Robbie MacKay

If we live truly, we shall see truly. - Ralph Waldo Emerson Not everyone wants to travel the world, but most people can identify at least one place in the world they’d like to visit before they die. Where is that place for you, and what will you do to make sure you get there?

This is an odd question to answer. There are so many places I want to go.. I’ve even got a list of the top ones. Real must see ones:

1. Yosemite national park
2. Machu Picchu
3. Bhutan
4. .. and the trans-siberian railway. Not really a place.. but something amazing I want to do.

To be honest none of these look that hard yet. I’ve got a lot of time left, or at least I hope so. But I’m aware how quickly that can all disappear.

Set a deadline: I want to see all of these by 35. At least 2 by 30.
I’d love take the trans-siberian railway on my way back to NZ. This trip home that’s unlikely, I don’t think I have time/money. But next time..

Here’s the thing: I’ve been to 5 new countries in the past year. But most of the weren’t ones I was really excited about. Italy was. The rest were easy options. And I’m more excited about Europe now then I was to start with.
It could be easy to keep going for the easy options and not the ones I’m excited about or a little scared getting to some places could mean less travel overall, but I think it’ll be more worthwhile in the end.
Time to start planning and saving…

It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.- Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance

The world is powered by passionate people, powerful ideas, and fearless action. What’s one strong belief you possess that isn’t shared by your closest friends or family? What inspires this belief, and what have you done to actively live it?

Being vegetarian? Life is sacred, if you don’t have to kill something to eat, don’t kill it. I’ve been vegetarian since Sept 27 2008, so over two years.

This is far from being my strongest belief.. its an expression of many others: that something needs to be done about climate change, that the way we farm is a bit fucked up, being vege is more healthy. But its one decision thats got more resistance from my family than most (though still not much from most of them – love you guys). And one that can get odd reactions from friends.

Has it been worth sticking with? Yes. It reminds me that I can do something I put my mind to. That I don’t need others support to do it either. It picks me up at my lowest, as a reminder that I’m still doing a small bit to make the world better.. when I feel a bit useless.

I try not to preach vegetarian-ism. I don’t want to create a religion. I don’t need others to validate my opinion. I don’t need it to be a moral high ground. I don’t want to turn it in to one. I try to keep it personal, keep being vege because it works for me. Not because it would be ‘bad’ to eat meat.

Beautiful, fascinating and impossible to focus on, today is a blur only observed as a passing flow.

We are afraid of truth, afraid of fortune, afraid of death, and afraid of each other. Our age yields no great and perfect persons. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

You just discovered you have fifteen minutes to live.

1. Set a timer for fifteen minutes.
2. Write the story that has to be written.

http://ralphwaldoemerson.me/prompts

Kill every distraction. Everything in the way. What is there to communicate?

I love you all. What else can be said?

Do not miss me. Do not mourn me. But celebrate the glorious life you all helped me to have.. I only hope someone will continue to fight for the things I fought for. Selfish? maybe.. but what better time to than now, if I really had 15mins to live. What better time for generosity and thanks too?

Fight for the planet, fight for life, fight for all those who are trodden on and ignored.

I will love you always.. more than I’ve ever said or shown. I’ve told some of you many times, and some of you never at all.
But I love you. I will miss you. I only wish for one more hug. One more chance to show you who  I am.. to beg forgiveness for every pain I’ve caused you, and to thank you for all you’ve given me. For being there for me, for loving me, for things said, advice given, good times had, bad times shared. For being angry at me when I was unkind, when I needed reminding who I was. Thank you for being you.

Thanks Mum and Dad for bringing me life, and showing me how to live it. I may not have always done things you expected, followed paths you choose, but I followed lessons you taught, one way or another. I took life and made what I would of it.. Thanks to you. I’ve made it this far, and I’m proud of what I’ve done, what I’ve attempted, and what I’ve failed at. Thanks to you.. the best guides I know in this life. You have my love and my admiration always..