Akron To Cincy

Photos by Tim Fitzwater

The following post was written for publication on the website "The Akronist." The Akronist is a source for compelling stories about greater Akron. It has local videos, photos, podcasts, articles, and blogs produced by the community. I wrote this piece as a recap of a recent trip taken with a group of fellow Akronites in the young leadership group known as Torchbearers. 

As a bus full of 35 Akronites rolled into the Over-the-Rhine district of Cincinnati on June 5, smart phones began taking pictures and tagging social media posts with the hashtag “#TB2Cincy.”

There was no question that the working minds of Torchbearers of Akron had arrived, and they were eager to learn about the southwest Ohio city nearly four hours away from home. Creative juices were flowing, and notepads were at the ready to catch inspiration during the group’s two-day excursion to the Queen City.

In early 2015, Torchbearers received its largest single grant ($65,000) from the John S. and James L Knight Foundation. This grant sponsored two trips, the first being to Detroit in May 2015, and the second being the most recent trip to Cincinnati on June 5 and 6 of this year.

It was the goal of Torchbearers to travel to Cincinnati in order to learn about the city’s efforts in arts and culture, neighborhood revitalization and economic development, with the hopes of bringing back these ideas for programs in Akron. In addition, the trip was an opportunity for Torchbearers to share with those in Cincinnati all the innovative things Akron is doing to revitalize and grow.

READ MORE AT THE AKRONIST

Happy 5th Birthday To OHventures

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY OHVENTURES!

OHventures officially turned 5 YEARS OLD on April 12, 2016! It's hard to believe that we've been around that long! This just proves that time really does fly when you're having fun.

It's been a blast sharing the unique, exhilarating and thrilling things that make Ohio a cool place to live or visit. Whether you are seeking extreme adventures, physical challenges, interesting excursions, or a good excuse to get off your couch and explore the Buckeye state, this blog is for you.

To celebrate this milestone, we sifted through the over 500 posts on the blog to revisit some of our favorite and most popular adventures! 

And now, some OHventures superlatives, as chosen by yours truly!

OHVENTURES SUPERLATIVES

Most Scenic OHventure: Explore Geneva-On-The-Lake

Honorable Mention: Kayak The Bay at PIB

Coolest OHventure: Stand Up Guys Paddle Boarding

Honorable Mention: Kalahari Indoor Water Park 

Coldest OHventure: Cryotherapy Plus

Honorable Mention: Portage Lakes Polar Bear Jump

Dirtiest OHventure: Tough Mudder Ohio

Honorable Mention: Spartan Race Ohio

Craziest OHventure: Skydive Your Fears Away

Honorable Mention: Cupid's Undie Run

Scariest OHventure: Haunted Prison Experience

Honorable Mention: Local Music Meets The Walking Dead

Tastiest OHventure: Columbus Food Adventures Taco Truck Tour

Honorable Mention: Canton Food Tours

Wildest OHventure: The Wilds Open Air Safari

Honorable Mention: Meet an Elephant at Cincinnati Zoo

Booziest OHventure: Columbus Pedal Wagon

Honorable Mention: Rhinegeist Brewery

Most Unique OHventure: Float Tank at Bodhi Tree Guesthouse

Honorable Mention: Mohican Tree House Cabins

Most Challenging OHventure: Cap City Half Marathon

Honorable Mention: VeloSano 100-Mile Bike Ride

Here is to many more years of giving the world items for their very own Buckeye Bucket List!

Happy Holidays From OHventures

Photo by OHventures

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year to all of my readers of OHventures! Thank you so much for your continued support in my quest to show everyone just how cool Ohio can be! May the next year bring you an endless thirst for adventure! See you in 2016!

Paint The Night Purple

Photos by OHventures

There are many galas and receptions I attend each year, and I rarely post about them. However, this one in particular means a great deal to me.

