It was about 9 months ago that I started planning a trip to Africa. It was a pretty huge undertaking, a bike trip that spanned the entire length of the continent. It was 12,000 kilometers done over 4 months of riding 6 days a week.
I once used a quote by Hugh Prather to describe what i was doing and why i was doing it. He said: “A time comes when you need to clean house. No, you need to go even further; you need to burn the house down with yourself inside it. Then you must walk from the fire and say, I have no name” To me, Africa was a way of reinventing myself; of burning the house down and I was getting ready to douse the place with gasoline.
I was at a place in my life where I just came back from living in Guatemala for 5 weeks. We lived on a farm where we cooked over a fire, had cold showers, washed our clothes by hand, and peanut butter (on anything) was our greatest pleasure. Perhaps it was a bit of culture shock but coming home to my comfortable apartment just didn’t feel right. It was like I finally realized something had been missing, and with new perspective, the void was twice the size and now unbearable. I needed to get out and I needed to ensure that this time, when I get back, the old me is nowhere to be found. Perhaps that’s a tad over dramatic but basically i just needed a change.
Well a lot has happened in those 9 months since then. Aside from covering a lot of kilometers on my new “Africa bike”, I met a girl. And while I do tease her occasionally for putting the kibosh on my trip (it is official) the truth is this:
I found another path; a route to a life that i want to live. One that is being true to myself, finding happiness and sharing it with the woman I love. You and I both know that my true passion is fine art… so why would I stray away from that? With a new outlook and more motivation and support than ever, I am refocusing on being happy, relationships,and art. Instead of spending all my money on going to Africa for four months I’m putting it towards the rest of my life. I have purchased a booth at the National Home Show in Toronto and I am exhibiting furniture and art for the full 10 day show.
The bike trip was pulling my focus from what i love and it was a road block in the direction I need to go at this point in my life. Passion has a way of keeping you focused and although I have put Africa aside, for now, my hope is that I will find my way there before i come to the end of the road. I do have a passion for travel and adventure but art will always prevail.
I will be following my dreams and I hope you will join me February 18th to the 27th – The National Home Show – Direct Energy Center, Exhibition place Toronto. for more information go to www.nationalhomeshow.com
Well a lot has happened in those 9 months since then. Aside from covering a lot of kilometers on my new “Africa bike”, I met a girl. And while I do tease her occasionally for putting the kibosh on my trip (it is official) the truth is this:
I found another path; a route to a life that i want to live. One that is being true to myself, finding happiness and sharing it with the woman I love. You and I both know that my true passion is fine art… so why would I stray away from that? With a new outlook and more motivation and support than ever, I am refocusing on being happy, relationships,and art. Instead of spending all my money on going to Africa for four months I’m putting it towards the rest of my life. I have purchased a booth at the National Home Show in Toronto and I am exhibiting furniture and art for the full 10 day show.
The bike trip was pulling my focus from what i love and it was a road block in the direction I need to go at this point in my life. Passion has a way of keeping you focused and although I have put Africa aside, for now, my hope is that I will find my way there before i come to the end of the road. I do have a passion for travel and adventure but art will always prevail.
I will be following my dreams and I hope you will join me February 18th to the 27th – The National Home Show – Direct Energy Center, Exhibition place Toronto. for more information go to www.nationalhomeshow.com