So, in my last ramblings I had mentioned something about "Alberta Bound"... well, I had the concept of "west" right, just not Alberta! I have made a solid, conscious decision beyond Alberta... here it is!
READING THIS MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO AN IDLE STATE!
The Backdrop:
This is the actualization of a dream that formed in my mind so very many years ago and began in earnest in late 1998! I have always had "Mountain brain", and thank my dad for that in all sincerity. He had the opportunity to live in mountainous regions and passed that passion on to me. It's simply my style to pursue my passions to the n'th degree!
The Catalyst:
In 2000 I finally managed to visit and climb in the Canadian Rockies and experience mountains for real... for the very first time! If it was a passion before then, I was immesurably hooked! My being truly came alive in the mountains and subsequently left a piece of my soul there, vowing to return and become whole again. This marked a period in my life that was wrought with tremendous upheaval... anguish, loss, a marriage on the rocks and as always, if we endeavor to fall far enough, new beginnings. I had embarked on a journey which would take me through some of the blackest periods of my life as well as the most intensely incredible experiences I have had!
The Fuel:
My wild pendulum through life experiences has recently begun to shorten its swings through extremes and has left me immersed in a brand new world of hope! In 2007 I met Mia. That changed everything! On our first date I vowed to share with her in no uncertain terms that I was on a quest to "go west", and that if she was not truly passionate about doing the same... I was wasting precious time! She beat me to the punch and laid that line on me of her own accord before I could get there... HOLY, one could say that from that instant in time we were destined to undertake that journey together.
The Last Hurdle:
Ontario is a beautiful province and has been my home... it does however lack one solid part of my passion! Yes, I had some awesome times climbing, hiking, camping, kayaking, loving and living! I even managed to make my biggest passion my work! I found myself beginning to untangle me from the unsalvagable mess that my work and I had created in our passionate ten year relationship! It was the intensely painful severing of the last tangle that finally enabled my 'quest for west' to become a reality.
The Leaving:
Do I miss my family, my children, my friends... Hell ya! I truly hope that as a parent, a friend and as a son to wonderful parents I am sending a powerful message of hope! Life truly is what we choose to make it. It is also our choice to sit idly and watch it go by! Someone once told me that, "If you can conceive it, and you can believe it, you can achieve it!". They also told me that there would be many others out there who would do their utmost to dissuade me from achieving my goals. On both counts, they were dead on! My dream is that all of you find your passion, set a goal and go for it. I will only encourage and support you!
The Journey:
Drove alone, southern Ontario to the west coast BC in three days... seen it all before, had a fire burnin' in my soul to gitter done! Appreciated all of the beauty along the way and anticipated the bitter-sweet of the arrival in a new place: no Mia yet, no friends, no acquaintances, no homeys...
Thank you to a very brave young lady and her brother for chasing their dream and making their own journey to the west! I did have a part of our family to be with and that is so awesome! Thanks Kim and Chris.
The Now:
I love my work as retail manager at Ocean River Sports in Victoria. My quest for a place to live that has me close to the mountains and the ocean is ongoing, but getting closer!
I miss my beautiful soulmate something fierce, but know that in January Mia and I will once again be together... She is making her own journey through her tangled web of lifes experiences and chasing her quest for west in a very serious way! I am proud!
I know that I will see our children out here. You are all very precious to me and know that I love you beyond measure and will support you in the development and actualization of your own passions in life! I am so very excited about it all!
The Future:
That's for my next blog! Your happiness will not be found in things, or in places... it must be found within so that you can take it anywhere your passions lie! A little secret I learned in Patagonia. Thanks Ben, Jaya, Joos and all of my friends in that special place!
As always, if I have inspired you, I am so happy... if I have offended you, that means you are feeling something, the very first step to finding your passion in life!
Thank you to my Mia, my friends, children and family for your support and love through all of this! You are my reason for being! Much love to all :)
