I would consider myself a free man. And yet I was pleasantly surprised one day to see a senior member in my living group smiling and saying to me: “You do what you want, not caring what others think about you.” Being thus undoubtedly free within my limited circle of life and work I still … Continued
By the time I make it to String Lake around midday the beach is already a mess of tots, parents, visitors, and recent high school grads attempting to tan in the middle of Wyoming like they’re on a beach in Cabo. But it looks like I’ll be the first watercraft on the lake this morning. … Continued
Take Me Out to the Ball Game That’s it; I’ve had a career epiphany. I’m going to be a professional baseball player. It looks pretty easy; there seems to be minimal exertion, which is important to me in any prospective sporting venture. I think even I could run flat out for fifteen metres or so. … Continued
There’s nothing that makes you feel insignificant like sitting in the middle of a crowd and being less interesting than the pigeons. If you sit in Trafalgar Square for an hour or two you’ll see the whole world go by. Morris dancers and Elvis impersonators eye each other curiously, whilst two loud tour guides describe … Continued
Surf’s up! I’ve been in utter lust with all things surfing as far back as I can remember. However, it was my choice to make ours a long-distance relationship; I worshipped board-carrying athletes from afar. How I wanted to learn! However, the barriers against me were too formidable. First off, you have to do this … Continued
Somehow, I have lost a quarter of a century between trains. Back in the 1980s, the train from Lurgan to Belfast shuddered and creaked its way to the city. The seats were blighted with cigarette holes and knife slits, the floors covered in litter, the walls plastered with graffiti. Disaffected youths smoked in the no … Continued
India was always somewhere that I want to visit but being in a wheelchair I didn’t think it was going to be possible. However I met someone who regularly works in India and together we formed a plan. We had two weeks to explore as much of Rajasthan as possible with a little diversion Utter … Continued
When and where have I felt the most freedom in my life so far? I thought long and hard about the answer to this question. Was it while trying to outrace a thunderstorm in Lesotho, galloping along a ridge below building towers of storm clouds? Was it finally catching my first wave after a long … Continued
With or without common sense is everybody vying for their freedom, in fact, every living want to gain independence either in collective or lonely. Apart from seeking independence by either collectively or singly, they also want it in any form or place they are likely to find it. Feeling conscripted is when they fail to … Continued
I admit, deciding to travel to New York by myself was an act of spontaneity but nevertheless, it was one of the best decisions I had ever made. Because I booked my flights far in advance, I wondered for some time if I would actually end up going by myself or whether one of my … Continued