Exploration of Self

Exploration and Adventure

Exploration is essentially a search around some terrain (earth, air, water, mind, etc) attempting to initially understand some wonder which captivates you.

While on the river, Luke and I will be presented with an amazing setting to live in. Yes, we will be using technology to update everyone about our journey; the majority of our days will be void of the complex everyday life we call modern society.

Without the distractions and modern constructs of a job, mindless entertainment (TV, Video Games), and measured time; we will be able to focus our energy in developing deeper connections with nature, our friendship, and ourselves.

Time is neither an event or a thing thus is not itself measurable nor can it be traveled. Kant says, “Space and time are the framework within which the mind is constrained to construct its experience of reality.”

Not worrying about acquiring more and better materialistic things will enable us to use our energy for constructing, developing, and empowering ourselves from within.

Without mindless entertainment our views and opinions will be less influenced by mass media; relationships will not depend on watching the game together, but personal interaction and conversation.

Measuring time in chunks, while valuable for sequencing events, is a very limiting idea. Ancient man was in touch with nature, and knew what time it was based on the sun and season, not his Rolex.

He was required to pay close attention to the sun and use its energy and the light it provided to better his life. He realized that without the sun, life on this planet would not be possible.

“Every man ought to be inquisitive through every hour of his great adventure down to the day when he shall no longer cast a shadow in the sun. For if he dies without a question in his heart, what excuse is there for his continuance?” -Frank Moore Colby

Personal Statement

I just applied to IUPUI's School of Public and Environmental Affairs to work toward a certificate in Public Management. whew. That's a mouthful.  Anyway, I was asked to write a personal statement for the application.  I'd like to share it with you...

I am Luke Taylor

I love positive change.  Not just for myself, but for those who choose to follow me. I don’t believe a person needs an office to lead others; just a vision, and the sincerity and drive to make that vision a reality.  In order to lead, I need the courage to see the world as it actually is, and embrace it. Anger, fear, resentment, feelings of inadequacy, these are real emotions that change the way we see the world.  Only when we acknowledge these feelings as we see them, and take them out of there common costume of Injustice will we be free to charge toward a better future.  Positive change starts in the hearts and minds of those who are not afraid of the future, but excited by it.

“What can I do to make my future better?”

 Leads to, “how can I lead my family into a better future?”

 Leads to, “how do I lead my community into a better future?”

 Leads to, “how can we make the world a better place, together?”

My cause is community.  In a world where weak community ties and a general apathetic stance toward the other is pervasive, we see the marginalized floundering.  In fact, we see the non-marginalized floundering.  Some have their calendars booked up three months in advance, but struggle to make any significant connection, to get plugged into a vision of a better future.  I believe that we need community to bring our families dinner when we get sick.  We need community to help change our flat tire on the side of the road.  We need community to encourage us, support us, and identify with us in times of trial.  Community cannot subside on “thumbs ups” and wall posts alone!

Community starts with you! You can lead us to a better future!   They say, “to make a friend, be a friend.” But today it is so difficult! I say, today is all you have.  Look your fear directly in the face until it backs down. And it will!  Come to the table of community with what you honestly have to offer and nothing more.  Your community accepts you.  And what a relief that is.

By applying for entrance into the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Public Management Certificate Program, I hope to gain tools to become a more effective leader in my community.  I believe that I am qualified for this program because of my financial planning background, earned from Purdue University; However, I would be great for this program because of my personality and character, something difficult to communicate on paper, but easy to communicate through actions.

A most recent action that I took to lead our community to a better future has been my service with Circle City Relief.  Circle City Relief is community in action!  Weekly, they meet Indianapolis’ homeless right where they are, and feed them, and clothe them.  This operation is only two years old but is charged with a vision for a better future, by a family that is committed to community.  I want the tools to help people like Matt and Sandy Gay (along with their kids) gain the platform to make positive changes in our communities.

Canine for Hire

 It's hard to say much about the newest member of the Canoe to the Future crew.  She is a dog. That much we know.  Beyond that is just guess work. 

For starters, the first year of her life is a complete mystery.  Picked up by the Indianapolis Humane Society in February of 2010, she had been hanging around a pawn shop parking lot for a few weeks.  When the authorities finally caught up with her, she had evaded the best that current dog-catching technology had to offer. The intriguing thing is, though, that on the day she was finally "caught," she came right up to the official and jumped in the car, shotgun.  This dog follows her own scent.

