How it all began...

The idea had been circling in my head for years. But the time was right and I could no longer fight the wanderlust that had built up. I bought a 1977 GMC NuWa motor home, threw a solar panel on top and started getting it ready for the open road. My main goal: to wander around North America, catching up with old friends, visiting new places and experiencing things I haven't before. This is my story...

Friday, March 19, 2010

The Moments We Wish Away

Yesterday almost felt like I had a big date. I showered, shaved, cut my hair…felt like a new man! Then I was also planning on cooking a steak I bought, but after all that hygiene crap, the day got away from me and I didn’t have time to make a big dinner. Instead I spent way too long making a huge batch of pico de gallo so snacks were my dinner.

Today is Friday. The question begs…why do I still know that? At this point, days of the week are rather insignificant for me. I have been unemployed since early December, yet for some reason I still retain that…skill? Maybe habit is more like it. It seems that in our society, we count things. Even people who say “oh no, I am horrible at math…I just hate it” subconsciously (or consciously) count things all day long in so many places: How many people are in front of me in line? How many minutes do I have until I can go home? How many days until my WEEKEND starts?? I’m sure if I analyzed it further, I could find a dozen things or more.

I already regret that I am about to use such a horrible cliché, but it just fits. I guess what I am trying to get to in this note is (cliché warning!) how much we have become slave to our systems and lives. I call them systems because that is what they really are…ways to get through the day and on to the next. So many times we find ourselves wishing away our lives…I can’t wait until Friday! I can’t wait until I get home! I can’t wait to go out! We want that thing coming up instead of simply enjoying the moment. I know this has been said so many times before, but it really is important to live in the moment, otherwise we may find that one of these days we run out of moments.

The reason I even brought this up, though, is because I still find myself thinking “it’s Friday, I should be doing something!” Yet why does this even matter? I’m unemployed, traveling around in an RV with rarely a schedule in mind. It does not matter what day of the week it is…I still have the same options. That is how hard it is to break the Monday through Friday “habit”, or monotony. So tonight I cooked my dinner over my campfire while I enjoyed a much deserved Tecate cerveza. Now I sit and write and sip my single malt scotch. And I am enjoying this very simple moment. Good Night all!


7 comments:

  1. hey, i like the blog. though you are keeping track on a map, would you dateline your blog entries--i'm still a journalist at heart, i guess--so i can picture where you are as you write your musings? :) safe travels!
    --Heather Pitzel

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  2. Good point, Brian. It's good to know someone out there is enjoying the moment! Back in Denver/city land that is hard to find. Hope your pico was fantastic!! :) -Lauren Woosley

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  3. Hey Brian, Concur on the thoughts man! Heidi and I don't worry about time or schedules unless there is some specific reason like a meetup with friends etc. Day and night even tend to get confused pretty often. Seems we like to hang out and veg in the morning drinking coffee and reading online then somewhere in the afternoon start contemplating whatever we want to do. Can't stand clocks, don't care what day it is usually. It is so much more enjoyable to live this way, taking things the way they come and enjoying it all.

    Your blog is coming along nicely! We look forward to seeing you out there on the road!

    -Mike
    97 Roadtrek 170P "Taj Ma Trek"
    http://vantramps.blogspot.com

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  4. I think you'll eventually lose track of the days. You've only recently been re-introduced into the wild, after all. Lucky for you, you'll not have a case of the Mondays, and every day is casual Friday...
    Keep on livin' the dream!

    -Porter

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  5. All I can say is I'm sooooooo glad you didn't have that steak dinner till I got there. Yummm!!!!

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  6. Don't worry about the use of cliche's- because it's so true! I sit at my desk all day wanting to fast forward to the date my Westy is done, and I can be free from counting the days til Friday. :) Love the blog

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