The Journey...Not the Destination

Good afternoon everyone!

I know it's been a while (actually, I'm not sure how long it's actually been). I'm sorry about that. I've been very busy back at camp and haven't really had an opportunity to write to everyone. I'd like to be able to do that more often. I hope you all understand though, it is difficult for me to do this oftentimes because of the fact that it takes an extra amount of effort (besides what I'm already doing) to take the laptop to town via bicycle and to sit down and write to everyone when I know that I really should be back at camp.

I've been contemplating some things, and have decided that I am going to have to come up with some sort a time management plan in order to a.) get all the things done I need to do in order to survive in the woods and b.) have enough time to do the things I actually enjoy doing. It seems to be the best solution to these problems because I feel like I'm just flying by the seat of my pants (which in all actuality is true for the most part).

I am not able to get much done today however, due to the fact that there's a steady rain falling, it's quite dark outside, and I've worked constantly over the last week or so. I stopped into the Acoustic Cafe to charge my batteries (and have a cup of coffee...Thanks Chad!). I'm now sitting in the park under the provilian just typing away to you! Sounds nice anyway...I need to touch base with a couple of people via e-mail anyhow. It appears that it will continue to rain into the evening, so I do not plan to do much work until tomorrow.

I've been working very hard at the camp (trying to make it as comfortable and livible as possible). I've been contemplating several ideas and thoughts, especially about motivation and ambition. It seems to me that a person with a lack of ambition puts themselves at the mercy of the elements (especially when you are in a survival situation). For example, if you decide to sleep in you may miss the best hours of fishing, which in return will make you very hungry later on when you do not have fish to eat. It seems that when people are ambitious, they actually create their own fate.

So what does this mean? It seems that if you are not ambitious enough, you will not succeed because you are at the mercy of everything that surrounds you. If you are overly ambitious, you are at risk of being a slave to your own labor (such as the workaholic that becomes divorced from his spouce and is seperated from his kids because they are not around enough). What is the solution? A balance between the two.

I've realized that it is not money that makes a person happy, although it is true that the feelings that we identify as satisfaction comes from the anticipation of a reward or triumph (not when we actually achieve it). Studies have shown that people are actually less happy after winning the lottery than they were to begin with (so be careful of what you wish). I guess that it's the journey, not the destination that makes us feel happy with our situations.

I'd like everyone to know that I am happy with what I'm doing. I'm also healthy, learning many things, and spending a great summer in the outdoors. I have nothing to complain about. If it's all about the journey, the Lord knows it's been rough...but worth it all the while.

Take care and god bless.
Eli