The Inaugural "Paint The Night Purple" benefit for the Alzheimer's Association (Greater East Ohio Chapter) took place this Saturday, April 25 at the Lake Forest Country Club in Hudson. The night was to honor the thousands of people living with Alzheimer's disease in the region. In the 17 counties served by this chapter, there are approximately 60,000 individuals living with Alzheimer's or another related dementia. The proceeds raised during this gala would go to support local programs, services, and much-needed research.

A view from the Lake Forest Country Club

There was certainly no shortage of purple (the official color of Alzheimer's Disease) at the event. Vibrant decorations, festive clothing worn by attendees (including me and my violet polka-dotted tie), and even purple-colored drinks helped to reflect the continuing determination given to those who have suffered or are currently living with memory loss. I was joined by my friends Kyla, Jay, and Katie (of Life Is Katetastic). We took many photos to showcase our matching purple duds as we perused the silent auction items (spoiler alert: I won - via a generous monetary donation - a great Trader Joe's gift basket).

Soon, it was time for dinner accompanied by a presentation of the 2015 Champion Award to Dr. Maryjo Cleveland. After her touching remarks about working with a local family combating this terrible disease, we were all drying our eyes of tears. Portions of her story reminded me of my family's own experiences, when my grandfather had Alzheimer's disease, losing his battle in 2005. It reminded me also of the time my family banded together for the Walk To End Alzheimer's, in which we participated to raise awareness and funds.

It was troublesome to learn the facts surrounding this disease. 1 in 3 seniors will die from Alzheimer's. It is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States. And it is the only cause of death in the "Top 10" that cannot be prevented, slowed, or cured. Yet, comparatively, funding for Alzheimer's research pales to that of other diseases that affect fewer people and have known cures. It is estimated that in the next 10 years, the number of people living with Alzheimer's will increase by 40% of what it is today. This is why - more than ever before - it is important to give appropriate attention to Alzheimer's Disease.

When someone loses their memory, they lose a sense of who they are as an individual. Who are we without our memories? What do we do when we don't have a sense of purpose or an understanding of our own past? How can one live when his or her own brain not only forgets the autobiographical details of life, but also forgets how to function? It's heart-wrenching to think of the dismal realities that are the answers to these questions. Which is why we must take a stand, to protect ourselves and our loved ones from this frightening disease.

Consider donating to the Alzheimer's Association Chapter nearest you, and also consider participating in a local Walk To End Alzheimer's in your area.

Ohio-fy Your Life

Photos by OHventures

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being so devoted that you'd get an Ohio tattoo (I am considering it), how hardcore of an Ohio fan are you? We aren't talking Ohio State football (although we are big-time Buckeyes fans), or Ohio University (although Athens is one of the coolest college towns around), but we are talking the entire state of Ohio.

If you are a tried and true lover of this great state, from Lake Erie to the Ohio River, from Ashtabula to Cincinnati, then here are some products that you can get to Ohio-fy Your Life. And, yes, all of these are in my house!

1. Ohio Thread Art: Pictured at the beginning of this post, this thread art in the shape of Ohio is hanging proudly in my bedroom. Made by a friend at Threaded State (based in Cincinnati), you too can get a customized piece of Ohio thread art. Choose your color, your design, and whether or not you want to highlight a special city! You can also learn to make your own.

2. Milk Chocolate Ohio: Okay, so this was in my house, before I devoured it. Just in time for Easter (or whatever the closest holiday is at the time you are reading this), I purchased this tasty milk chocolate shaped like Ohio from Hartville Chocolate Factory in Stark County. You can also get loads of other goodies, such as chocolate covered strawberries and chocolate dipped Oreos, which are not shaped like Ohio, but taste pretty awesome nonetheless.

3. Ohio BibFolio: If you are a runner, and you live in Ohio (or do a lot of races in Ohio), then this handy dandy contraption is for you. It's called a "BibFolio," and it holds all of your race number bibs inside! Since I have dozens and dozens of bibs from races, this was a no-brainer. You can get a ton of different designs, but how can you pass up the RUN OHIO design?!

