@TurningPointBoatworks]

Wow! This touches on so much that limits us in everyday life. I particularly like the fact you touched on the concept of growth coming from failure. That is absolute truth and I wish more people would understand that. In teaching, the hardest obstacle to overcome is the internal fear of failure. It blocks progress, period. A long time ago, I read a quote. "What paddling needs is not another person to tell us how, but one to tell us why". That has stuck with me ever since I read it. This video got to the heart of that especially towards the end. If we know why, the how becomes a lot easier.

[@AdventureOtaku]

Thanks for stopping by Joey, thanks for watching. I know you are busy!

[@cribbage]

I was ready to write this video off, then I watched it. You're right, there are always excuses. I won't make mine here, but I will commit to trying to overcome them.

[@AdventureOtaku]

thanks for watching, brother.

[@amywert8088]

Yep!

[@AdventureOtaku]

Yup!

[@amywert8088]

@@AdventureOtaku lol

[@sandrablackwell2929]

Many years ago I realized that I had become very risk averse. I didn't like that...but didn't exactly know how to overcome it. I am still somewhat risk averse, but getting better. I came to serious paddling in my late 50s. My sweetheart spent many years backpacking and back country skiing...but not serious paddling. He is still better than I am, but my skills have grown tremendously in the last few years. We started with a 2 night kayak trip, after a couple nights in a campground with my daughter and grand daughter. I hate sleeping on the ground. I like hammocks. One reason to not go is off the list. Last summer we spent 5 days on Ross Lake, in the North Cascades National Park. There are no roads to this lake. You paddle through Diablo, then portage around the dam to Ross lake. We took our 21 foot tandem. I am VERY glad we did, as the wind was incredible...tail wind when we got there, but serious head wind coming home. It was hard, but I wasn't alone, and I gained skill and confidence. Our adventure this summer has been moving into a new house together (which is harder than paddling or peddling a tandem). Next summer's adventure will be something new. I am looking forward to learning how to plan a trip for somewhere I haven't been. Our Kayak club has been instrumental in my skill building, friendships and lust for adventure.

[@AdventureOtaku]

Sounds like an amazing trip. Let me know if you need help trip planning. It is one of my great joys!

[@sandrablackwell2929]

@@AdventureOtaku Yet another benefit of our kayak club...We are going to try for some learning opportunities over the winter. Wilderness first aid, trip planning, meal planning and prep, kayak outfitting, conditioning...and what ever else we think of and can find someone to instruct.

[@AdventureOtaku]

@sandrablackwell2929 where are you?

[@sandrablackwell2929]

@@AdventureOtaku Spokane washington

[@AdventureOtaku]

a little far away for it to be me, but I am sure there are great instructors there.

[@neilpage1153]

Whoa! This really hit home! I'm an experienced camper but fairly new to kayaking. I've been procrastinating for ages about a 5 day solo paddle/camp in Scotland, on a remote loch. My head is full of 'what ifs!' Listening to this has given me the push I needed to get my ancient butt in gear, and just do it! Thank you!

[@AdventureOtaku]

Good luck. Let me know if you need help!

[@paddlekc]

GREAT points! You CAN make it happen. Part of the fun of running a paddling club is seeing people show up, grow, and do cool things they never would have imagined. Personally, I end up doing for others instead of doing my own bucket list things. It does force me to paddle over 100 times a year while hosting/attending events, though.

[@AdventureOtaku]

One year I set the goal 100 days paddling, 100 days hiking. 100 nights in a tent. I didn’t get them all but I came close. And there is great joy in helping others! Which is why I started this channel.

[@AdventureOtaku]

And I would add, not only CAN you make it happen, you are the only one that will make it happen. If you want it. make it real.

