I wish it was something to do with a book I read early in life, or a "mentor" of some sort, or cold hard logic. But it was simply "cold hard life". In Dec 2002 I found myself 2 months beyond signing divorce papers, and 1 month prior to my 40th birthday, taking care of 10 month old and 2 1/2 year old daughters. Whether it was an early midlife crisis or just the knowledge that I needed something to look forward to in order to keep on the straight and narrow, I don't entirely know. But bottom line, a very good friend convinced me to take the plunge. He doesn't know it yet, but I will never be able to thank him enough.

At first blush I had some doubts. I have hunted and fished all my life, valuing a certain independence in those pursuits. But the more I learned and the more I got into the deal, the more important it became as something I could give myself. The more important it became to embrace an adventure and for once step outside the comfort zone. And although it is only hunting for Christ sake, in the end, it gave me something that has changed my life - the knowledge and the conviction that I am more than just your standard cliche of the middle-aged, middle class divorced white guy who lives for nothing other than paying a big child support bill. It gave me back something that is hard to explain, a focus, an outlet, something to strive for, in short...the ability to dream.

My first safari ended a few weeks ago, my lifetime of safaris is just starting. At the risk of sounding stupid and to use the words of Morgan Freeman in Shawshank Redemption, "I hope".

Sorry, probably more than the original asker wanted to know, but that makes it no less true.