A high school work experience program altered my life’s trajectory. I was tasked with cleaning dirt from handheld GPS devices, which tracked paths through the forest. Surveys using these devices were submitted to the government to gain permission for helicopter logging. A humble start, but nothing I was above doing.
I had been programming since I was twelve. Supporting the office computers came with ease. By the end of my internship, it was obvious I was a good fit for their growing IT needs. At seventeen, I was offered a salaried job with health benefits and a retirement savings plan. Getting paid to work with the very devices I once cleaned? I quickly accepted the offer.
My career led me to an opportunity in Melbourne. Australia introduced me to a love of sliced beetroot on hamburgers and for surfing. Playing at the mercy of the vast ocean would have a grounding effect. A cautious adventurer, it was never lost on me that a mistake here could cost me my life.
This balance of risk and reward is at the center of all things. Joy and challenge blended by an artistry for living well. The Savvy Surfer exercises good judgment, navigating decisions in harmony with the people and forces around them.
To do this work, we must not neglect the heart. Observing the accomplishments, rituals, and possessions that comfort us helps us to learn what drives us. Peace comes to those content with the present, discovering a new way of seeing.
I aim to enrich, entertain, and enlighten through sincere exploration of this nuanced existence and its hidden stories.
What experiences have shaped your life's journey? Share your insightful moments below.