Maybe. Limiting risky behaviors and activities. Maintaining strength and joint range of motion. Being very careful in everything you do. Only doing things you're 100% prepared for and 100% sure are safe and doable. Never spontaneously taking part in a sport or adventure. That might be the injury free life, but that isn't the life I'd want to live.
The moments in life where I feel the most alive and that I remember fondly are often big adventures where I've really pushed myself to the edge and challenged both my physical body and mind. Those adventures where you're not really sure whether you'll be able to complete it and often where there's some risk involved.
Would we have to spend the night out here without anything to keep us warm? Would any of us pass out from dehydration or low blood sugar before we got back to our cars? Would any of us suffer a severe injury and need rescue even thought we had no way to call for help?
It turned out ok as we all made it out before dark safely. Not only did we survive, but we all have a super fun story to tell. And we learned a little more about how resilient, strong, and capable we all are. This lesson will help us in future physical adventures but also in all other aspects of life.
Because we don't shy away from challenge, we prepared to have a fun but tough day, and started running down the South Kaibab Trail in the dark. We lucked out in the temperatures were not as cold in the morning or as hot during the day as forecast, and all the water refill stations were working. Still it was a super hard day and halfway in I was looking for a way to bail as my legs were cramping and I didn't think it would be possible to finish. There was no-one at the North Rim to get a ride back to the South Rim, so I had no choice but to run back.
We both struggled with cramps, dehydration, stomach issues, and close encounters with rattlesnakes, but pushing up the last 4,000+ ft climb we were on a mission to finish before dark and just did. My friend collapsed on the hotel room floor as I collapsed on the bed and we spent the next 30 minutes recounting the trials and tribulations of our adventure - tales that would be told for years.