[@brendankayaks]

I did my first kayak camping trip last weekend and I almost didn’t do it partly because it would be time away from my family but also because I was scared since it was the first time I did something like this. Sure I car camped plenty of times in my youth but nothing like a kayak camping trip. In the end I decided to do it because I knew I needed to face that fear and get past it at some point and the trip was amazing. In turn, this weekend has been very children focused, especially since I’m gone again next weekend. And now I’m facing the same question again. I got a message tonight asking about doing the exam for the blue paddle pass (European paddle pass system) in two weeks which is my next specific goal in kayaking and I really want to do it, but it would make 3 out of 4 weeks in a row that I’d be gone.

[@AdventureOtaku]

balance can also be a problem - which I didn't get into - and it is one I struggle with as well.

[@anninwhack1998]

This is all so true. Permission is getting easier for me bc every time I squeeze in a group or guided trip my family gets comforted when I come home OK and happy even when things go awry. I stumble on not having enough time bc I still have a teen at home. But all my background brain power is focused on 2 years from now when I have a little more control over the free time. Right now I am saving up for my first kayak and trying to keep up w training. Also going in every free paddle or group excursion I can manage. Using rental rec kayaks is really informative about what I want from my first kayak.

[@AdventureOtaku]

excellent. keep it up!

[@PumpkinVillage]

Not being able to get my kayak on top on my vehicle. Didn't kayak for two years. Finally realized that I missed it so much I splurged on a new kayak trailer. My wife has health issues so I stop touring on the bike. I wanted long tours and finally realized that short tours were fun to no matter the ride. Bike or kayak. Thanks for the video and take care, Al

[@AdventureOtaku]

Thanks Al. Have fun out there.

[@armandocampamartinez8307]

I learned kayaking while studying abroad and when I came back so many of my friends and family said they wanted to try it, but either weren’t able or weren’t willing to spend all the money it takes to get a full set of gear. Solution, I got a very cheap second kayak for myself, with a trash paddle and a cheap (but trustworthy) BA. Now I keep taking people with me on easy trips and their smiles alone let me know it was the right choice

[@AdventureOtaku]

That's awesome!

[@kevinharding2099]

An important video. I did some great trips, but now health issues make trips just too difficult so my outings are day trips. In addition, my tripping buddies are all sick or dead. At 75 the challenge and opportunity for growth is still there, because sometimes simple day trips can provide that experience. I will try different venues, going further, or even deal with adverse weather to stretch myself. Your advice should be taken seriously by those young and healthy enough. You will never regret the trips you took, but you will regret the trips you wanted to do and never got to. The memories of the trips will last your life time and there is no better way to remember friendships and adventure.

[@AdventureOtaku]

" You will never regret the trips you took, but you will regret the trips you wanted to do and never got to. "Exactly right. And I never said how long the trips had to be. it's about challenging yourself.

[@kayak_homie]

As I watch the video, I have an unrelated follow up comment to your video about pushing with the foot while paddling. I realized yesterday that I was pushing on the same side as my water hand, and once I did, I tried to pay attention to why. I realized since I'm trying to push the paddle with my air hand, I'm actually bracing with my water foot for leverage to push the air hand. I know my technique is probably horrible, but it got me and the daughter around the lake for the 5hrs we were out there... A day on the water is a beautiful day!

[@nunyabidness3075]

Ithink that’s what is recommended. OTOH, I always think my form as terrible as well, lol.

[@AdventureOtaku]

whatever works for you is what I recommend.

[@pdev9414]

Great video, thanks! The permission thing is the biggest one for me, even without asking for permission. It is more an excuse for not doing it, thinking that my partner will not approve if I do this trip. So recently I told my partner that I really want to take this sailing+skiing tour and she told me that I should do it. Now, I do not only have permission, but also an extra reason to do it. If I don't do this trip, she will be disappointment in me for not following up. That is also why I told her that I want to do this mountain trail run race next summer. Next is to find an interesting kayak overnight trip to do.

[@AdventureOtaku]

you see! all you have to do is ask! thanks for watching!

[@Hairygrump73]

Right now it’s time and money. Career change, young teenager, and school are getting in the way of my adventures. Bucket list is, in no particular order….. Desolation Sound, Inside Passage, Barkley Sound, Lake Huron, Lake Superior, the east coast (gonna knock on your door!), Back to the Sea of Cortez, and Croatia, and maybe, just maybe Nunavut and Greenland. Only then can I die!

