Pilgrimage To the Hajji

Remember, friends, as you pass by,

As you are now so once was I.
As I am now, so you must be.
Prepare yourself to follow me.

I recently arrived from a trip that can best be described at the best possible manifestation of 'going with the flow'. On the last day of an amazing road trip through Eastern Europe I wrote the following entry into the Hajji journa. l written shortly before my travels were coming to an end I believe entry captures the essence of the trip and the people I got to know.

"The only was to appropriately describe this is 'holy fucking shit balls!' It is the reaction that goes through my mind each time I think about what I am doing, who I am doing it with, and how amazing it is. The phrase is also fitting of the reaction that anyone seems to have we tell people what Markus and Ren have come up with. You can see the envy, the awe, and the inspiration that is conjured up in all these people. The Hajji is the dream for everyone and you guys are realizing that dream with the help of some really cool characters.

It sucks that I am going to have to wake up from this dream in a couple of days but who knows, reality may just cause me to hop on the next flight back.

I really want to thank you guys for letting me be part of an adventure. What you are doing is truly inspiring and I can only hope to reproduce an experience as unique and random as this. I cannot wait for the Hajji to hit he streets of Vancouver so that we can road trip all the time (and relive a brief glimpse of that European escapade).

To the Cast of Characters:
Adam: I will miss you bed time stories and your constant judging of my behavior. Not to mention the inner Jew you bring out in me.

Benny: I love the animalistic behavior and your encouragement to continually abandon my principles (contrary to Adam's wishes) as they simply limit one's options.

Cous & Ren: You guys rock! There are really are not enough people like you in our world.

Tannis: your always infectious smile will be sorely missed and I cannot wait to see it again on the east coast.

I love all you guyes and can't wait to hear all about your travels and see you back on our side of the world. In the mean time every cheers you gys have on the road, I will be there enjoying that first sip with ya!

Lots of love
JALIL

P.S. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU."

http://hajji.travellerspoint.com

These people and this trip taught me that the fear of not doing it is far greater than the aftermath, regretting not doing it.

Song of the Day: M83-We Own the Sky

A Pinch of Salt and Juice

So its quite obvious that I have been falling short of a promise that I made to myself to write frequently. I find that I choose to write when I have something relevant to say. However, it does work against me to a certain extent as its not always that I have something relevant or moving to share. Nonetheless it is more and more clear that simply sitting down and putting pen to paper, so to speak, is part of the process. Kind of like my saying distance doesn't make the heart grow fonder it makes it wander. Getting the creative juices flowing and what results may often be some of the best unintended consequences, and I believe that pretty much goes for anything. So in the mean time while the juices blend I thought why not just write.

In a state of renewed excitement, filled with vigor about the possibilities and the finality of an intention a year in the making. I am totally looking forward to Vancouver and and the universe conspires to help me as the pieces are falling into place. People are excited for me and with me. I want to involve everyone I can in the most positive way and let them contribute and lend their talents and vision to something we can create. I thought I would be leaving behind all the great people I have met here but really they are all coming with me. That is truly how I feel about the bridges I have been able to build. It seems that this whole time I have been looking for some one to work with and a partner to really champion something that will quench my entrepreneurial thirst. As it turns out its actually the opposite, people are waiting on my initiative which leads me to a point I intend to prove; that I am a leader and that I will surround myself with leaders who conspire to achieve what the picture above says.

I will close this post with a brief lesson recently learned. A couple actually. Firstly keep all your communication transparent and current. Vulnerability is a mistake in perception, for communicating in this manner simply impacts people in a way that involves them as part of the solution and develops a good energy. It simply results in positive outcomes and creates trust and clarity.

Second, is some advice recently received from a woman who is as wild as she is amazing.
Rule # 1- Always tell the truth
Rule # 2- Never hurt anyone
Rule # 3- Practice being selfish
If everyone lived half as much as they do in one day as she does we would all die from the happiest state of exhaustion.

After reflection on this post it appears that the juices definitely got going. I would say right about that second paragraph. Refill's anyone!

Song of the Day: Yves LaRock-Rise Up