Road Bandit

I’ve heard the saying that your life is made up by a handful of moments. Well I got pretty big hands so I think I can hold a ton of moments :) I think about that saying and it brings me back to April 10th 2008….the day I first headed out in my RV. This day is definitely one of those moments. As I leave Everett Washington I get the kind of excitement and nervousness I’ve only gotten one other time in my life. That other time came at 13,000 ft when I was just about to jump out of an airplane and experience skydiving for the first time. Both of these scenarios get described by many as foolish and crazy, while others would describe them as brave and inspiring.

Fast forward to June 22nd 2010 as I cruise the 101 north with the ocean to my left and grass fields to my right I watch the odometer slowly turn from 99,999 to 100,000. Of course, I should have pulled over and slowly crept to the 100,000 to ensure a perfect picture for everyone to enjoy. But just like the last 2 years of living in an RV I kept the pedal to the medal and grabbed what photo’s I could. These last 2 years have gone by in such a weird and fascinating way. See most people say “wow time flies” for me it was wow “time is insane”. Some moments lasted for ever, such as the cold ass winters in Vegas. While other moments like when I was traveling the country with Jason Moffatt went by like a lighting bolt in storm. Some may have caught a glimbse but for most it was an unseen and unheard event that hopefully won’t be the last.

It’s Mofatt Season!

I am Moffatt hunting as I type this. Thats right Jason Moffatt hunting! See Mr. Jason Mo-to-the Fatt is out traveling the country ala Bandit style and I am sitting here at an Oregon rest stop just hours away from where he was last seen. Now I don’t know how long Jason will be on the road or if and when I will be able to meet up and reunite the Bandit’s. But one thing is for sure, if I catch a Moffatt you will all here about it real soon:)

So whats next? What will the next 100,000 miles hold for this Bandit? Will Bird finally learn to talk?

All these questions and more will be answered as you follow along. I can tell you this though. I have met some amazing people, who have supported and cared about me since I first hit the road. I am not a religious guy by any means but I feel somewhat blessed. If you are one of those amazing people who have commented, emailed, called or even just smiled at me since my journey first started…Thank You from the bottom of my heart. If we ever get a chance to meet I will give you one great tall man hug and if thats not enough how bout a slap on the ass :)

So here is to you and those like you, for without you there would be no me and without me this post would not exist and instead you would be reading some crappy blog about Internet Marketing or Lady Gaga or a recipe for Black Bean Casserole.

Stay classy and keep on smiling :)

The best thing you can do when you are in a rut is to talk about it and take the first step in getting out of it. So that’s just what I did. I put it out there and let everyone know I’m trying to change and I’m looking for some guidance or suggestions on ways to get this Bandit back on the right road to happiness.

My last post titled “An Honest Call For Help” was a very embarrassing post, but after getting a ton of awesome feedback and support, I am so glad that I posted it.

At the end of my post I describe my need for a personal life coach of some type. Someone who could evaluate my lifestyle, understand where I am going and help me get there. Well guess what? I found my life coach or should I say life coaches…It’s all of you!

I don’t need a paid professional who follows some formula or guide that works with the average person. I just need to stay focused, set goals and when I need guidance or support I need not go anywhere but here…the interwebs y’all. We all struggle everyday with so many challenges and most of these challenges can easily be fixed or even avoided if we just step out of our bubbles and communicate with those around us who care to listen.

I’m now just realizing this, better late than never right? I have distanced myself from my original family and friends, taken on a whole new lifestyle and with these changes comes new possibilities…if I realize them. Its all about perspectives and mine have changed so much over the last two years its mind boggling.

I see every new person I meet on the road as not just a new friend but a new family member to me. It’s a beautiful feeling when I realize how lucky I am to have met so many awesome and caring people so far on my travels.

Now with this ever growing list of friends and family comes the responsibility to treat them with love and respect and know that its not just me on this journey anymore but all of you as well…you digg?

Some believe in religion, others in science and this Road Bandit believes in everything and everyone. Its all possible when you get your heart and mind right. So now its time to take the next step in bringing you all in on this crazy journey of life with me.

After I posted my last post I was listening to Anthony Robbins and went through a goal setting exercise to layout a plan to get myself back on track. Now Mr. Robbins explains that so many people don’t realize the power of setting goals. They also don’t realize the power of not just thinking about them in your head but taking action and writing them down on paper. Write it down and already you’ve taken the first step towards success.

Well I’m ready to take another step and share with you my personal goals for the next 12 months.

These goals are broken down into three main categories: Personal Development, Thing Goals and Economic Goals. For each category you write for five minutes on all the things you want to achieve in that area and when you would like to achieve it by and why you are committed to achieving that goal. For Example: Personal Development – I want to lose 20 pounds- within a year- and I am committed to achieving this goal to experience more energy and confidence in myself.

There is a power in sharing with the world your goals and ambitions and the Law Of Attraction is always working and the more energy you put out into the world, the more you will receive in so many ways, shapes and forms.

So Here Ya Go Road Bandit Followers- My Top 3 Goals For Each Category For The Next 12 Months

Personal Development

I Want To Exercise And Meditate Everyday - I am committed to achieving this goal to feel better, have more energy and have the passion and confidence to take on any challenge. I will look great and I will be at peace with life and the flow of the world :)

Make Road Bandit Take Off- I am committed to achieving this goal because this my life and passion. I will meet great people, experience great moments and share them with everyone. This is my life project and it is a part of me.

I Want A Relationship That Brings Out The Best In Me- I am committed to achieving this goals so I can truly experience love and have someone to share my life with. I will have someone to comfort as they will comfort me. I will give it my all and be fully committed to her.

Thing Goals

Sony EX-1 Video Camera- I am committed to having this in my life within one year to be able to share my vision in HD to the world. I will capture beautiful moments that will bring chills to me every time I watch the playback.

