I'm Back!!!

It's been quite a while since I've last written something for this blog.  Nine months and a few days to be more exact.  Anyway, I will be writing something once a week from here on and I trust my readers will find my words helpful and at the very least, amusing.

The past nine months have been filled with more than a few adventures and some insightful and at times sobering lessons.

Perhaps the most sobering lesson came when I was in Peru with a group by the name of IRIS Mundial, providing eye care to a community that has limited access to health care, especially eye care.  To put the need into perspective, the team saw over 2,000 people in the span of 5 days, working 10 to 12 hours each day.  There were people who'd arrive at 5:00 AM after walking or taking a bus from a remote village to wait their turn to be seen.  For some, that wait was 10 to 12 hours.  When I'd see one of these people, they were not upset that they'd waited hours to be seen, sitting outside the makeshift clinic in the hot Peruvian sun.  Everyone, to a person, were extremely grateful that we were there.

Waiting patiently to be seen by doctor

I have two short stories from my time in Peru.

The first is a lady who gave me a big hug after her exam, with tears in her eyes telling me "¡Dios te envió a ayudarme!" or "God sent you to help me".  She'd not been able to see clearly enough to read for some time and simply needed a pair of reading glasses.  I found this very eye opening and sobering.

The second is a lady who I saw, after I examined her 13 year-old son.  I asked her "¿ese es tu hijo?", or "is that your son".  Her response was "Sí, él me vuelve loco".  Translation, "yes, he drives me crazy".  With that, I burst out laughing, realizing teenagers are the same everywhere.

With this in mind, here are a few of my musings and observations from my time in Peru.

• Patients is something we all could have more of.  Being impatient will not make things better or get us were we want to go any faster so relax and enjoy yourself.
• Where ever you travel, you may be the only glimpse someone will have of your country, state (province) or town so be on your best behaviour and be curious about the place your visiting.  Both you and those you meet will be better for it.
• What may seem trivial to you, will mean the world to someone else.  In other words a little help and kindness goes further than you imagine it will.
• Look for similarities instead of differences in others.  You'll be surprised at how many similarities there are.

My new friend and fellow motorcyclist, José.

Here is a link to the summary of the IRIS Mundial Peru mission.  2017 Mission Caneta, Peru

Gerald Trees

Musings and Observations of an Adventurous Life Seeker

Unique

Why is it that some people say humans are unique individuals and yet are hell bent on insisting others be like them?

Times Square, New York City

People from all over the world visit Times Square and you'll observe many unique people, local and visitors, here.  Many are willing to stop and talk, if you have the courage to start a conversation.

Exploring who we are as an individual and wanting to know more about someone else, accepting them as a unique individual, is perhaps the greatest adventure one can take.  This adventure requires us to be open, vulnerable, trusting and being willing to set aside our preconceived ideas of the person we're getting to know.

Perhaps if more people took on this adventure, we'd be able to work together for a better and stronger society that seems to be eluding us today.

Gerald Trees
Musings And Observations Of An Adventurous Life Seeker

It's A Small World After All

I apologize if the tune from the Disney ride gets stuck playing in your head, however the words do ring true.

The World is small!

Over the years I've met people I know who happened to be traveling to the same destination that I was.  I've also met strangers while traveling who happened to know the same people that I do.  Both are interesting as the chance of meeting someone you know or someone who knows someone you know while traveling seems small.

My most recent encounter is also the most "improbable" I've had to date.  So here we go...

While riding in Baja, Mexico with some friends during November 2015 I met Mirko from Serbia in the city of La Paz.  We happened to be staying at the same place and motorcyclists, regardless of where they're from are attracted to each other.  Mirko was riding through Mexico, on his way to Los Angeles before heading home and we were on our way back to San Diego before heading back to Canada.

La Paz, Baja Mexico

Not thinking too much of the encounter, our group headed to dinner and then off to sleep before an early morning exit to avoid the La Paz traffic.  Later the next day, I was stopped at a Pemex station for gas when Mirko rode in to fill up.  The first thing he did was come up to me and ask if I knew Sky?  I was surprised as I did know Sky.  I'd met Sky in August while riding in Utah with Great Southwest Moto Adventures and we became friends.  Sky lives in Las Vegas and is originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina.  Sky and Mirko are friends and Sky knew I was in Mexico and let Mirko know what my motorcycle looked like.

My friend Mirko is on the right.

My friend Sky having fun in Utah.

This chance encounter still seems miraculous to me.  However I'm also a believer in what my friend Sky says.  "Good people fined each other".

The best part of any adventure is meeting people and it's very special when the person you meet for the first time happens to know someone you do.  The world is small and the people we meet are more connected to us then we realize.

Gerald Trees

Musings And Observations Of An Adventurous Life Seeker

What Good Has Happened Today?

When I talk to people my usual opening line is "how are you doing today?" and I know I'm going to get a variation of "I'm doing good" or "I'm doing bad".

Not long ago a friend, who is a student of how we use words and questions in business, proposed asking "What Good Has Happened Today?".

This "forces" the person to stop and think what good has happened to them during the day and most find something.  If they'er in a bad mood, this can change their attitude.   In the event that they're unable to think of something good that's happened, you'll know what mood they're in and realize that it has nothing to do with you.

I'm working on making this part of my introduction and the few times I've used it, it's made the conversation so much more interesting.

Seeking adventure involves getting to know people and this is an interesting and simple way to get them to open up in a positive way.

Have fun!

Gerald Trees

Musings And Observations Of An Adventurous Life Seeker