I used to crave adventure. Being in new places still appeals to me, but on my road craving adventure and discovery, I have found out more about myself. I have discovered that all of the brightest lights and biggest big cities can’t in anyway compare to the gratitude that is found in the simple things in life.

For instance, I really enjoy being on my own property and walking on the trails with my dog. I have traded “creature comforts” for creature comfort. I love sitting in libraries and reading a book. I also enjoy learning to fly airplanes and wanting to sky dive (not at the same time, but still)!

Yes, I am a walking contradiction, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s just Dexter being Dexter, his real and authentic self! (Who also has a tendency to talk about himself in the third person).

My wife and I spend a lot of time in other places, and New York City has become somewhat of a second home for us. Which is where we are right now, while I am writing this blog.

We used to weary ourselves in an attempt to see every single site, but now we are finding that we are craving strategic places that provide a maximum mental health boost!

These places may include finding a smaller space such as a park that is family friendly. We have also discovered that Central Park may take a lifetime to experience if a person makes sure that they are in tune to finding their personal oasis in the middle of all of the noise.

Don’t get me wrong, many parts of the city are nothing more than little small towns in the midst of a lot of determined activity. You can find your happy place here.

On my road to discovery, I have decided to gravitate towards the things that I really enjoy. It seems as though people spend much of their lives not really understanding what their own personal likes and dislikes are. Do you find encouragement in the midst of a community even though you aren’t really a people person? Then determine to go and immerse yourself right in the middle of them. Find out who your tribe is!

I have been in many different types of situations and settings over the years. This includes a seat at the table with people who have accumulated more wealth than I could even count, to growing up so poor that we were happy to have a mayonnaise sandwich. One thing that stands out is that a majority of people are really, really quirky, they are very strange, extremely unusual and awesomely interesting!

It seems like we get most of our ideals from popular culture, and then try to imitate whatever is popular. Case in point, the horrible colors schemes of the 1970’s are slowly encroaching upon my pastel world, and we have convinced ourselves that olive green is cool and vibrant, but I digress!

Popular culture continually markets perfect hair, perfect teeth and a big toothy grin to show off their pearly whites! It’s the “latest and greatest, new and improved,” but at what cost? We need to read the fine print before we sign up for the latest entanglement.

The world spends so much time searching for the perfect label that describes them that they end up losing themselves in a sea of conformity. All of the real blessings are covered under so much makeup, muscle shirts, and layers of conformity that we have lost our way.

Accept that you are strange, different and unique. We don’t always fit into someone else’s little box. There is so much diversity around us and in us. Chase after God, and chase after your dreams, but don’t weary yourself from all of the running around. Live a little, but live through the little moments that don’t necessarily change the world, but they have the ability to make drastic changes in us because they help us to be able to reset and rediscover our identity!

Maybe you are like me, you grab your dog and take a walk in the woods to find your “happy place”. These types of adventures bring us a little closer to where we want to be on our journeys because they allow us the opportunity to emotionally reset and unwind. It’s in these moments that we realize our mortality because we have grasping so hard to get ahead. In discovering our mortality and living in the moment, then we can gain a better perspective on the things like eternity and other things that really matter!

Until next time,

Dexter