The odes, oddities, and O Deities of a world traveler

Did you know: Ghost Whistle

whistling after dark is supposed to summon ghosts in Chinese culture?
Ode to Overcoming a Challenge

“Never give up. Sometimes, the last key is that which opens the door” Overcoming a challenge is victory pure and simple. It is having come up against something that is not easy for you and working on it to the best resolution. The feeling you get when you overcome a challenge is both adrenaline pumping…
Did you know: Barn Swallows

barn swallows are estimated to fly 10,000km per year?
Ode to Backpacking

Backpacking is extreme exploration. It is taking everything you have in your life, stuffing it into a pack, and heading out into the natural world to experience its wonder. The goals of packing can be at times contradictory. Because you have to carry everything with you, there is an extremely strong incentive to pack as…
Did you know: Eagle Speed

eagles can soar faster than cars on an interstate?
Ode to Teaching

Teaching is everything all at once. It is giving back to the world and a way of navigating it. It is a microcosm, but it is the platform on which reality is built. Teaching is a way of changing minds for the better. It is giving information but getting it back as well. It is…
Did you know: Stygian Waters

the river Styx is the river of hate?
On the Dynamic Balance

Everything comes eventually back to the balance. Anything can be dangerous in excess. Water can drown. Oxygen can suffocate. Vitamins are necessary for life until they poison you. Sunscreen protects you from cancer until you develop deficiencies or cancer from the sunscreen. A delicate balance of hydration and salts can tip either way with the…