4. Ohio Ink Art: This Ohio ink art was special made for OHventures by our pal Matt of MATTHEWDYEstudio in Canton. Browse his site to see what artwork he has on sale. Odds are, there are some Ohio pieces available - or, if not, he would be willing to whip one up for you! Tell him I sent ya.

5. Ohio Cutting Board: I am quite the chef these days (don't believe me, then stop over for some award winning chili or my specialty shrimp & cheesy grits). So, a trusty bamboo cutting board in the shape of Ohio is a dream for me. Pictured, you can see I had a little fun and added some cut carrots on my three "homes" of Columbus, Akron/Canton, and Youngstown (Hubbard). This find was thanks to the Totally Bamboo brand sold at Bed Bath & Beyond.

6. Ohio Pocket T-Shirt: This is one of my favorite Ohio-themed items I own (can't you tell by the goofy face I am making while modeling it in the picture above?). The reason I love it so much is because of the story it tells. This shirt is from a new grassroots company in Akron called Neighbors Apparel. All shirts and accessories are made by refugee women living in Akron. Plus, a portion of the profits goes towards giving these refugee women a living wage, and some is donated to help Urban Vision, an inner-city mission in Akron. Become a neighbor today by getting one of these shirts!

7. Rubber City Golf Balls: And while we are in Akron, we may as well put a plug in for Rubber City Clothing, which sells, among other things, these golf balls donning - what else? - the shape of the state of Ohio! It's on my bucket list to hit the links and become a better golfer, so perhaps these balls will be good luck? If not, there's always other great Ohio-themed clothing and items at Rubber City Clothing as well!

8. #OHIO T-Shirt: Ah, yes. I couldn't ever pass up a shirt such as this. It incorporates a hashtag AND Ohio's historical year of settlement? The irony! The cheekiness! The Ohio-ness! I can't even. I got this gem at the Ohio-themed boutique in downtown Columbus called State & Third (found at the Shops on Capital Square). The vendor of the shirt is Lamp Apparel.

Stay tuned for more ways to Ohio-fy Your Life! Have items to add to our Ohio collection, send us an email to let us know!

Happy Holidays From OHventures

Photo by Green Elephant Photography

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year to all of my readers of OHventures! Thank you so much for your continued support in my quest to show everyone just how cool Ohio can be! May the next year bring you an endless thirst for adventure! See you in 2015!

Candy Stick Photography

Photography is the only language that can be understood anywhere in the world.

Seeing Ohio (and the world) through adventuring over the years has been a wonderful journey. But it wouldn't be the same without having photos to document my travels and experiences. Oftentimes, photos are far more powerful than the written or spoken word. That's why I am a photo junkie, and I encourage everyone to bring a camera with them to capture memories, moments, and magic.

That said, I have enormous respect for those who have a passion for photography and make it their living. It's truly an artform that is essential in our lives. My friend Laurel is one of those artists, and she has established her own company, Candy Stick Photography, based out of the Akron-Canton area. Laurel's philosphy for taking great pictures is "less posing, more fun!" She loves taking pictures that show every day life and the love between family members and friends. 

 

Her and I went on a photo shoot for Candy Stick Photography, and while there were definitely some poses in the mix, she was able to capture the passion I have for adventure with one of my favorite spots - Portage Lakes - as the backdrop. Take some time to browse through these pics and be sure to check out Candy Stick Photography for yourself!

Happy Holidays From OHventures

Photo by Green Elephant Photography

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year to all of my readers of OHventures! Thank you so much for your continued support in my quest to show everyone just how cool Ohio can be! See you in 2014!

