Originally posted on March 30, 2020
I have been absent for the last couple of weeks because I took the opportunity to create a much-needed adventure. One of my previous jobs offered a cell phone application to encourage healthy living and wellness. Some topics included in the app are financial well-being, managing stress and anxiety, capacity for change, self-care, work-life balance, positive relationships, etc. One of the suggested activities is to go on a new adventure. The app said, “Exploring new places allows you to gain new experiences, replenish your body and relax your mind. Travel helps you shake off the stress and anxiety, and can improve your physical and mental health.” I have also seen a little anecdote that said, “Book the flight!” So I did.
It was winter in Minnesota. Cold. Miserable. I felt stuck. My first thought was a vacation to a beach, maybe in Florida. Lying in the warm sun by the ocean sounded like heaven to me. I started looking at my options and realized I had an Air Force friend who lives on the Gulf Coast in Florida. I have been talking to this friend, Tommy, for a few years about trying to get together one day. I thought this would be the perfect trip to take. But then I remembered someone else. I remembered my friend Faris who was now living homeless in NYC. But also, we had lost contact.
I decided to send him a message to see how he was doing. I didn’t expect a reply, but amazingly enough, he did reply. We started talking again. Things were easy between us again. I was overjoyed that I had my friend back in my life. At some point, early on in our conversations, I said that I would like to come to NYC to visit him someday. I expected him to tell me not to worry about coming and not to use my resources to come to see him but to go somewhere else instead. But what he said was, “Sure, come any time!” That was all I needed and I started planning my vacation. I have never had a real vacation, and I decided to embark on a new adventure and visit Faris in NYC. I really, really missed him.
I had few goals for this trip. I wanted to get out of town and go somewhere new, to “breathe different air.” I wanted adventure. And most of all, I wanted to see Faris. I needed to see that he was doing ok, and I wanted my best friend in my life again. He truly is my best friend in the entire world.
I want to be clear that Faris is a wonderful man, but he has a tough life, way tougher than my own. He was homeless in Manhattan, sleeping in a tent on the streets and he was worried that he couldn’t be a proper host. I didn’t care about that. I only wanted to see Faris and spend time with him. No one should judge him for his situation because no one has had to face what he faces daily, a 24/7 fight for his life. So again, it didn’t matter that he was living as he was. I just needed to see him. And it was an adventure for sure! It was beautiful and fun and it opened my mind and my heart. One week with him in NYC brought so much clarity to my life. It was the best vacation, the best adventure, that I could have ever hoped for! It surpassed all expectations. I cried a river of tears when it was time to leave NYC and Faris, but my soul was renewed after this short adventure!
evenings drinking, smoking, listening to music, and laughing.
