How important are missions to the Kiwi male’s lifestyle?

Answer - crucial of course. It can be easy to spend hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars on stress relief and personal health techniques, when the answer often lies in piling into a 4wd filled to the brim with toys and boards on the roof, and charging to an unknown destination singing to Pearl Jam at the top of your lungs. Your mates have an uncanny ability to help you leave your stresses behind by throwing you into scenarios which create a whole new bag of concerns, but at least these are short term and usually result in a great buzz!

The world is your toilet when there's no girls around.

Pretty much every Kiwi male has accounts of spontaneous and often reckless behaviour which has resulted in stories which are highly embellished and over regurgitated. It is more than likely that a majority of these stories were crafted during some form of ‘mission’ or ‘boys’ getaway’. It has been scientifically proven that without the pressures of an overbearing, fun-policing oestrogen cloud, the Kiwi male is free to express his innermost longings to complete risk engaging activities. These activities have often resulted in the traditional shedding of our restrictive outer layers (or clothes) to symbolise our recognition of our primal roots and gain a true understanding of what it is to be free. It also makes things twice as funny.

It is human nature to seek challenging scenarios to conquer and rise above. In all aspects of our life we are constantly presented with testing circumstances and it is how we approach these that will dictate success and personal growth. Any task that involves risk, which is defined as the potential to lose something of value, should be approached in an educated and analytical fashion. During ‘missions’ factors like peer pressure, alcohol, the collective genius of male minds, and of course the desire to impress can sometimes distort the perception of the risks involved. But by analysing and educating yourself about the situation, whether it is checking water depth or having a practice run, you will definitely guarantee a more beneficial outcome and experience. Just like in business, have a look to see what is around the corner.

"Yeah sweet bro, you'll miss that log by miles."

Health is described as personal wellbeing, which is made up of physical, social, mental, spiritual, and emotional aspects. Any good mission will encompass all of these factors. An example of this could be seen on a personal camping trip with friends a couple of years ago to an undisclosed location on the North Island's East coast. There were many physical challenges, including grass skiing in shoes and with Frisbees behind a van, followed by hill rolling competitions in overalls. The social aspect of this was nurtured with a few reflective beers and laughs which ultimately lead into a few more and resulted in some emotional exploration and growth (man love moments). The hung-over trip home stimulated some riveting and profoundly intellectual discussions of current affairs, politics, and chicks, to create a well rounded and much enjoyed mission. Finally the reflection and analysing of the past couple of days allowed me to find a stress relieved state of mind that was spiritually rejuvenating.

"Wait, you didn't take me seriously did yooou..."

On reflection, missions are essential to keeping a healthy body, mind, and overall general wellbeing. Dr Dave prescribes one at least every 6 weeks with more concentrated efforts over holiday periods. Next installment we will talk about some great ideas and places for missions that will allow you to make the most of your precious time off. As the great Alfred Whitehead once said, “Without adventure civilisation is in full decay.”

Happy missioning!