People People People

Relationships and people are arguably all that matters. Do things even happen if it's not shared with other people?

If a bear shits in the woods, does it make a sound?!

Some of my greatest, craziest, most bizarre, ridiculous and just flat out unbelievable moments happen when I'm traveling solo.

Did these things even happen?

The time I locked myself on my fourth floor hotel balcony in Golden, CO, in January, barefoot, in jeans and a t-shirt- totally alone. Did that happen?

Or the time (the next day, don't judge) I left all of my belongings in a Subaru that gave me a lift up Berthoud Pass while solo backcountry snowboarding (I now know this is a terrible idea, but at the time it seemed like a fantastic idea). My car rental keys, phone, wallet, basically everything in my North Face backpack drove away and down the mountain pass with two friendly gents who were kind enough to pick up a giant, hitch-hiking snowboarder --- I needed and got a lot of help from a several people that I didn't know until then to get through that little pickle. On the bright side, at least there are witnesses of the human variety that can corroborate that one.

Just two weeks ago I slipped and fell while skateboarding with Cody, my roommates Bordie Collie, just as I was arriving home. I sat in my butt and watched, helpless on the ground, as my large and heavy Santa Cruz longboard went careening into a busy three lane road in Wash Park, Denver called Lincoln Street. What happened next was absolutely incredible but the only ones who saw it are Cody and I. I love Cody, he's a great roommate, but he hasn't told anyone about it yet or even corroborated my story as I told several others. Did it happen??

I love to travel and I love to travel alone- I'm always meeting people and always getting into some variety of hi-jinx. It keeps life exciting and I'm learning and growing constantly.

I truly believe that life is all about meeting people and sharing experiences together. That's what adds value, that's what adds richness and that's what leads to a full life.

It pains me to see so many people disconnected from people through being connected to digital stimulus.

There is something to be said for the digital connections that are possible (most of my business partners and clients do not travel as often as I do, and most aren't looking to travel full-time) and I understand the convenience of not needing to leave the house or get out of bed to connect.

A LIKE or a SHARE on facebook, IG, twitter or any other platform is nice and I enjoy that connection- but it's nothing compared to a hug from a person who genuinely cares about me.

I'd like to invite you today to embrace people in the physical world again- and not just people you know- everyone!

I believe people and our relationships with them are truly all that matter- SO-

Give a hug today, spread the love. The great thing about giving a hug to someone is that you get a hug too

...or don't spread the love- the choice is yours ;)