Ahh, the richness of looking back upon memories well lived to revisit lessons learned, people encountered, memories made, and character carved. Our lives are built of our collective experiences, and relationships.  Our legacy is composed of the footprints and memories we leave behind, whatever form they may take. It is the intention of this platform to make our experiences and impact on this world as meaningful and steeped in wisdom, camaraderie, and benevolence as possible. We also want to share our passions with others to spread the wealth.  ARE focuses on the enrichment of lifestyle and travel in order to forge strong personal characters, resilient communities, and bolster society toward a harmonious, peaceful existence with other cultures and the Earth. Focusing on the discrete and the personal, a key question becomes: How to generate authentic experiences through responsible means?

 

While not a definitive guide, some of the larger Endeavors I've undertaken have intentionally involved elements of creation, experience, and sharing. Learning and personal growth occur along the way and the story is hopefully an inspiration to anyone whose path is crossed or gets involved.

 

Create

This is one of the best ways to really own an experience. Or maybe it is the experience. In the case of the BRT, I built the vessel I took down the Mississippi River. The construction became an adventure of its own, even numerous ones. I lived on the floor of a boatshop while getting the project started, negotiated the needs of a building space and moving materials without a car after I moved the operation back to Wisconsin, and had one hell of a celebration at the christening.

 

Experience

The building of Whisper was an experience of its own, but the voyage down the Mississippi River was a trip of a lifetime. What a great way to experience a cross section of America.  I kept a detailed journal and took pictures in an effort to capture the essence of the experience.  This, of course, was balanced with enjoying where I was.  The journals and pictures are fun to look back upon to remind myself of forgotten nuances, and even set straight details that may have been blurred or warped with the passage of of time.

 

Share

After returning from the Gulf of Mexico, I paused for a bit to see what my future held. A month after my return I learned about a boat building high school in Milwaukee, and a year later I was building boats with students there. I was able to pass on the story, share some aspects of craftsmanship, and get youth out on the water to have their own adventures.  Sharing can occur at any phase of an Endeavor, as through the woodworking classes and boat building sessions that accompanied the construction of my latest kayak, itself named Endeavor.

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Learning and Inspiration

Learning is a measure of the inner growth experienced through the pursuit of an Endeavor.  As an undertaking is dreamed up and planned out, the first opportunity for growth is to learn what's needed to make it happen. Taking the Big River Trifecta as an example, I had to study up on glued lapstrake boat construction, the hazards of the Mississippi River, the logistics of a shop, transportation, programming, and needs of my audience before undertaking any of the three phases. Where I didn't do my homework ahead of time, the learning curve became quite steep as I had to pick things up along the way.  The learning curve continued as I learned the dynamics of Whisper on the water, aspects of the Mississippi River, and the education I received as a teacher in Central Milwaukee.

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Inspiration fuels others to chase down their passions.  It is truly the highest achievement we can hope for.  It is how our actions become bigger than ourselves, how movements are spawned, and how the world is improved.  If there were a solitary mission of Art & Rugby Endeavors, it would be to inspire others to keep improving the world around them and drive evolution toward a better tomorrow.  

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Hopefully others are able benefit from these concepts as I have. Or better yet, invent your own model and share your genius with us! At any rate, we'd love to hear about your most meaningful and rewarding experiences.  Simply become a member and update a personal blog as your journey unfolds.  Whether a long term Endeavor or an afternoon outing, we will be at your side every step of the way.