Explore Or Pusillanimous?

How is it possible to be both an explorer and scared of your shadow at the same time?

Watching my cats (Gum Drop and Little One) yesterday, this thought came to me. For the most part, cats are curious creatures by nature. Everyone knows the saying, ‘curiosity killed the cat.’ They like to explore, especially boxes. They examine everything very carefully, smelling, touching.

But in the same moment, they will jump a foot in the air if something moves unexpectedly. Sometimes the least little noise or movement will cause them to jump, crouch down, or run away and hide. This is where the saying, ‘scaredy cat’ comes into play.

Are we like that in our own lives without realizing it? Are we explorers who take that first step only to stop afraid of what will happen with the next movement?

For the writer this can be especially true. Writers face many difficult questions and decisions when preparing their writing. Then there are long, tedious changes to their work before they are ever ready to submit their manuscript for publication.

For many of us, we are the explorer who has our feet firmly planted in concrete. We love the freedom reading gives us. We can travel the world and outer space, meet realistic and mythical friends, and learn about various occupations all from the comfort of our favorite chair. While we may have thoughts for plots, we never go any further with the ideas. We tend to lack the courage or resolve (pusillanimous) to try our hand at creating. We wait for others and know soon there will be another great adventure written for us to tackle. We are the explorers of books, the written word of others.

I appreciate and am in awe of those who take the next step, then another, and another until finally a book is published. They are truly adventurers even if they do feel a bit scared in the beginning.

Where do you stand? Are you an explorer without fear? Are you a bit timid at first, but push ahead anyway determined to reach your goal? Or do you prefer for others to blaze the trail while you provide support?

*Side Note: Thought it a bit odd, but I could find no antonym for explorer or adventurer.