by Adam | Jan 15, 2017 | Uncategorized
“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.” – J.R.R. Tolkien January 6th 2017 Currently January 15th, and I’m sipping coffee lovely café in Rotorua waiting while a warm gentle rain falls outside. I’m behind because I’ve been going nonstop…and since my flight to Wellington doesn’t leave for 6 hours, I finally have some time to type. We last left off after Ruth and Raoul showed me the city of Auckland in one day. I woke up in their apartment reflecting on how our perception of life changes when with aging. At their retirement village, nearly everyone volunteers on a committee, from managing the newsletter to resolving tech issues, both of which are a few of the tasks Raoul has undertaken. He laughs as he says he looks forward to retiring from retirement. Work gives a sense of purpose, and when you’re helping others – a sense of fulfillment. He is also a very good artist, especially with portraits. The eyes of his paintings tell a profound story, something I imagine he is keen at after a life of work in social services. Would you believe that morning I was handed off to another family? My third in just as many days – I had officially become a rugby ball. But there are no complaints from me. Next up is Rodger. He is perhaps among the most enjoyable people I’ve met. He has a sharp and witty sense of humor, and is very smart and...
by Adam | Jan 11, 2017 | Uncategorized
January 4th, 2017 I’m not sure what happened to January 3rd 2017. That date will never exist for me as I somehow traveled across time zones. I’m about 30 minutes from landing in Auckland. “If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine, it is lethal.” -Paulo Coelho I listened The Alchemist audiobook last year, and it is a terrific story. Searching for something without knowing why, only knowing that its important. And then what you find isn’t what it seems, what you’ve gained is a new understanding, a new perspective on what you really value in life. There are a lot of reasons for me to make this trip that I know of, but I think I’ll discover more as I go on. One thing that I do know is we are all guilty of being on autopilot for far too much of our lives. How often do you stop and just think about the fact that you are here. Think about what you are and what you are doing, knowing that your thinking about it is affecting you. I think those moments, good or bad, are when we are most alive. It’s what sets us apart on this planet. Whether or not we have control of our fate is a different conversation, but the truth is we do have the ability to understand the profound impact our decisions have on each other and the future. Just something on my mind. Shout out to the lady at the United counter in San Diego who put me first on standby for an earlier flight as my connection through San Francisco...
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