You can’t cross an ocean if you’re afraid to lose sight of the shore

I am going to live in the present, the here and now – that’s what I promised myself. In my job I spent all of my time either wallowing in the past, or day dreaming about the future, about the next adventure, about any possible way I could get myself out of that present moment. So I quit my job and decided to walk across America for the second time, and following that walk across New Zealand. Four thousand five hundred miles of walking.

But even on an adventure it’s difficult to live completely in the present and I would find my mind dipping into the past or wandering into the future. I still had 5 months of waking left, but I found myself trying to make a plan for The Next Thing.

On the 10th of November I was in middle of nowhere America and I was waking to the news of President Trump. The world had gone mad. I indulged in my love-hate affair with social media and saw a small advert hidden amongst the backlash: “Team mate required for an ocean row.” I could do that, I thought; I’ve used a rowing machine at the gym; I can swim; I’m good at endurance stuff; I’m going to be in Australia in June. I honestly didn’t think I would stand a chance, why would they be interested in me? But on a whim I emailed them anyway.

And what do you know, they were interested in me! And I was chosen to be part of the team. A spare rower on standby in Australia. With my ego stroked, my confidence soared and as I continued to keep my feet on the ground my head got lost in the clouds. I was walking in a dream of oceans and Orcas, sunsets and salt sores.

Why did they choose me when I’m a bit scared of the ocean, I’m a bit prudy, I don’t want to eat freeze dried food for that many days, I don’t want to poo in a bucket, I don’t have any rowing experience? Well, I learn quickly, I’m good at taking instruction, I hate failure, I have huge amounts of mental strength and I really want to experience what it’s like to lose sight of the shore.

So for now I will keep my head in the clouds, it may be too terrifying to think about living in the present, Trump may be about to lead us into world war 3, but we can at least learn one lesson from him…go for that thing you want, you might just get it.