"You are on an island man!"

Everyday something special happens.

Recently, it was a chance encounter with someone who, in coversation, shared with me that they have read The Alchemist. Suddenly, we were sharing our favorite parts of the novel. I found myself quoting, "When you want something bad enough all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it." Immediately, the passion was reignited to continue my journey.

Once, while working out on the beach, I looked up and saw that I was surrounded by 12 little boys and girls mimicking my strange "T-Pushups." I did my best to learn and pronounce their names correctly. We discussed where they lived in relation to the beach. They laughed continously at my strange accent as I described, in Portugues, the colors they were wearing. (At the time, my most recent Portugues lesson was on the primary colors.) The look of curiosity in their eyes filled my heart with joy that remained with me throughout the day.

This past Friday, I was with two groups of friends that I have made during my travels. The first group consist of five Brazilian people I met in Rio de Janeiro. The second group consists of three Swedish ladies I met at my hostel in Sao Paulo. After about an hour of getting acquianted in English both the Braizilians and Swedes began speaking in their native languages. I sat there listening closely to the Portugues, but with little success. At that moment, one of the Brazilian guys, who must of noticed my efforts, said, "You are on an island man!"

That was the special moment of the day!

Of course I was the only person in the room who did not have a clue what anyone else was talking about, but that is my problem, not theirs. The conversations continued as they were, but now a dialogue was sparked in my mind.

"Why am I on an island?" I thought.

Countless times in life I have discovered I am the only one on my island. My earliest memory of this was at the age of 5. On the playground while the guys played dodge ball and the girls jumped rope I would run from end to end of the blacktop alone "saving" the dodge balls that went over the fence. In high school, I recall dozens of conversations amongst my teammates and friends that did not captivate my interest. On ocassion I would find the confidence to share my thoughts only to find them equally uncaptivating to them.

I guess the good thing about being on an island is you can easily go in-land to get what you need. You can even stay for awhile if you choose. Eventually, however, you have to return to the island because that island is home. I hope life continues to give me the opportunity to share my unique perspectives and experiences with those who witness me on this island. I now find it worthwhile to share my childhood memories and adult thoughts that make me unique. Before I held these inside because I was afraid people would say exactly that...Man you are on an island!

I embrace this idea now.

"You're on an island man!"

"You're damn straight I am!"