Burma Bound.

January 31st, 2013

     A week ago, I put a deposit on the bike I intend to purchase for The Happy Ride. Its a 2003 Honda Africa Twin. It was exciting, knowing that I was actually going to ride a motorcycle across Asia. A riveting psychedelic ride across the largest landmass on earth. A journey, born of wanderlust, shrouded in mysterious places yet to be visited. I've backpacked around the globe enough times that I know trips like this still exist, but these days, you have to seek them out. The trail is full of travelers; the world is losing its mystique. However, I know the trip I'm looking for is out there. 

      The paperwork on the big bike will take 6 weeks to process. While that happens I'm heading to Burma. I'm still lost as to the specifics of what The Happy Ride will be. All I know its that it will be piloted by a journeyman, a wanderer, a sojourner to otherworldly realms. I can't wait to get back out there. From what I've read, Burma is just what I need. I'm stuck trying to figure out the plot of The Happy Ride; its methods and messages. It's high time I stepped out of the way and simply let it happen. 

          

Fear

Wednesday , January 16, 2013

     Less than one month after is conception, The Happy Ride is ready to roll! Except, I have no bike, no Carnet de Passage (its like a passport for your motorcycle), no route, and no definitive plan…

     I’m scared as hell. This project is insane: ride a motorcycle across Asia and seek out the happy and the sad; those who are content and those who suffer, and ask them why. There are some crazy roads to be crossed; and some crazy people to be avoided. Fear lurks in uncertainty. Face it, but smilingly.

Where fear is, happiness is not. - Seneca the Younger ( currently 1,948 years young! )

     I disagree. I’m staring at my fears right now. Realizing my place in the universe, I observe my fear, and I am happy. I don’t advocate suppression of the facts to reduce fear, nor do I think the remedy to fear lay in bravado. Learning to observe fear as an automated mind/ body reaction lets the fear be as it is, while disallowing its effects.

     I’m afraid of my undertaking on so many fronts. I’m fully aware that I may die or be seriously harmed.  I observe this fear, without suppressing it or identifying with it. The fear is there, but I am happy.  

A meeting in Thailand

Saturday, January 12th, 2013

     A few days ago, I flew to Chiang Mai, Thailand to attend a gathering of around the world motorcycle enthusists. Some were mid-trip, having ridden here from Europe. Other’s, like me, were simply curious. It was exciting and terrifying all at once. I went to ask questions, and poke around. Also, I had to kick the tires of a bike I’m considering buying: a 2003 Honda Africa Twin – a legendary bike in these circles.

     I’m was terrified by the size of the bike, and its cost. The logistics of the ride were overwhelming; everyone there had planned for so long. I was excited by the prospects  I saw that, if I apply myself, I can probably make this happen.

     Which begs the question: what is this? What is it I plan to do? What am I doing at this meeting, and why am I here? My intent is to find happiness in the minds of people across cultures, and this will require that I ride from Vietnam to Portugal and talk to people about it. I will then share what I've found, and open new pathways to happiness for other people.

     At times, the idea and its purpose are so clear. Other times, I feel like I’m fooling myself. 

There is no way to happiness...

"There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way.

There is no way to peace. Peace is the way.

There is no way to enlightenment. Enlightenment is the way."

- Thich Nhat Hanh

Thursday, January 10, 2013

     The opening line of the above quote is one I often unsheathe during conversations about happiness. It makes a simple yet powerful point about the most sought after of human experiences: happiness. I also wield the strength of its logic to protect me during unhappy times. It reminds me that happiness is just a state of mind. Although happiness is a multifaceted and complex experience, attainment of it is sometimes simpler than we think.

     It is very important to take slow down and take mental reprieves during the course of each day. En route to our next task, we should stop and remind ourselves: “There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way.” While proceeding on the path of our day with a happy mindset, we get to where we want to be immediately.  

   

Second Thoughts

Thursday, January 8th, 2013

     Doubts are inevitable I suppose. Fear naturally lurks in uncertainty. I'm planning a massive endeavor. At this point, I'm focused on riding a motorcycle from Vietnam to Portugal, while administering the "Satisfaction With Life Survey" to random groups of people in select cultures. Additionally, I plan to film informal dialogues with people on the topic of what makes them happy. Considering I've neither conducted official research, nor have I ridden a motorcycle on a long trip, there is room for doubt. 

      But, I'm doing this all for its own sake. I don't expect to make any money. Nor do I expect any recognition. It is my hope that someone will read what I've written and realize an easier and more fruitful path to happiness. One person would be sufficient. In an infinite universe, relative effects don't scale; only intentions matter. This thinking alone as assuaged much of my doubt by helping me to realize that the project cannot fail. Where that wisdom falls short, I have encouragement from Sir Winston Churchill.

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."

   I've been able to maintain fairly high levels of that, so I suppose I'm succeeding. Hooray for the living wisdom of dead people!

Who wants a million dollars?

Tuesday, January 1^st, 2013

     NOBODY wants a million dollars. People want the happiness they think a million dollars will bring. The dollars themselves do very little. Hence, my singular New Years’ resolution is that which forms the basis of all others: to be happy. The motivator behind all of our actions is the belief that those actions will make us happier, either now or in the future. Exactly what happiness is and how to attain it is the issue of considerable debate; justly so.  

      For most, a million dollars would constitute a dramatic improvement in subjective well-being - today's fancy way of saying happiness. Full bellies, better health, and reduced stress can all produce a very real increase in happiness. People feel happier when their pains, physical and mental, are lessened. 

     So, what did people desire before money came around? Money is an abstract concept which has the value we have collectively given it. Something very real has been conjured out of the ether. Because it is abstract, we all too easily mistake it for what we actually want. Premonetary Man didn't have this issue; he couldn't have. So what did he strive for? I’ll wager that he simply desired to be happier. 

     Precisely what we are seeking in life is anyone’s guess. Is it external, or internal? Is it a thing, or is it an idea? Is it eternal, or impermanent? I don’t expect to ever find out. But, for the year ahead, I have but one goal: be happy. Wish me luck…