Live, or Die trying

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!” -Hunter S. Thompson, "Gonzo"

We lost a friend. By 'we', I mean a whole bunch of us. He was one of those. He knew alot of people and alot more people knew hm. I hadn't seen him in years. He moved towns, then we chatted for abit after that and then it fizzled out. But his stories, told by people who actually kept in touch, wereare legendary. He ate life with a big spoon. Sometimes not the right meal, or even from the right plate, or even in the right restaurant, but eat he did. There are people you meet who instantly make your day. You probably, like me and my friend, meet once in a millenia, but you feel like life is a little more worth living after that. He is, unfortunately, not the only person of that nature who has left a larger than life hole and he will not be the last. The stories come through all the time. Quietly, without warning, someone so alive, skids broadside in a cloud of smoke into a grave, and leaves us to our dreary, rules ridden lives. We weep for a day, maybe a few months and then we forget. We forget and go back to life as we knew it. Complaining at every turn about things we could change, crying about things that shouldn't matter and screaming about things we can't change. Then someone else has to go and then cycle repeats itself. And no change ever occurs.

I don't blame humanity for its forgetfulness. Because, we cannot be sad forever, trying to hold on to the legacy of the greats. We can't live through other people forever. But we can improve and purpose to stay improved. We can increase the size of our spoons slightly, reach out a little bit further, see something different just once, clean out a bad habit a little bit. Just one small thing. One tiny thing. Lately I have been mildly obsessed fascinated with experiencing different things, wanting to travel to new places, having new experiences, experimenting with new cooking skills, etc, (mostly I just read on them) so I have been combing the internet for Kenyans who are doing awesome stuff, pushing their limits and what not.

http://www.expeditioneverest.org/ <<-- This guy who is going to be the first Kenyan EVER to do Everest. And for a good cause too. He is doing it for Sanitation in Kibera (dubbed: Toilet Hackers. Do Epic Shit). Wouldn't you want to just disappear and go to the most quiet place in the world. Just you, your thoughts and the most brutal terrain in the most brutal conditions. Imagine the stories....and the toilets. E.P.I.C http://www.thekenyanexplorer.com/ <<-- This one here is going to South America for one and half months, just because she can. She wants to explore the world on a shoe string budget with her belongings on her back. She has apparently done Europe and loved it so much, she immediately started planning south America. Oh, she has also written a book. (I saw it on the website)What talent of yours have you explored lately?!! Have you let someone else see it?! Such a shame. http://jubileeride2013.org/ <<-- Then there were these 7 'not particularly young' men who went to South Africa and back on motor bike for 50 days to sponsor 50 children through 4 years of High School. They took a big leap to do what they love and got invited to State House for it. And from what I gathered, to almost every embassy, along the way.... Have you met the president by just living your life? Well, have you? https://www.facebook.com/Africa2Brazil?fref=ts << -- Then there's my friend's fiance who is currently on a 200 day road trip to Brazil. His logic....he loved Brazil when he lived there and Africa is now officially home so the trip by road to the world cup was the most ideal way for him to pay tribute to his 2 favourite places. He is now hanging out with eagle hunters in Mongolia. Some people see these things on TV and, some take themselves to Mongolia

The more I feel like I need to live a little more, the more I realise people are living a little more everywhere. The friend who left her job and is now exploring Scandanavia. (The 2 events were quite unrelated!Lucky how things fall into place) Her photos show nothing but pure joy. The friends who start businesses and put everything they have in them but the kitchen sink.The ones who lose everything and rise like phoenixes to ridiculously great heights, the ones who pursue their talents,one tiny step at a time. But the thing about these people who truly live their lives, is that their lives are not full of complaints and pessimism. If it can be visualised, it can be done. Find a solution or move on. Don't dwell and drag everyone down with you. Whether it is hitting on the hot girl in the club, or planning a larger than life trip or just trying out new food or a new place for the first time....anything is possible.

So maybe, as I preach oceans of water, I will take a small sip of wine and go home and watch TV and read some more on epic people. (rumour has it, a small start-up just sold for $19B. I think I will read about that) Well, because I am not yet ready for my big spoon moment and have no idea how to hold a spoon that big. O_O But I don't want to reach the end and have regrets about things I should have done, opportunities I should have pursued, people I should have forgiven or loved or left.... Life only comes once, so Let yourself be a little happier. Do something you really enjoy at least once every so often. why not live life.....or die trying