Drive On! (The road's fine-Trust Me!)

Entering Toronto, CA

Who doesn't love a good road trip? Seriously! The feeling of adventure and discovery and being able to go to new places and experience new things. There is nothing like getting behind the wheel and going beyond the self-imposed borders of home and work.

I've found there are two approaches to road trips: It's either about the Journey or the Destination.

If we look at life like a road trip, we are all about the journey because no one ever talks about the final destination! It is with the idea of a final destination fresh in my mind that I've decided to Live.

Driven to Live Life.

Most of the recent posts have been me sharing something new I've learned regarding personal growth: motivation, laziness, disinterest, etc. But these things have taught a valuable lesson: It allows us to see what matters and what doesn't as well as what's standing in our way. Fear is probably the biggest, baddest concept that keeps us from doing what we love or pursuing what we truly desire. Once we reach the end of the rope we may look back at all the coulda shoulda woulda's in our life and wonder why we didn't just do what we wanted.

I've come to the realization that the time for thinking has to slip into the passenger seat and let the doer (the action man) take over.

Life is about taking action and doing things. Participate and engage. And take a road trip!

Food For Thought.

With the availability of fast food chains along our major roadways, food becomes an afterthought and hardly a consideration. Part of the fun of a road trip is bringing snacks and beverages that can be enjoyed without having to resign yourself to "another burger" or something else that can be easily obtained back home. No! This is adventure and time for new food (but if that's not your bag then I won't judge). So what's in my road trip snack bag?

Some of my go-tos include:

• Beef Jerky

• Trail Mix

• Protein bar

• Red Bull (or some other type of energy drink)

• 16.9 oz bottles of plain spring water

What was suggested to me (and it's a great idea to break up the taste monotony) is to bring a cooler and pack in: goghurts in a tube, string cheese, hummus, and boiled eggs! The common theme with all these foods is that they're all relatively easy to eat while driving and create little to no mess in doing so.

If you're lucky enough to be extremely talented (or have someone in your life that is creative and talented!) you can make sandwiches and other fancy finger type foods.

Probably the best bag I've found to carry all these snacks came from "THE CHIVERY". Unfortunately it appears it's no longer offered, but it has really thick built in insulation that, when a few ice packs are added, will keep contents nice and cold for at least 12 hours. If you're planning on carrying things that need refrigeration, a good insulated bag is a must have.

Ready, Set, Go?

Of course everyone has their method of packing clothing and toiletries, as well as memory-making equipment (cameras, phones, etc) so I won't mention those. Heck everyone seems to have a way of creating music or podcast playlists to keep them occupied while eating up mile after mile while out on the road. And that's it, right? We've got everything we need? Food? Check! Clothes? Check! Cameras? Check! Entertainment? Check! Car?! Check! The only thing now is to make sure you bring along a sense of adventure and the motivation to just do it.

I'm sure you've got people in your life that will tell you it's a bad idea, but if it's something you really feel the need to do, then do it. You've got one life to live, so LIVE. Participate and enjoy. When you do reach the final destination, do you want to look back and say I coulda shoulda woulda, or do you want to say I LIVED!

I'll see you out on the open road!