New Mac Laptop- I am committed to having this in my life within one year so I can edit everything I shoot and it will be quick and painless. I will start to enjoy editing more, which will bring more joy to me and all those around me.

Personal Life Coach/Assistant- I am committed to having this in my life within one year so I can accomplish my goals and stay on track and be more productive everyday.

Economic Goals

Make $5,000/ Month – Resolve Tax Problems – Setup A Debt Plan

I will make this happen within one year because it will allow me the freedom to live my life the way I want to. Go anywhere and do anything. The past Tax/Debt will be cleared up and I will start laying out the foundation for the future.

So there it is! 9 goals…WAIT! Make That 8 Goals! That’s right I just found a Life Coach and its YOU! Thanks for reading and give this goal setting exercise a go and before you know it you will be on track to get whatever you want out of life.

I haven’t posted a blog or shot a road bandit video in quite some time and the main reason behind my lack of production is well embarrassing. I’ve been told not to post the whole truth of why your struggling since in devalues yourself in the eyes of your readers….well screw that cause I’m tired of holding this all in my head. I am struggling to get a hold of my life. I am in a constant state of blah and if I don’t do something soon I am going to lose out on some awesome opportunities in life.

This post sucks to write, it’s very revealing and I have no clue how you the reader will act when your done reading this post but whatever life is short and I’m tall so hit me with your best shot.

When I first hit the road I was living at the highest level of my life…well so far. I was in great shape physically and mentally. I didn’t second guess or struggle to take action with any ideas or projects I had in mind. Now that was over two years ago and since then I have endured some of the loneliest days of my life where I have lost the drive that got me out on the road in the first place. I’ve spent days and weeks alone in my RV and even had to spend Christmas in a business parking lot.

Alright enough hosh posh…this ain’t “The View” you want the facts…here’s the facts. I am in a huge hole in my life. I haven’t been able to cope properly with my best friend John passing away, I’ve lost touch with all my friends from the past who supported and cared about me and now the new people I meet on the road lose interest in hanging out with me when they realize what kind of rut I am in. Nobody likes to hang out with the depressed and unmotivated guy.

I am out of shape. It looks like I’m 3 months prego…seriously I haven’t been this out of shape my whole life and the lack of proper diet and exercise just adds to the shitty state of mind I am consistently in.

I can’t wake up before 11am on my own and if I do wake up before 11am I usually just go back to sleep because I have no drive to get up and start my day. I haven’t had a relationship with a girl in over two years and its really made me feel like there something wrong with me. When I am out in public I have to drink myself stupid to get out of my own head and just relax and enjoy the night and that usually just ends up with me sick in the morning driving the porcelain bus.

I’ve tried many times to get myself out of this funk and at times it works for a week or a month but eventually I falter back to my shitty state of mind where everyone else goes on living life while I sit in my 24ft house on wheels hating it. I sit there lacking the motivation to change it and all along just wondering how in the world am I going to turn this all around.

I don’t want this life anymore…I am not this guy, I know I’m not perfect but I am way better than this. I’ve been in ruts before just like you have and she has and they have. Only problem is my rut has lasted way to long and it seems to be getting stronger and stronger the longer I allow it to.

So what do I do to start moving in the right direction?

I can’t believe I am about to say this but I have weighed out some options and I think the best fit for me right now is some assistance from a life coach of some type. Someone who can help assist in my plans and help me layout a plan to get me going forward again and to make sure I don’t get off track. Friends are great but they have their lives to live as well and they don’t want the job of sitting down and analyzing my daily life.

Now this isn’t for years and years, I just need some help in getting back on my feet again. I know it comes down to me taking the action to change and I’m just hoping there is someone out there who is interested it working with me on a plan. I’ve always invested in myself and bringing someone on to help me work out a plan to get through this rough patch is the best investment for me to make right now.

So the questions now is….who’s up for the challenge?

While on the road I try and pick up shooting gigs in each city I am in and last week in Vegas I had the pleasure of covering a group of friends and family on their first “walk for a cure” experience. I’ve never participated in a walk myself and didn’t know what to expect,let alone how I was going to shoot one. This video gives you the full experience of what its like participating in a walk for a cause and this cause was for breast cancer. I follow along Sean and his wife Emily and their family and friends who have all come together to represent Team Mary. Mary was Emily’s mother who lost her life due to breast cancer a year ago. [...]

Each day I try and learn something new, even if its something small, I know that I’m at least moving forward on that day. When you wake up the next day are you a more advanced you? Did you try something the day before that you learned something from? Before you can truly help someone else in life you need to take care of yourself first. Self improvement doesn’t just help yourself it helps those who are around you as well. From these new experiences you have more confidence which makes others want to be around you.  Remember the core of your spirit comes from new experiences and each day everyone should have at least one.

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This is the first episode of a new series called “Tips From The Road” where I will share with you some crazy new tips I’ve learned while traveling around the world. This first episode is about the awesome new internet browser Google Chrome and the exsteniosn Facebook Photo Zoom. I was introduced to this by a kickass Internet Guru named Dax Aurand who has been showing me some awesome new internet techniques that will be taking the Road Bandit Project to the next level. Thanks again Dax:)

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I have spent my first 4 years of life in San Diego, 20 years in Washington State and now 2 years on the road as a Road Bandit. Friends and family back home ask me all the time “When are you coming back home?” or “Are you still on your Road Trip?” I just smile and tell them “I’ve already lived in Washington before and I’m not on a Road Trip I’m  just living my life.” Now I loved living in Washington, it was a great place to grow up and I have awesome memories that I will never forget. But I want more, I want to see more, experience more and meet more than Washington can offer me right now. [...]