OHventures Gift Guide

The holiday season is upon us, and the Big Day is just under two weeks away! No matter how meticulously you have planned your holiday shopping this year, you undoubtedly have a few folks left on your list that you still need to buy for. If you're anything like me, you take joy in giving gifts that are unique, meaningful and thoughtful, even if they are last minute (shh, they don't need to know that). Below you'll find gift ideas perfect for the Ohio lover, the adventurous soul, or those who have a passion for an active lifestyle. In other words, "OHventurous" gift ideas!

1. OHventures T-Shirts: We might be biased, but we are pretty sure that the best gift on this list is the brand new OHventures t-shirts! If you have anyone on your gift list who loves to run, hike, bike, jog, or walk competitively or just for fun in Ohio, then this is the shirt for you. Or, if you are a supporter of the blog, an Ohio fanatic, or just like a good graphic tee when you see one, order one NOW! Simply email mike@ohventures.org to get the order placed. You will need to include your gender and size (or the gender and size of who you are buying for). You can pay with check or through PayPal!

2. Celebrate Local: You can probably get ALL of your Ohio-centric shopping done in one stop! Over 170 vendors from all corners of the Buckeye state have brought their Ohio-made products to one centralized location: Celebrate Local, a shop found at Easton Town Center!  Shelves and shelves of goodies honey, cupcakes, beauty products, handmade bags, popcorn, dips, tea, coffee, jewelry, aprons, clothing, candies, produce, pasta, and MORE. Some of my favorite local Ohio vendors previously featured on OHventures also have their goods for sale at Celebrate Local: The Candle Lab, Camelot Cellars, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, and Brother's Drake Mead. 

3. Food Tour Tickets: If you are stumped as to what to ge certain people this holiday season, consider the one thing that we ALL have in common: FOOD. Everyone loves food. It's what brings us together. I don't know anyone who doesn't like food. OHventures likes to make food adventurous to of course go along with our adventurous lifestyles! Perhaps consider getting that difficult person on your list a ticket to a food tour in Ohio? There are plenty of good ones to choose from thanks to our friends at Columbus Food Adventures, Columbus Brew Adventures, Canton Food Tours, and Wooster Food Tours!

4. BeachBody Products: I am a huge advocate for a healthy lifestyle...after all, if we live longer, we have more time to explore Ohio and check things off of our Buckeye Bucket List, right?! Back in 2012, I started using BeachBody products to coincide with my running and hiking. I gained strength in my legs, as well as balance, stability and felt better overall! Using the P90X workout, my transformation was rather noticeable! In 2013, I became a BeachBody Coach and I highly recommend its products for anyone who is looking to fulfill a New Years Resolution of a healthier lifestyle in 2014. Try any of the workout programs, such as Insanity, Body Beast, Hip Hop Abs, or my favorite P90X! Or, incorporate Shakeology into your diet to have more energy, lose weight, become more regular and feel awesome!

5. Ohio Apparel: If the aforementioned OHventurs shirts somehow don't seem to be the right shirt for the loved one in your life (we forgive you, kind of), then there are still a lot of great Ohio-themed shirts to choose from! Snag yourself anything Akro-American at Rubber City Clothing in Akron, Cleveland apparel at Fresh Brewed Tees, or shirts for pretty much any other city in Ohio at Homage in Columbus! Homage is definitely the star of the show here, as their t-shirts are pretty much famous across the nation. They are vintage and nostalgic, yet very stylish and comfortable. I have a number of shirts from here! You can even read my Yelp review on Homage if you need more convincing.

6. Ohio-Made Wood Carvings: Just in time for the holidays, OHventures is selling original solid wood (maple) hand carved and hand painted decorative Santa Claus pieces, pictured above. The Santa pieces stand at approximately 42 inches or 44 inches tall and stand on their own. It can be displayed indoors or outdoors during the holidays. In addition, we are selling his tiki man sculpture that stands at 36 inches exactly and is made out of quaking aspen. All pieces are carved using a chainsaw, chisel, and other hand tools! They are being sold for $150 a piece (or best offer). Shoot us an email at mike@ohventures.org and we can chat! Personalized orders can also be made! Made in Youngstown with pride!

