Near Prince Rupert, BC Canada– a year ago.
It was almost exactly a year ago that I left my home in Smithers, BC, Canada.
Tis a moment to reflect upon. I left behind my community, my country, my friends and everything that I knew. The process involved ending a loving relationship and selling all my material possession.
Basically, I let go of home.
It was a pretty scary endeavour. It took me months, maybe even a year if you throw in the concluding of the relationship, to do. Gabrielle and I had at least four garage sales and in the end I was just giving stuff away. With each possession that I let go of, one more string was cut. I had to conclude murals, projects and presidencies.
And when the last brush stroke on my mural and Smithers life had been made, I literally walked out the door, got on my bike and pedaled off into the unknown.
Towards Berlin. Into my dream.
And so, ladies and gentlemen… a year has passed after this CRAZY act of letting go and jumping into the unknown. Where I am now?
I would like to share my moment right now.
I am in Berlin! I have been living my dream of making art in this great city. In my pocket are keys. A surprising amount of keys for a homeless person! I have keys to two apartments in two central areas of Berlin with two great Berlin friends who have opened their home’s to me. I have the key to a studio in Kreutzburg– one of the funkiest art districts in Germany if not the world. I have the key to a the gallery cafe where I am currently showing eight great big paintings!
Today, although the cafe is closed, I am working here on their wireless lan. I have the whole place to myself as I process and photograph my work.
And Love? I really really thought for a moment as I pedaled off from Smithers that the nature of my journey would make me un-lovable. I would be an itenerant vagabond, sliding anonymously through towns and cities meeting no one.
Ladies and gentlemen I am sooooo loved right now I feel like a sun about to go super nova. New friends, long lost friends, family, and beautiful lovers all send me a solar blaze of good intentions and love. With joy I spill this back into my art, my mandala project and into radiant generosity.
Ahhh… but to be fair, I must share one other detail. I don’t have any money.
That is an important thing to note. But, importantly, I ask, who the heck needs money if you have all the most beautiful and wonderful things already? I have one Euro left in my pocket. This morning I will use it to buy dish soap for my lover here in Berlin so that I can do her dishes!
Perhaps this is most telling– once having but a dollar would have wracked me with fear. Now, I laugh and spend it joyfully on another. Nice.
I’ve been moving forward.
Cycling with my lover through the streets of Berlin.
