dirtbagway

The summer has ended and as I sit here on the shore of Lake Taghkanic, New York, the chill of fall is in the air and the leaves are turning from hues of green to those of amber and fire. The changing of the season is often a time of reflection, and as I settle into the tranquility of this nearly abandoned state park, I find myself thinking back over the past three months, the places we’ve been, the people we’ve been with, and the experiences we have had. There is a certain amount of regret of the things left undone, the words left unwritten, yet each day is the chance to start a new life, and there is no use in worrying about the past.

When we began this journey back in late May, I had intended to publish a written piece at least once per week and to keep up a steady stream of posts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. My goal was to document our journey and by doing so perhaps inspire and educate others about how they too could live “the Dirtbag Way”. Though I got off to a fast start, posting of any kind has been sporadic at best and any long form material virtually absent. I have struggled with trying to fit writing and other healthy habits into the constant transitions of life on the road. I also worry that I might not be fully present for an experience if I am too focused on trying to document it. Finding a balance between living my experience and sharing it with others is something I will continue to work on.

So enough with regrets. So much has happened over the past three months and there is a lot to say if only I do the work required to get it down in writing. Today is a new day, a time to start again. It’s the first full week of September and I pledge to post at least one article a week from now until the end of 2015. Please feel free to hold me accountable and I hope that all of you are enjoying the changing of the season.

It’s Sunday morning in Salt Lake City, Utah. It’s not just fun and games out here as I’m preparing to go to my last day of a course to update my Wilderness First Responder certification. We have been on the road for close to a month now and the realities of that are just starting to settle in. First and foremost of these is this: when engaged in long term travel, it’s no longer a vacation, it’s a life.

Vacation is easy, or at least it should be. There is a set amount of time during which a person’s only purpose is to engage in activities they find fulfilling or give them joy. When traveling long-term, the things we do during vacation are a part of the equation, but there is also the aspects of daily living that must also be figured in. For me, these include figuring out how to maintain the habits and rituals that I know provide me with an internal stability, a sense of home I can feel no matter where I am, things like a daily practice of meditation, time to write, and regular intervals of exercise. When living out of a tent, a car, or staying with friends, finding the space, time, and motivation to fit in these activities can be challenging. For example since the Bryce 100, already 2 weeks in my rearview mirror, I’ve only gotten it 3 short runs. My personal journal is also woefully short on entries during a time period when it should have been full of them.

How will I figure out how to fit in the daily activities that make up a rewarding life for me? I don’t have any answers yet. All I know is I’ve got to keep trying and this morning is a good start. The habits and rituals that enrich my life are so important to me and maintaining them no matter where I end up laying my head down each night will go a long way in making this adventure we are on be more sustainable.

What about you?

What are the daily habits, routines, and activities that help you feel grounded?

What do you do about these things when you are traveling or in unfamiliar situations?