[@AdventureOtaku]

that is quite the list. You better get to work!

[@michaelmoody8316]

Bucket list trip would be to paddle the length of the Mississippi from Lake Itasca to NOLA. What keeps me from doing it is time, work, money martial arts training and logistics.

[@AdventureOtaku]

as I said in the video. none of those are that hard to overcome.

[@prophecy66]

As much as I hate to admit this, for me it's panic attacks. I've bailed on the last 2 trips due to them. One was the next day after most of the night being a constant panic attack in my tent and the second trip I bailed once I got to the island we were staying on. Now I'm in the process of selling my camp gear. Day trips I can do, but the overnights not so much.

[@AdventureOtaku]

I have SO many responses to this, ranging from Hey that’s okay, do what you are comfortable with, to Seek help from a professional to help you figure out what is causing the panic attack…. And a million shades of grey in between. When I conceived of this video I figured I would get people saying “it’s none of those reasons…. It’s these reasons” But at the end of the day you have to find what works for you.

[@prophecy66]

@@AdventureOtaku Yeah my friend has suggested both, and is curious what causes it. I have my ideas of what it could be. For me as well I'm not in love with the idea of camping anyways. I enjoy watching videos of it, and when I was a kid it was fun. But now I like going on day trips, experience the scenery and what not then head on home.

[@AdventureOtaku]

@prophecy66 and there is nothing wrong with that!

[@Simon_W74]

My Excuse list is getting smaller, I have most of the gear I need after saving up what small amount of money I get just for me do with what I want, so enough for a night or two away. I am working on the skills to take on more adventurous trips away from rivers. I even have a River trip that goes Coast to Coast in Scotland that I am going to do in the near future, either with my Club or as a mates trip, I will at some point do the sea kayaking trips in the Hebrides that I want to do. The big thing I have currently in the way is the level of Support I have to give to my two Daughters. That in time will lessen. So next year when I get my Eldest Daughter driving that will hopefully free me up a good bit. Which will at least give me weekends to get out until my youngest get her freedom , and learns to drive when she is 17. So a few more years before I get permission to go away for a good length of time. As I am the main support provider in my family and the reason I have stayed at home since my Eldest was 7 months old. We do tend to put barriers in are way at times and some are easier to over come than others and sometimes personal circumstance can be the biggest one, as I have found myself. My Eldest has been to hell and back and my youngest also needs a lot of support as she isn't able to attend school, so she has a place to go twice a week, which we are hoping will become 5 days a week if we can get funding for her help her get the education she needs to hopefully give her the opportunities in areas that she wants to work in, which will means I am busier than ever running the kids about to where that need to be and it isn't just a few miles each way. I get one day where I can do things on without having to bring in family to help.

[@AdventureOtaku]

its about finding away to reach goals. that's all it is.

[@marycrawford9428]

What stops me? Procrastination, missing skills, and lack of paddling partners. That said, I have committed to a big trip with my daughter in 2026, so I am trying to sort out my skills issues.

[@AdventureOtaku]

as I said...skills are easy.

[@MikeSG1960]

For me it has been laziness which is a pitiful excuse. At 63 I have realized that I’m not getting any younger and I plan to retire in a year and a half. When I do retire my plan is to work to do the things I’ve put off. In the meantime it is about preparation for overnight kayak trips. So it’s time to stop watching KZbin and get into shape!😅

[@AdventureOtaku]

at 57 I am realizing to do the things I want to do, I have to always be in training as if I were starting an expedition in a week. Which isn't an easy reality to live with, but it is what it is.

[@MikeSG1960]

So true. And when you do more than you should then the stupid injuries occur with the longer than normal recovery periods. But every day I’m kayaking I try to push a little harder or put myself in less than perfect conditions without creating too much risk. I prefer solo kayaking which has a different risk level.

[@suebrand4606]

Well said my friend!