Wondering and Wandering I graduated. Now what? Do I live the life I never wanted to live? The one where I move to the city, get a job in a corporate cubicle, and slave away 60 hours a week for $40,000 a year? No thanks. How about 5 years down the road when I settle on a girl I don't truly love, buy the car I don't need, have the marriage that won't last, buy the home I can't afford? No thanks. I want to see things, I want to experience life in every way. This is the only life I've got, I might as well make the most of it and do something I won't foget. So here I am, travelling the world one step at a time. Where I'm going is yet to be decided, how long I'm there is up in the air, but one thing's for sure. Whatever I do, where ever I go, I'm going to be living. You can count on that.

So I've got some time to kill and decided I would share a few thoughts... There are some of you out there who don't understand why I'm doing what I'm doing, there are some that envy my situation and there are some that just don't care. I'm reaching out to all of you, hoping to tug at some strings to get you moving. Not in the right direction, I don't know what "your" right direction is, but hopefully moving somewhere with your life. I'm not going to sit here and preach by saying I know what life's about, or I have all the answers, because I don't. Actually, I have no clue what life's about, just what makes sense to me, what I justify in my reality. When it comes to the answers, I definitely have more now than when I left. We're all on a journey, some to high power jobs, some to making vast amounts of money, some to living a life helping others, some to teach, some to learn, and all to grow a little. I've learned life's about the journey itself, not where you go. I can thank Mr. Brown for that piece of advice. I've had a few eye opening experiences in the past year that have definitely changed who I'm becoming. Doesn't change who I am or what my core values, morals, or personality is, but changing how I react to things. To some, I would be considered a fool (which I might be), courageous (which we all are), or lucky. Thanks to a great book I've just read called "Getting Back" by Micheal Dietrich, I've got a better definition for luck. Luck is just opportunities presented to you and your reaction to them. Some take advantage of the opportunities, some don't. It's up to you, but we all have them, some more than others, but they exist. (By the way, the book's a novel, it's a great story but you've got to look deeper to what the author is really saying.) Life is what you make it, cliche I know, but so true. We decide what the outcomes are of our lives. Things get thrown at us that either open doors or knock us off our feet, but we keep going, learning, reacting, growing, and constantly changing. Our lives aren't static, no matter how comfortable we are, so we might as well throw ourselves out there and see what happens. Today for example, We spent 7 hours on a bus (total) to bungy jump 160 meters. That's the world's second highest jump and it was my first time. It was an eye opening look at how fast your life can flash before your eyes. I loved it, I'm hooked. Any chance I have to put myself in a position where the adrenaline flows like beer at Octoberfest, count me in. After the bungy I spent an hour and a half on top of the bus on the way back to Kathmandu. It was cold but I got to watch the sun set over the mountains, the Himalayas, in Nepal. It was one of those moments in life where you thank who ever it is you pray to, that you have these opportunities and that you had the guts to take advantage of them. Spending the time I've been able to with the kids at the orphanage is another. I'm not trying to talk myself up here, just explaining to you why I justify my life the way I do. There's no reason, no rhyme, no rules or regulations except what you have to do to live peacefully. Society can't tell you what to do but it does make sense to respect the guidelines put in place by those with the right ideas. It may be Jesus, Buddha, Muhammad, or George W., it's about what works for you, but don't take it too far or too seriously. We all know deep down what the right thing to do is. The answer to all life's questions are inside us. We just have to look for it. I'm thinking of heading to Japan within the next year (if I can pay off my debts and save a few grand), and work as a private tutor. The more I think of it, the more I'm being lured there. Probably by my own hopes and dreams, maybe by some force that guides your heart in the right direction. My goal is to make enough money in one year to travel for one. I love my family and I love my friends but I will always have both, at least the ones that matter. It doesn't matter where you are, your family gave you your roots, and both your friends and family helped shape who you are, but only your own personal experiences can make you who you want to be. I still don't know who I am but I'm definitely getting a better idea of it. I wouldn't trade the ups and downs of the past year for anything, and I'm looking to my future with open eyes and an open heart, I'm ready, or at least becoming much closer to being ready to just take things in, absorb everything, appreciate it all, and enjoy life. I have no idea where my life is going to take me and I know, now, that it doesn't matter where life takes you as long as you enjoy the ride. If you don't, what's the point of living it? This life may be the only one you've got, who knows. It doesn't matter either way, because it's your life. Go out and live it in a way that will make you happy and enrich the ones you love. A big thanks to those of you who have helped me along the way, however you helped. If I met you, you helped me because I learned a bit about myself from each of you. You've all given me something, positive or negative is not the issue, you've helped me learn and grow. My only desire in this life is that I can help others, hopefully positively, but I'm not perfect (close though). I leave to witness the majesty of the highest peak in the world in 3 days and hopefully will come back with a few answers, and even more questions. If I can give one piece of advice from what I've learned it's this. Believe in yourself but know your limits, take risks because it's the only way you'll know how far you can go, and enjoy life because we are living in a world where it's often taken for granted. Don't let that be you. We're all living on this planet together, let's try to have a good time and make it the best we can for all involved. Love and respect, Alex