Ride the Buffalo!

Since I've been telling people about my trip to ride dirt bikes through the jungles of Liberia, people have been telling me that it's a "once in a lifetime" opportunity. And I think to myself, I hope not. It's kind of sad if you only get the chance to do something like this once in your lifetime. The Grove goes to Africa at least once a year (this year we have 4 separate trips planned). There is also a yearly trip to Mexico to build homes. And The Grove organized a trip to Haiti after the earthquake. There are so many opportunities out there to live the life that you've dreamed of.

I've worked pretty much my entire life. I started working when I was 18, worked my way through college, got a job right out of college, and have been working ever since. I skipped many spring break trips, passed up on the Europe backpacking trip after graduating from high school, passed up the trip to Machu Pichu...all so that I could work.



Until now, I didn't know any other way. I feel liberated knowing that adventure is out there for me...all that I need to do is to go find it. Some might be calling it a mid-life crisis. I call it a mid-life awakening. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the leaders of The Grove for showing me another way to live. I now intend to "show by doing" for my own children. The message that I want to send to my boys is that there is more to life than just working.



On a recent trip to Denver, a group of friends and I went to Golden, Colorado to tour the Coors Brewery. At the end of the tour, we were wandering around the city of Golden, which has a giant bronze buffalo statue in front of the Buffalo Rose bar. And since this is how my mind works, the first thing that came to my head was to ride that buffalo. Now the back of the buffalo was covered in ice, and the top of the statue was about 10 feet above street level, so there was a good chance that I was going to break some major piece of my anatomy either going up or coming down. As I was trying to navigate my way up, my friends did nothing to help me mount this beast...they just stood back laughing, taking pictures, and keeping an eye out for the local authorities. A total stranger was walking by, and quickly picking up on my intentions, said "here, let me help you"...he cupped his hands and lifted me up on to the buffalo. The moral of the story is that when God gives you the inspiration to do something, just do it...and quiet the voice that says there is potential danger involved. Your friends may not initially support you, but you might meet some new people along the way, and in the end...your friends will be proud of you for what you have accomplished...



It's never too late to start living life. It's never too late to go out and see the world...meet new people...experience life. Put away the excuses, and step out there. You aren't too poor or too old or too afraid. Work can get along without you for a week or two. As important as you are to them, your family will survive without you as well. It's time for you to ride that buffalo!