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I am all packed up and moments away from leaving. I am really excited and ready to go. I would like to pause a moment and just get this off my chest first though.
Here goes...
We are in the midst of the worst economic recession since the 30's with housing values crashing, people by the millions are loosing jobs, and America is ever closer to the end of its reign as a unilateral world superpower. The whole landscape of the world has changed dramatically in only a few years. On January 20th, we witnessed the least popular president in American history step down from office and the inauguration of the first ever African American president. Roughly forty years ago African Americans were still in pursuit of the right to be able to vote for president and now there is one in the White House. This all happened in less than a year! I think it is easy to forget just how fast our world is changing. Sometimes I feel like I am on a roller coaster with my eyes closed.
Change seems like the only constant in our lives. I often ask people who seem to have it together "When does everything settle down?" and the most common answer I get is a laugh followed with a look followed with "it doesn't". How do we do it every day? One thing that helps me cope is the knowledge that none of us chose to be here. We were all thrown on this earth with no explanations and we are expected to just find a way to make it work. There is help out there but essentially, it is a personal responsibility. We all have our routines and strategies that attempt to make sense of it all but there are, in my opinion, no clear universal truths. Doubt is my only logical explanation. People who tell you otherwise, I am convinced, are trying to sell something. Some find their peace in their friends. Some find their peace in their work. Some find it in books written by people they have never met. Some find it in books they believe were written by God. Some actually find their peace in the chaos.
Over the past few years I have used the open road as part of my strategy to find peace. Each trip gives me new things to think about and creative inspiriation. Each trip challenges me in new ways. Each trip reveals to me new parts of myself and renews my faith in others. I am amazed and humbled at all the wonderful and unique people I meet in every pocket of this country.
Anyway, I think that is all from me for now. Thanks for reading and please come back soon. I'll be sure to add more down the line. Wish me luck.
Hassan
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