7.  Running Gear: It's no secret that OHventures focuses heavily on running! That said, we know the importance of having the right gear for when we hit the pavement. Many other runners probably also have that same need! Running shoes wear out quickly, and there is always a need for more running clothes because of the ever-changing weather in Ohio! My store of choice is Fleet Feet, which has locations in Cincinnati, Lewis Center, and Northfield Center. Here, they can even give you a one-on-one diagnosis so you get the perfect shoe for your very individualized food. For complete listing of stores in Ohio where you can get specially fitted running shoes, visit OhioOutside. The runner in your life will thank you!!

8. Extreme Gift Certificate: If you follow the blog, you would know there are endless ideas of things to do in Ohio. Some of the more extreme activities will make the best Christmas gifts! Consider getting a friend or family member a gift certificate to take them out of their comfort zone and try something new! Ideas are: Paintballing at Splatterpark Paintball in Mt. Gilead, Horseback Riding at Faith Ranch in Jewett, Parasailing at Put-In-Bay Parasail, Paddleboarding with Projeect 908 in Columbus, Ziplining at Ozone Zipline Adventures in Lebanon, Caving at Ohio Caverns, and the list goes on and on and on.

9. Race Entry: For Christmas each year, my brother and his wife purchase for me an entry to run in the Warrior Dash! This is actually a pretty awesome gift because it generally costs about $60 or more to enter into the race! Try doing the same for a runner on your list to save them the trouble of entering themselves? Perhaps you can buy a ticket for yourself too so you can run together? Ideas of races that are usually on the pricy side of things (and therefore make a great gift) are: Foam Fest, Mud Ninja, Glo Run, and Color Run!

10. Books From Ohio Authors: Last but not least, I thought I might plug some books from Ohio authors who are friends of OHventures. They have fun books on the market that would be a great stocking stuffer! I have all of these books myself, so I can personally recommend them! Breakfast With Nick (a review of some of the best places to eat breakfast in Columbus by Nick Dekker), Home Sweet Homes (tips on moving from Diane Laney Fitzpatrick who has moved many many times), and The Winners Manual by Jim Tressel (okay, so he isn't my "friend" but he did sign my copy!).

Memory Walk To End Alzheimer's

Photos by OHventures

Staggering fact of the day: Did you know that 1 in 3 seniors dies from Alzheimer's Disease or another form of dementia?

 

Sadly, a recent report revealed those statistics, fueling the fire for those who are fighting to find a cure for this horrific disease.

 

My paternal Grandfather, Harold, passed away in 2005 after suffering for years from Alzheimer's Disease. I have previously written about how amazing of a man he was, and how difficult it was to watch him spiral downward as Alzheimer's slowly took from him his memory and his mind.

 

Because of this, I have been wanting for quite some time now to become more active in the cause. I contribute monetarily each paycheck, and I have made other donations along the way as well.

This year, however, I was thankfully able to round up some of my family members (at the last minute, unfortunately, or else there would be more family involved) to take part in the 2013 "Memory" Walk to End Alzheimer's on Saturday, October 12, 2013 in Boardman Park, near Youngstown.

This was one of dozens and dozens of annual walks in which the Alzheimer's Association holds in communities across the country. This is the largest event for the organization, and it's goal is to raise funds for research and public awareness.

I, along with my dog Slider, my mother, father, aunt, and grandmother, all walked in memory of my Grandpa. I created gold medals to wear around our necks adorning a photo of my late grandfather. We joined an already existing team ("BuBu's Bunch, a team that walks in support of my friend Katie's grandmother, who is living with Alzheimer's), so we all wore neon yellow to match their team t-shirts!

Each walker was given a pinwheel flower to carry with them, each a different color to represent different things (blue flowers were for those living with Alzheimer's, orange flowers were to indicate you were walking for the cause, etc.). We carried purple flowers, which meant that we were walking in memory of someone. Purple also happens to be the color of the Alzheimer's Association.

