The Decision
Today, I have no new pictures or drawings to go along with this update. Only words. I have a few things I need to talk about with a few people. Big things. Things that will undoubtedly affect the course of my life. While it may not concern most people that come here, this is the one place where I can talk to my family, friends and everyone else all at the same time and that makes this the most appropriate area for discussion.
Ever since I first even ‘thought’ about joining the Navy, I’ve had a plan. And that is, to finish my four years, take my money and head straight to an art school for illustration. And I’ve held to that plan very well so far, but over the past year things have been brewing. Everything is changing. My views, ideas, interests, the very way I think and see the world has all shifted and I find myself questioning that plan. The kind of thing I would look to study in school would ultimately lead me to a job drawing at a desk and I don’t know if thats what I want anymore. And if that ‘is’ what I’m meant to do, then there’s a world I need to see before that happens.
In short, I’ve made a decision and I’m amending my plan. I’m not going to school right away after all. I said in my last post here that my dream was to take my camera and travel and that’s exactly what I’m going to do. This decision will come as more of a surprise to some than others, but I can assure you its nothing new. I’ve been mulling over it in my head for over a year now and if you’re wondering why you haven’t heard anything about it until now, its because its a pretty big decision and I needed to make it on my own. I didn’t want to be swayed one way or the other by the views of other people.
I’m still deciding as to where I’ll go. Maybe Europe, maybe South America… both if I can find a way. I’ll be backpacking for the most part and I want to make it last for about a year so I’ll probably be looking into ways to work a little along the way to help minimize the cost. And there ‘are’ ways. It won’t be easy, but Japan has given me more than enough experience in getting around countries where I don’t speak the language and I know this is something I can do. I’ll have my sketchpad with me the whole way since I can’t think of many things more inspiring than a trip like this and hopefully I’ll be able to work on a portfolio along the way for my eventual return to school.
Could this trip be a mistake? Sure. But, I’m not afraid to make them anymore. As time goes on it becomes more and more clear to me that I only have this one life, just this one chance to do everything I want to do and I’ve decided that I’m not going to squander one more second of it than I have to.
I’ll be logging all of my planning and progress here as it happens as well as the photos I’ll take along the way, so be sure to watch for that if you’re interested. I’m also curious as to what everyone thinks about this, or about any tips and ideas you may have, so don’t hesitate give me a shout.
Till next time,
Tyler