A great story I found when I got home

I felt the need to write one more blog before I turn the next page for the next chapter in my life.  I want to start off by saying from the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who supported me.  I could not have done it without the help from so many amazing friends.  I realize I am very fortunate to have this opportunity to see the world at such an early age.  

(Kuala Lumpur, the city I spent a majority of my month of May)

It opened my eyes and mind more than any college course or job could have done.  I also want to say thank you to anyone who took the time to read my blogs or watch my videos.  It's a passion of mine, and it really meant a lot to have friends and strangers encourage me throughout the year.

I arrived back to the United States on May 28th, 2011.  I took some time with Blake Rushing, Kyle Johnson, and Jake Van Norman to travel around the continent.  It was an incredible experience full of non-stop laughing and adventures.  

(Portland, OR)

On June 11^th I arrived to my hometown Lexington, Kentucky at 1:45am to meet my best friends and family who had waited hours for me.  My friend CD had 36 Ale-8-Ones waiting for me.  As I unpacked my backpack, every item I pulled out had a story to it.  I would pull out some brass knuckles I found in Thailand, which would then lead to another story from when I was in Malaysia.  I found myself with all these stories and experiences that cannot be wrapped up within a day's time.

 (Blake in Canada)

So I made one last video of this year.  In this video, I attempted to display some of the things that are going on in the mind of any person who gives up their security to travel or try something they are unfamiliar with.  It's difficult to recapture the excitement of an adventure's beginning when you find yourself in the middle of it.  You will have extreme highs and you will have extreme lows.  You will learn to love the people you are traveling with and you will learn to highly dislike the people you are traveling with.  You will find yourself worried about what's next and what to do when you get back home. 

One thing I have noticed though, is Kentucky is still here.  The Kentucky Derby was still ran this past year, Kentucky basketball is still good, and KFC still sucks.  But it is you who has changed.  If I can leave this blog with one word to pass on to future World Racers or anyone looking for something more in life, it would have to be, life cannot be understood on a page, on a screen, or behind a desk.  A person must witness an African sunset, play baseball in the streets of the Dominican, and stand on the edge of Victoria Falls.  Every person must venture out and allow change.  When you leave your comfort zone, and meet people different then yourself, you will naturally come back home to love it again for all new reasons.