This is another beautiful picture from Jasper National Park. I love this photo.
(please scroll down past today’s poem for today’s blog)
As Far as I Can Go
In younger days I dreamed of far off places
These images ruled my waking thought
One day I would meet new minds, new faces
Somehow the dreams stopped and I forgot
The years went racing past for me
Promised too many more than I had
I realized I would never be free
Trying to please others, make them glad
I had made good money, done good things
But inside I was a broken man
Too much giving away only brings
People further from their plans
Then all at once a moment came
That changed my life once more
By a simple realization I was back in the game
Soon packed and ready, soon out the door
I took my camera, took some jeans
My passport and a little cash
I wasn’t rich by any means
But there was enough in my stash
I journeyed across the country first
Why not see first what you have precious and free
The thrill of locomotion nearly made me burst
I could not believe this was happening to me
Then I travelled over oceans
Jetted through the skies above
I loved just being in motion
I met so many people that I loved
Take the time I beg you
To see another place
Experience the different, new
Life is a journey, not a race
Leif Gregersen
As Time Moves On, The News Keeps Getting Better
Good day, dear readers! I am so excited to be up and writing this blog, things seem to be going incredibly well for me lately. I have been entering contests and writing short stories, I sent off a manuscript the other day, and I think things are really going in a good direction. It looks like a busy summer ahead for me, I have three presentations to give for the Schizophrenia Society, where I give a talk about mental health, then relate my own story for a while and then answer questions. I am headed off to a high school for two of these and a business college for the third. These people I present to treat me really well and often buy books or even give small gifts like a pen set or t-shirt. Once I even got an umbrella and I am running out of room for all the coffee mugs I have been given. The other thing I have to do in July, other than cash the cheque I got for winning the 24-hour short story contest I placed #1 in, is to teach a class in creative writing to some high school students at a special summer University program.
I Really Seem To Have Come A Long Way
It is almost hard to believe that just a few short years ago, though I was making good money, I was working a job I didn’t like and I had just put out my first book and was greatly disappointed at the response to it. A good friend of mine told me not to worry, I had just put it out and here it is four or five years later and things are going so well I can hardly imagine what life was like before. One of the coolest things I did this year was to go to my old hometown library and give an hour talk and reading from my work to a group of adults. Also, I had the incredible thrill of winning a ‘Story Slam’ and $130.00 in cash in April. Again, and again I am finding that things will come to those who are hard working, honest and patient. It has taken me five years now to get to the point where I can work on my writing full-time, travel (like I just did to London, England and will soon be doing to go to Toronto and possibly the Northwest Territories) and really enjoy my life.
There Were So Many Ways I Could Have Lost My Way But I Didn’t
I have to admit that along the way there were a lot of distractions that could have derailed my efforts. Things like gambling, the urge to go back to drinking or smoking, urges to spend money on ridiculous things or get back into high risk investing (which would have led to gambling and, ultimately, my destruction). But I stayed the course and it is really paying off. A lot of the great things that have happened, I feel I owe to the teachings of Buddhism in a way. I have spent a lot of time in meditation and tried very hard not to be a materialist and when you have no desire to accumulate possessions, it becomes very easy to live within your means. An even larger part of who I am today has to do with attending a Catholic Church (though I am still not yet a Catholic) and trying to care for people and always do the right thing.
A Man With Nothing Helped Teach Me Kindness Yesterday
Just yesterday I walked outside my house and a man was sitting up against the door to my garage (I share a house with two roommates) and at first it made me angry. It was raining, and if it hadn’t been, I may have gone and asked him to go somewhere else. I went on walking to get my supper and I realized that this person was probably wet, likely going to get sick and had some kind of terrible trauma in his life that led him to this point. It wasn’t much at all, but I went back inside, got a brand new poncho I had bought for my trip to London and scraped together some change to give him, which I did with both things. I told him to get something to eat but I noticed that he was drinking beer and I tried to warn him that he could get into trouble for open liquor. I felt really kind of useless because the guy was already wet, and it was likely not only that he would spend the money I gave him on more beer, but also that he was hoping that he would be put in jail because it would be a better life than living out on the street. It really was heartbreaking. Anyhow, if anyone out there could send this poor man a good thought or a prayer I would appreciate it, I am going to leave you with a picture from London and hope all of you have a great day, depressing story or not.