Influences - real life adventure, putting fashion in perspective

What influences a man's approach to life?  Many things, of course, from childhood to more recent experiences.  I have always been fascinated by the stories of early Polar explorers.  Their efforts put our self-absorbed interest in style and fashion in perspective.

Scott's tragic and unsuccessful expedition to be first to the South Pole, only to find that he had been beaten to it by the Norwegian, Amundsen, 100 years ago.  The heroic efforts of Shackleton to rescue his team from the ice pack a few years later, making his way to South Georgia on a small boat and arranging the rescue of the remainder of his men from Elephant Island.  These were among the last heroic adventures before Europe was plunged into the senselessness of the Great War.

Scott's flag from the South Pole
Photo exceedpossibility.com

These stories are graphically and movingly told at The Heart of the Great Alone exhibition at the Royal Collection, Buckingham Palace, where I went yesterday with my son.  Although these events put the more mundane aspects of our lives in perspective, we are influenced by such memories and maybe we can aim to  live more honest and useful lives as a result.