I have a dear friend, named Red, that I am fortunate to have. They’re one of the few that really listen when you speak to them. Add some years to the friendship and they become the type that know you better than yourself – it’s safe to say Red knows how I’m wired.
See, I’m passionate about the future. Often, my thoughts get so lofty that sometimes I overlook the simple steps along the way. This is one of the main reasons why I make it a point to go on annual solo trips – they force me to be conscious of every step I make.
However, my inaugural solo trip three years ago wasn’t based on that premise; rather, it was to see if this social butterfly could actually pull off three days alone in the wilderness. That was the real test. Naturally this undertaking drew legitimate concern for my well-being, and why most labeled me “crazy”.
Red was one of those, but they knew there was no way of persuading me out of it. So when I was exchanging goodbyes with them, they mentioned something simple that I almost shrugged off. It was when I took my first step in uncharted ground that their words poignantly sunk in.
Be where your feet are.
Moving on to today, I was asked by Red what I was up to after work. In standard fashion, I gave a laundry list of things I needed to get done. One on the list was to write for the blog. While mentioning such, my thoughts trailed down the 5 different things I’m writing about for future posts. And then it hit me.
It’s been a year since my first post.
So instead of plugging away at the other posts, I sit here reminiscing. It’s been a good year. It’s also been a year of failures. One of the biggest would be maintaining a consistent regimen to posting; although I got out 33 posts in 52 weeks, it could’ve been better. I’ve battled internally between just posting to get content pushed out and being more thoughtful with ensuring some semblance of quality control with posts.
After a year of wavering back and forth between the two trains of thought, I’ve come to the realization that writing is an art form. While I’m a rookie (at best) in the writing world, pushing content out with reckless abandon seems to be contrary to what the goal of the blog is: to inspire.
It’s impossible to inspire someone if there’s no passion behind it. It’s also impossible for someone to get meaning out of something if it lacks eloquence.
This is why I’m proud of the content posted on this site. I’m confident you won’t find a better series anywhere on preparing you for a Solo Trip, nor will you find a better guide to foraging for the elusive Morel Mushroom. Need a wild game recipe to rock everyone’s taste buds? Yep, it’s HERE.
More than that, this has been a creative outlet to write about the other ‘Sota Boys in my life that I glean inspiration from. It’s also helped moved me to put the profound in poetry form. Above all, though, it has taught me to “Be where my feet are”.
And maybe it’s best to consider where my feet have taken me and who’s helped and inspired me along the way – where progress resides.
More than anyone, I have the utmost gratitude to Anthony at Break the Twitch. Spend just 30 seconds with him and you feel like you can climb Mt. Everest. There’s a reason why, in just one year, his website attracts some of the highest traffic in the nation.
Support along the way? Yep, I’m eternally grateful for Red. Another would be my friend Laura, with whom I’ve spent countless lunch hours bouncing ideas off of each other and also talking in depth about our projects.
Inspiration with a voice? No doubt it has to go to my buddy, Ben. It’s because of him that I gained an interest in photography. His work is unreal. Without him, I wouldn’t have met other significant photographers (Eric, Rita, Matt, Paul, and Ari) in the Minneapolis scene. Turns out, they’re some of the humblest and creative people I’ve been fortunate to meet – they’ve got clout (being showcased in museums, major publications, and sponsored by Fortune 500 companies). It’s because of them that one of my pictures was put on display last year at an exhibit in the Mall of America.
New brothers in arms? I was fortunate to volunteer this past fall for Capable Partners – a non-profit outreach to provide hunting and fishing opportunities for the physically challenged. Let me tell you, every one of them will teach you a priceless life lessons. Social media connected me over brews and plenty of burgers with the boys at Northwoods’R and Levi – both of which led me to join the Ruffed Grouse Society and Pheasants Forever. Because of all these connections, I’m hoping to devote more time to volunteering this year.
Speaking of this year, I have a lot of aspirations I’d like to accomplish. My primary goal is to provide prints on the site of the photographs I take – hopefully offering some free ones along the way through some promotions.
More importantly I want to continue to deliver content that speaks to you. This site isn’t here to serve as a repository of all my musings. It isn’t a means to suggest I’m the greatest thing since sliced bread. It’s to inspire you.
Inspiration can come simply in trying to conquer the grill in your backyard with giving some of my recipes a try. It can come from embarking on a solo trip of your own; in no way does a solo need to be alone in the wilderness – it could be to explore a new city alone and unplugged from social media. It could be completely unrelated to this site; maybe it’s to take up the piano again.
Despite how lofty the word “inspire” may seem, it’s actually more tangible than it appears. All it takes is for you to see it right in front of your feet. Be where your feet are. That’s progress.
Every moment of time is just an answer to find
What you’re here for
What you breathe for
What you wake for
What you bleed for
– “Progress” by MuteMath