Cruising (Freedom), saved my life!
Today I want to talk about health (physical & mental) and cruising.
Most of us live in a complicated world of fossil fuel consumption, radiation, phones, faxes, email, traffic, alarms, pollution, bills, sub-human food quality, and stress.
We combat this with alcohol, tobacco, drugs (Legal and illegal), and entertainment (television, video games, and super-consumerism (escapism)).
We sit our children in front of the idiot box because 
we don’t have time for them and wonder why they explode when they reach their teens. I don’t know about you but I know why I exploded, it was because I didn’t like what I saw of the world around me. “Work every day till I’m 65, are you F’n kidding me, I want to hang out with my girlfriend, sail, and have fun”! What the hell is wrong with that?
I didn’t want the matrix and never could quite swallow the pill that most are able to choke down by their early 20’s when they are seduced by the dollar and broken like a young horse.
Many die early from heart disease and cancer, and we wonder why as we turn to a medical system that discriminates based on income or what level of insurance we have, hummmmmmmmm?
A friend told me before I started my journey many years ago that travelers see in color while the rest of the world sees in black & white, and I must say it’s true.
When one quiets his mind from the distractions of the modern world we see that there is a natural rhythm to our lives, and we MUST follow this rhythm as it will lead us down our life’s path, not to mention keep us healthy.
Some days we might not want to work. If your body tells you to make love, relax, or read in the morning as opposed to rushing into traffic, perhaps you should listen to it? The question is would your employer understand? I say fire your employer if he doesn’t!
We are not rewarded (paid) for listening to our rhythm, or are we? Cash isn’t as important as health, is it?
If we eliminate the stress, bad food, pollution, television and video games, the QUALITY of life increases exponentially.
We don’t need a pfizer product to increase our physical and mental well being, we need peace, love, and time. Which in my humble opinion are basic human rights.
So… you know what? Take the day off to make love, sleep in, read a book, spend time with your kids, cook something healthy, or better yet do them all on a sailboat. Why a sailboat you ask? Because if you’re unplugged (Marina, insurance, water -police), on a sailboat it’s the only place one can live in peace and afford to be human as you have no bills or social responsibilities. Carla tells me you can still find this kind of freedom in the mountains of Patagonia and I must say I’m interested to see it.
Health is the biggest reason I’m making the transition to a rowing dinghy. Originally man turned to the horse to do his walking, now the engine. I say walk yourself, ride a bike, row, or sail. Take responsibility for your own propulsion and reap the health benefits. Take time to learn how to cook and eat properly.
Get healthy, take charge, be free, find peace & Love, sail far and live slowly. It’s not that hard. You can do it sailing in the states, internationally, and, if you must do it on land, live small. Sell the car, shop at good will, ride a bike, bake bread, make wine and you will be rewarded with health, time, and peace.
The naked truth is you can’t buy health with insurance or “hard work”. Obviously if you have a “REAL” condition there are other circumstances but being fat or complacent aren’t one of them.
Need to loose weight? Quit your job, trade your car for a sailboat, and buy a spear gun. You’ll get healthy fast!
I’m cancer phobic, it’s probably by biggest fear. My mother was only 42 when she passed and my father had prostate cancer. If I was terminally diagnosed tomorrow I can easily say I’d be sad but the smile beneath my tears would prevail. I have lived a good life and will do so with my last breath.
Take responsibility!
Peace, Love, and Coconuts.
Sail Far and Live Slowly
-alex