Halloween 10': Being Jack Sparrow

    I have always admired his character: his spontaneous and free-spirited nature; his desire for adventure, and his ability to enjoy his own company above all else. What it all comes down to is that in many ways I  see a great deal of myself in him - my own reflection. 

His most priced possession? A compass that doesn’t work in an ordinary way, but one which points at that which he wants most - the freedom to be.  

Or as I see it... the freedom to boldly go to wherever life wants me to go. 

Unconcerned about the time, the setting, and place. 

Making use of anything life puts in my way, whether it be a tiny sailboat or a majestic yacht. 

To be the captain of my own soul. 

The master of my own destiny. 

Iñaki: the Fast-paced Walker

Photograph by: Dan Toulgoet, Vancouver Courier.

It’s been in his eyes since as long as I can remember – the desire to be one of the few. He and are different in our respective ways, but at the end of the day there’s one thing that makes us as simliar as it can get – the unrelenting drive to pursue our dreams to wherever they take us.

The Vancouver Courier couldn’t have put it better on its article’s closing line:

... Gomez can fill these large but lightweight shoes. At seven ounces, his footwear is designed to act as both cushion and feather: comfortable and virtually weightless. At race pace, the fleet-of-foot athlete seems to take flight.

Sometimes, he literally does.

Read more: http://www.vancourier.com/sports/Fast+walking+Gomez+races+into+Delhi/3626831/story.html#ixzz11ltzfMYQ

His athletic career has already taken him to numerous countries around the world. So many that I would be willing to bet he has already lost count of how many flights he has taken in order to get one step closer to his dream. Indeed, his is the story (as of many other young aspiring athletes) of the constant struggles that life puts forward both on and off the track. The countless trainning hours, miles, and sneakers behind him – away from witnesses. The ups and downs that come with the territory from both victory and defeat. The agony brought by injury and the long and steadfast way to recovery. The lessons learned from each and every step taken (along with all those that are yet to be taken). The relationships formed with competitors from around the globe, who once met as opponents and departed as friends. In sum, his is a story of an individual willing to do what it takes to walk a long and narrow path... to humility.

Today, in less than twelve hours… this individual, whom I can proudly call MY brother, will be representing CANADA in the 20 km Racewalking event at the XIX Common Wealth Games in Delhi, India. Suffice to say that for me, knowing that my own brother has come yet another step closer to realizing one of his most cherished dreams makes me feel overwhelmingly proud. And though, I currently am thousands of miles away from Delhi and the rest of my family, I somehow know that I’m very much there in each and every step he takes.

Here’s to you bro – thank you for affirming yet again that mine is a family of warriors.

Walk on...

NOTE: Iñaki ended up finishing 5th place in Delhi. 


Some of Nakster's highlights:


http://www.athletics.ca/profile.asp?pID=167


http://www.gothunderbirds.ca/news/2010/9/24/TRACK_0924105317.aspx


http://www.bcathletics.org/main/tfstars.htm


http://www.wikirun.com/Inaki_Gomez


http://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/Athlete.aspx?AID=793655


http://www.directathletics.com/athletes/track/1937292.html

“Quarter of a Century Old”? - I think not.

        Well… October 2^nd has arrived once again. It amazes me how many people have already approached me to congratulate me for turning a “quarter of a century old”. Some have even asked me if I have even began to experience a so called “life crisis” yet. Naturally, the answer is No.

         I have never been a fan of birthdays. Now, don’t get me wrong, I think it’s fantastic that individuals like to celebrate the day of their “birth” with family and friends alike. There is nothing wrong with that. On the other hand, I don’t really see the point in waiting for an entire year to go by in order to celebrate and be grateful for where one currently is in life.

         As far as I’m concerned… EVERY day is my birthday. In other words, EACH time I’m able to open my eyes in the morning, feel my body, and look out the window and face a new day… (along with the unlimited possibilites that lie within it) is a reason for celebration.

         I live for today. Not yesterday or tomorrow. Not last year or the year that is yet to come. Each day is a gift. When you understand this fully, is it ever hard to wonder why the PRESENT is called “present”? If there is anything I’ve truly come to learn well is that one’s “time” can be as ‘long’ or ‘short’ as one wants it to be. The fact is… the time is always NOW. It is the only “time” that truly belongs to us. Even if all clocks suddenly “stopped”, the time would still be now. It’s a simple concept, and in the end isn’t such “timelessness” what we all ultimatley seek? I think we often make the mistake of looking too far ahead. 

The magic… the newness… the wonder is in each and every moment. There is no point in waiting for another year… another moment… pass by unnoticed and unused. After all, the only way to live happily-ever-after is to do so on a moment-to-moment basis.

Perception is everything. To be receptive to what the flux of the moment brings is what opens the mind to roam freely in infinity.

Thus, I walk on - unconcerned about the road, the time, and its distance.

I go where I need to go – now-here.

Life is a continous flow with no clear end or beginning.

Enjoy.