The walk was very short in distance, but took longer than expected. For one, this was because of the large volume of people at the event - a record breaking 800! Secondly, I was walking hand-in-hand with my 81-year-old grandmother, who is a widow due to this terrible illness. She walks at a much slower pace than everyone else, due to her age, her bad knee, and I believe also because it was such a somber event.

 

With time, we finished the loop through Boardman Park, and we were very happy to have raised over $200 for the cause, and to stop and remember what a great man my grandfather was. We will always miss him, and we hope that one day, no one else will have to suffer the same way he did.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It’s amazing how powerful a series of numbers assigned to each day is and the effect it has on the human race: 01/01/2013.

Had it not been for the Gregorian calendar dictating that January 1 marks the beginning of a new year, we would be going about our normal routine, treating it as just another dreary, snowy, groggy day in the cycle of our existence. Most people would rest their heads at a more respectable time, and in a more sober manner, waking up for work or school like the first of any month.

Instead, it empowers us to do things we hold back from, motivates us to change our current ways by breaking old habits, and inspires us to move forward. It causes us to reflect on what we had done the past 365 days and how much has truly changed – for better and worse.

But, it’s just another day.

Why do we need a calendar date to psychologically manipulate us into becoming empowered, inspired, and motivated? Why do we need this day to reflect on our past? Not long from now, old habits will resurface, and resolutions will dissolve. Thoughts of brilliant nostalgia will be in the backs of our minds, and grumblings of the bothersome and tedious chores of everyday doings will be expressed more often.

We put too much pressure on this one day; so much pressure, that soon our plans will shatter if we aren’t careful (there are of course those steadfast few). This is why we need to learn to treat each day how we treat January 1. And by this, I don’t mean by sleeping in and being hungover. What we need to do is wake up each morning motivated to accomplish something new. Reflect on yesterday, but live today to make a better tomorrow.

Our year is not set by what happens or what is said on January 1. Our January 1 is set that way. Our year is how we treat each day and how we handle what God gives to us.

So, inadvertently, I have therefore urged everyone to make a resolution, which is, in a roundabout way, to not limit making resolutions, changes, and new beginnings to just January 1. New Years Resolutions are in no way a bad thing to set, but we need to think on a micro level with our lives and not so macro.

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day." - Edith Lovejoy Pierce

 Sometimes you can’t help but be drawn to the appeal of having a “clean slate” and “starting anew.”

Happy Holidays From OHventures

Photo by Green Elephant Photography

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year to all of my readers of OHventures! Thank you so much for your continued support in my quest to show everyone just how cool Ohio can be! See you in 2013!

Dedicated To My Brother

 

 

I have never really written about my brother and wanted to take the opportunity to do so on this very difficult day. I hope the story can shed some light as to why I feel it's so important to get out and live life to its fullest.

 

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should - Desiderata

This quote was my brother Nick's favorite line of his favorite poem (Desiderata). Now that he has passed away, it takes on a whole different meaning. I can't help but think that God knew that we would need that quote to help cope with the loss of my brother. It helps us to move on with our lives in the best way we can and allows us to accept that what has happened is part of a greater plan.

It's tough to find the best words to share about my brother. He passed away 8 years ago today: October 12, 2004. Whenever this time of year rolls around, I can't help but be reminded (even more so than normal) of the terrible tragedy that me and my family went through. The smell of autumn leaves in the October air, especially when it rains, reminds me of the morning I heard the horrific news that my brother had died.

I was away at Ohio State, living in the dorms with my roommate Austin. It was way too early in the morning to be getting a phone call, yet both my cell and dorm phones were ringing. Austin and I rolled out of bed and I saw that I had missed a call from my Dad. I called him back immediately, with an intuition that something bad had happened. My grandfather had Alzheimers at the time (something I previously blogged about), so my mind went straight to thinking that he might have taken a turn for the worse. However, nothing could prepare me for what I was about to learn.