Today, this black-furred un-collared canine stays at the home of Luke Taylor and his wife, but its been clear from the start that she could easily ditch these humans and find her own way. She hasn't said a word about her life on the streets, and no one expects her to, but the look in her eye says it all. Its unmistakable.  She was born for adventure.

Those who know her well, know her as 'Calamity Jane.' To everyone else, she is just 'Jane.'

Simplicity and Survival

Rinsing Old, Accepting New

A major and recurring theme in life today is 'stuff'. It could be a sweater that you haven't worn in a few years, taking up space in your closet. Perhaps it’s that drawer from ‘I SPY’ that you never could find the 3 green buttons in. Clutter, junk, or whatever you may call it; everyone has it and few are ready to get rid of it.

But we need to rinse our lives of the old; change is imminent, and it’s happening whether or not we like it. I'm not saying there isn't sentimental value in some of our ‘stuff’, but how many birthday cards do you have crowding up your desk, file cabinet, or other space? And how many more birthdays are you going to have? Are you going to keep piling up cards? The answer is up to you.

Read the birthday cards, cherish the thought and message, gather any remaining gifts you forgot to take out, and recycle them.

I have lived in three amazing cities within the past three years (West Lafayette, IN; Vail, CO; and Chicago, IL). When I was moving from West Lafayette to Vail; I drove my entire life, which at the time included a futon, some fishing equipment, a stereo, and other misc. ‘stuff’ in a Subaru Outback, (mad props to Subaru!) and my hockey bag in a ‘waterproof’ soft cover atop. I drove I-70 westbound, over the continental divide, and into an amazing ski season during Vail’s record snowfall year.

But even then I had too much ‘stuff’. I eventually moved 80 percent of my stuff into storage. I lived in a 10’ x 12’ room, and every square foot was utilized. After storing most of my things; there was no clutter, no excess clothing, nothing that did not serve a daily purpose for my life, a hotel job and skiing, but not necessarily in that order.

It was amazing! This room, compared with any previous in my life, was much easier to keep clean (which I’ve been known to have an issue with) and much more enjoyable to sleep and be in. I felt no distraction; I was at ease and comfortable.

I’m not saying throw out all of your stuff or put it in storage. But what do we really need? The possessions we own end up owning us. If you were to buy a car with payments, that car owns YOU, the marketplace owns YOU, until that debt is paid off. YOU must work to raise the money (or have worked for it at some time)or else it will be repossessed.

If we were to race 100 miles, and you were in a car, and I was walking, I would win. I would win, because I could start walking immediately, it may take me a few days to finish, but I would win. You would lose, before you could drive the car, you would have to pay for the car; the gas, oil, insurance, and any other cost incurred for owning the car, before you could legally drive it the 100 miles. Thus, the more expensive the car, the longer it takes for you to go the 100 miles.

Compared to today, how did you look yesterday? A month ago? Six months ago? Ten years ago? I’m not just talking physical looks here, because you definitely don’t look as youthful. Mentally, spiritually, how much more or less stuff do you have?…You paid the cost of time, how did you spend it? Have you changed for the good or bad? What path are you on?

Every day you wake up, you are presented with three hallways. At the end of the first hallway, there is an escalator that goes down. You just have to get on the escalator. Everything else is taken care of.

If you walk a little ways, the next hallway you come to has no visible end. Sure there are pretty pictures on the wall, some little nooks and crannies, but the path never strays. You do have to walk, but you’ll just walk until it’s time to sleep again. Because it’s comfortable, because there’s just enough stimulation and it’s easy.

Then there’s the third hallway. Only this time the hallway is very short, and at the end, a stairway that goes up. Do I really want to walk UP? Is there a top? Do the stairs end? Is there a cliff? Am I just being brought to slaughter? Increasing your potential energy takes work, why would I walk up these stairs to a certain death? I’d much prefer walking straight, or riding the escalator down…

YOU choose to make your life worse than the day before, the same as the day before, or better than the day before. YOU decide how to live your life, where you are going to go, and what you are going to do.

“Most of the luxuries, and many of the so-called comforts of life, are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind. With respect to luxuries and comforts, the wisest have even lived a more simple and meager life than the poor.” - Henry David Thoreau

Change is happening; it’s been happening. And the longer you wait, the quicker it’s going to happen. By letting go of the ‘physical’ memories of the past, you allow yourself more mental capacity to rationalize the present, and plan for the future.