This old English proverb has been part of my life since I was sixteen years old. The first half, “Where there’s a will,” is easier for me. I either want to do it or not, assumes I have the freedom of choice. Simply wanting to do something is not enough; we must be willing to pay the price of effort and time. When I was younger, I had the yearning to learn and obtain a college degree. So, I consciously made the decision and committed myself to do whatever was required of me to make it come to fruition. Think of Cortez deciding to burn the ships at Veracruz – at that point – he made it a do or die commitment for himself and crew to conquer a nation of warriors.    

 As a scout in the army, I learned to establish waypoints that led to our destination, and it was never a straight line. We followed valleys, crossed over mountains, and avoided unnecessary risks. I used this same technic to kayak two thousand miles of the Amazon River and am using it now for a paddling journey of fifteen hundred miles around Florida.

Yes, I want to do it and have committed myself to it, so I established mile markers. The first was to research its feasibility and found that a route is already established and well documented, good. The next waypoint is gearing up. An obstacle: I did not have a kayak capable of open water and large enough to carry my equipment nor, could I afford a new boat. An old-used kayak was within my budget. Next came the equipment. I had to purchase much of it; no longer could I afford to buy the best name brands. No problem, as long as it was functional and served its purpose. All I need is the bare necessities – it pays to be a minimalist.

Taking small steps and staying focused, is my secret. Even though I do not have all the finances on hand to make the journey, I can take it one day at a time. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. My advisers strongly recommend I take a satellite tracker in case of emergency. So I did pressure washing and made enough to buy one.

By the way, did I mention I am sixty-nine years old, live on a meager social security check, and am obese?  Do or die trying!

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.” Dao De Jing