Man on Wire

Throughout watching this movie i focused on the passion of Phillipe and the internal calling he had to walk across the wire. His drive to complete these dangerous walks, especially the one across the twin towers, is admirable and utterly untouchable for me. When he spoke of it, his dream, he flailed his arms around enthusiastically and the look in his eyes was almost inane. I have never felt that driven or called to do anything. It was a beautiful thing to see his face change during his last walk. He started with an essence of fear and concentration and then he smiled and started to laugh.
My big question at the end of the movie was in his motive. I understand the honor and prestige a wire walker received when walking in Notre Dam however, i do not understand why Phillipe felt the need to be so achieving. Why was one not enough?
The act of setting the wire up and sneaking into the building was so extremely taxing. This was apparent when one of the men in his team began crying during an interview. What an emotional roller coaster it must have been. I do not understand how Phillipe did not feel such a stress and unattainable relief when the deeds were accomplished.
Phillipe could go either way for me. He is either one of the craziest people i have ever heard of or he is so admiringly brave and interesting. I fall towards the latter most of the time. I loved getting to see him speak in the personal interviews. He got high off of walking the wire. I believe it was an addiction for him.
The notion of addiction trips me up as well. Why do we do such dangerous things to ourselves? I was watching some television program with my little brother last night that featured thrill-seeking motorcross riders and the feats they accomplished. One man had shattered his pelvis and as he held up bars in each of his hands (the bars that were the size of those holding his legs together) he nodded and laughed as he said he still rides everyday and still jumps across buildings. Then my little brother looked at me with this mixture of awe and admiration on his face as he said, "i would kill to be that good." Good? This guy has fallen from high enough heights that he literally has pieces of re-bar holding his legs in place? How is that appealing?
Human beings do thrill seeking things everyday though. When i look inward, i know i do it too. I've jumped off a bridge and swan dive style plunged into a murky river that i couldn't see the bottom of. Why? I did it because it was fun. The adrenaline pumping through my arms and legs after i swam to the bank still makes my head spin in memory. I climb 60-90 feet up a rock face just to get to the top? What the hell for?
I guess i do these things because i can. Phillipe walked on the wire for more than that. I'm just not sure what it was.