Jonathan Dunnett almost became a psychologist, was for a long time a windsurfing instructor, was briefly a telephone pole replacement co-ordinator, and spent a good few years lost - during which time he nearly became an electrician. He now adventures, and writes. He funds his modest needs by working on websites. At the time of writing he also works on a mental health programme that encourages walking and talking. He is better at the former.

He was born in London in 1974 and progressed through school, university and adult life - failing, like many of us, to find his niche. He struggled, but was good at hiding that.

He'd long wanted to windsurf around Britain, and had hidden that too.

Jono had a "rough patch" and probably ended up depressed. Life was failed relationships, career nothingness, inability to find pleasure in anything, lack of enthusiasm for any of the standard pathways that life seemed to offer. "You can get drugs for that" people told him "Go see a doctor!"

Instead he windsurfed round Britain and at last learned to be comfortable in his own skin. He'd cast off his worries about not particularly fitting in, which of course made him fit in better. There were other changes too.

For the first time in his life he had something to say, a story to tell. He started writing. More insights followed, including the realization that he'd rather pointlessly spent most of his life grappling with social anxiety.

The next jump was easier to decide upon: he headed to Norway to start a windsurf round Europe.

Since then, other journeys have included:

• a Round Ireland sail in a very small dinghy
• a wilderness SUP journey from Finland's Lake Inari to Norway's Barents Sea
• a bike ride to get home without flying from Tenerife