A. The only way I know is to go, do. An old adage seems relevant here
Some people make things happen. Others watch things happen. And the overwhelming majority have no idea what happened.
A very wise lady once said to me: "I'm not afraid of dying; I'm afraid of not living!" That's a wonderful piece of advice. The lady shared her wisdom as we sat around a campfire. She'd just returned from a day flyfishing a remote wilderness river with her husband. The lady began her professional life as a high school English teacher, then studied law, received her degree, then practiced for two decades before retiring to search for adventure.
The lady's wish to live is a siren's call to which I've listened all my life. For me, the wonders of nature have always quenched that thirst. Street gangs? They're not even in it compared to the swagger of a monster grizzly bear. The entire wisdom of our world can be found in books, But nothing will teach so much as learning by experience in the midst of adventure!
However, adventure is where you find it. Perhaps to a Manhattan cabdriver, he has succeeded in finding adventure and challenge in his choice of professions. Perhaps for someone else, adventure lies amid medical research, or in pursuit of a career as a professional athlete.
In short, adventure comes in pursuit of dreams. As long as you have your dreams, you're engaging in adventure. Let nothing or no one steal your dreams--not drugs or drink, or friends who sink. Lose your dreams--your adventure--and you've lost the opportunity to live!
Q. How can I have you visit our school?
A. The necessary information is contained in this web site. Click to the School Assemblies page. Pass the site info along to your friends and particularly your teachers and parents. Ask them to e-mail us for our schedule and ways we can help defray your school's expenses for my visit.Talk a possible Roland Cheek visit up to everyone you know.
Q. What books have you written and where can I get them?
A. There've been 12 books, six nonfiction wildlife and nature titles, six Western adventure novels. But two others are in the wings awaiting publication and I've begun work on two others. Click on the About his books page for details on each title, as well as order information.
Q. I want to read more, but there's never enough time. Even if I do find a minute to sit down with a book, I fall asleep. Am I alone?
A. There's no such thing as "not enough time to read." Who said you must read a book. Magazines are fine. Newspapers are fine. So are comic books and, though I personally dislike them, graphic novels. The important thing is to develop a reading habit. When you get into the swing of things, you'll pick up a book. And if you choose a good one, you'll find you cannot put it down until you've read the whole thing. Then you'll want another by the same author.
