wasting life – part one.
for several years now i have had this tug on my heart to just travel. whether it be backpacking through europe, driving across the united states, or hiking the appalachian trail. there is this sense of adventure that i long for. the chance to go and discover new surroundings, new ways of life, and new people. the thought of no strings attached, no schedules, no commitments, no agenda, just going. does everyone have this desire? or is it something just in me?
i sat and watched sean penn’s movie into the wild yesterday. i had heard a little about the story of chris mccandless but never had the desire to follow much of it. chris was a graduate of emory university. his desire was to travel to the alaskan wilderness and live off the land for an undetermined amount of time without any connection to the american society he grew up in. so without mentioning his plans to anyone (parents, sister, friends), chris burned his id, money, social security card, etc. and embarked on a journey for roughly two and a half years. a journey that lead him across america, down the colorado river into mexico, and then back north to alaska.
chris thought that one needed to be alone and secluded to experience what god created for us to enjoy in this world. he thought that that is where happiness was found and true life was lived. after several months of being “in the wild” in alaska, chris realized that “happiness is only real when it is shared”. unfortunately chris ate some poisonous plants which made him weak and eventually lead to his untimely death of starvation at age 24.
so what has stopped me over the past few years from following this tug at my heart of adventure? money? work? relationships? companionship? fear of leaving the known? what is it that i hold onto in life that keeps me where i am at? why is it i live in suburbia, in my quant little townhouse, driving my subaru from place to place, meeting to meeting each and everyday? why have i not sold everything i have worked for and leave? why am i still here in this coffee shop typing this blog to you?
to be continued…
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