I don't quite remember the exact way in which my Dad told me, but he let me know that my brother Nick, freshly out of college at the age of 22, had passed away in a car accident. I dropped to my knees, bawling my eyes out, letting Austin know through the tears what had occurred. My dad said my uncle would be coming down to Columbus to get me, as I did not have a car on campus and was 3 hours away from my grieving family. Plans soon changed, however, thanks to my great high school friend, Kelly, who lived down the hall in the same dorm. She immediately offered to drive me to my hometown of Hubbard, no questions asked.

The car ride was surreal. It was gut wrenching to not be hugging and holding my family members. But, thankfully, I could find solace in Kelly, as she was practically the one and only person in my dorm and on campus that personally knew my brother. While I knew that everyone in Columbus was overwhelmingly supportive, the condolences weren't the same coming from people who had never met my brother. It was quite the opposite in my hometown. Everyone knew Nick - and I mean everyone! He was an amazing person who touched so many people's lives - so much so, that I had learned that his funeral broke records in our hometown in terms of how many people attended. He affected so many people in such positive ways, that it was actually a joy to see the overpouring of compassion and sympathy from the community.

Being reunited with my family at this time was one of the most catastrophically beautiful times in my life. Over the next few days, which were a giant blur, I found myself surrounded by love and sadness coming from the hundreds of people who were a part of my brother's life and my family's life. I remember putting together a photo board of pictures of my brother throughout his life to have displayed at the funeral. Going through those shoeboxes of pictures really helped me in my grieving process, providing smiles and laughs as my cousin Sara and I reflected on all of the good times in Nick's time on earth.

I was told that I was one of the strongest of my family members at this time. Losing my closest of kin was by no means easy, but I was able to be a rock for my other brother and my parents as we suffered through these days (and years) ahead. Perhaps it was because Nick and I shared such a special and close bond that I was able to handle the blow a bit better -- because, Nick and I understood each other and I knew that he wouldn't want anyone to be miserable due to his absence. It was my job to help people in this dark time. Nick wanted us to keep living our lives to the fullest. And he would want us to understand that this was his time - things were unfolding as they should, as the poem indicated.

I always have valued life and lived each day fully. However, Nick's death at such a young age (22) made me embrace life even more than ever before.

It made it clearer to me that there is no way of knowing when your time on this planet will be up, and being young doesn't mean you have decades more to live. It sounds morbid and depressing in a way, but I feel it to be encouraging and profound.

You can't hold off on living out your dreams, working to better yourself, exploring the world around you, and showing others how much you love them. You must always do good for others, create a legacy, and never stop growing and learning.

It is why I have taken the liberty to create a blog to share my passion of adventuring and scratching items off of my ever-growing bucket list. I want others to do the same, I want others to never cease to challenge themselves. I don't want anyone to miss out on the beauty of life.

I feel that whenever you are taken from this earth, whether you are 90 like my great grandfather, or 22 like my brother, you have lived a full life. Your purpose has been served, and your physical life on earth is no longer needed. Heaven will take over from there, granting you an eternal spiritual life.

My brother's soul lives on. I will always love him as the best friend I have ever and will ever have. Even 8 whole years after he has passed away, his message to me and to the world lives on as well:

Whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should

RIP NME 9/10/82 - 10/12/04

 

 

OHventures Photo Shoot

Recently I scheduled a mini photo shoot with my friend Erica so I can make this little blog seem a bit more professional! We took the photos at a quarry on the cliffs, by the canoes, and by the water itself. My new dog Slider joined in on some of the pics as well. I thought I would share these pics with my readers as a nonsequitor post, as a break from all of the lengthy entries. Also, I think Erica did great work. Hopefully you will see these headshots in some publications down the line! Now whenever someone requests pictures for their site or print media, I will have some high resolution pictures for once!