What to Do at the Middle of a Journey – 100 Days to Forever

Day 50: Halfway to Forever

Halfway to forever. I can hardly believe I just wrote that. In 50 more days, my biggest, most complex, best-ride-yet book comes out.

But that isn’t what matters. It’s not why you’re here today. It’s not even why I’m here.

We’re here because we’re sharing a journey.

There was a starting point. Somewhere, still out of sight but not out of mind, is the destination.

And here, now, is the middle. We’ve already gone so far—and we still have so far to go.

The midpoint, that agony and ecstasy of halfway, is what’s on my mind today.

Starting out

You know that feeling, when you’ve committed to something? You’ve had all that excitement, all that raw power and pure, unshakeable, inexhaustible possibility course through you.

Then there’s the anxiety. The doubt. The sheer damn dread, that all this was a damn stupid idea.

Despite that, whatever you committed to, whatever you began, you’re underway.

This time is different

Maybe there was a time when you didn’t commit. Or maybe you committed, but fizzled out and didn’t follow through. But whatever was then, this is now. Whatever you gave up doing, this isn’t that. Whatever false-yet-convincing safe haven sheltered you before, you left it behind.

You committed then, and every day you’ve committed again. Today you’re still going.

Following through

You’re bare to the world, naked of soul and intent. There’s nothing scarier. Yet there’s nothing more potent, more powerful, more focused and exciting, than following through.

Your every nerve might be raw before the sandstorm of the world, but you’re still going.

The midpoint is heaven and hell. Everything you dreamed, everything you feared, and yet still beyond everything you ever could have imagined.

You’re so scared.

You’re so excited.

It’s like vomiting an orgasm.

And that, my friend, is where I am right now.

In 2003, on a trip to India, I knew I would write an amazing book.

In 2011, I quit my job to tell the stories I knew I had to tell, unless I went to my death bed broken and full of regret that I never tried.

And now, in 2014 and with 2 published books under my belt, I’m 50 days away from one of the biggest moments of my life. Some days I’m elated. Some days I feel like I want to puke. Some days I know I’m finding new fans. Some days the only thing I know is I’m shouting into an abyss.

Yet, no matter how hard and amazing this journey has been, you know what really makes me smile? The past 11 years, all these travels, quitting my job, all the work that’s gone into these last 3 years?

It’s a big step, but it’s still just a first step.

Forever the Road is only the beginning. There are so many more stories to tell, more roads to travel, more yeses and worlds to live.

We’re halfway through this particular journey, but there’s only one thing to do. No matter what, at the end of the day there’s always only one thing to do.

Take the next step.

And then the next and the next, until you get where you’re going. So you can see where you want to go after that.

Onward, friends.

No matter what.

From the Book

“Ever since I’ve been on the road, all I’ve learned is that there’s so much I’ll never know. One of the few things I know is that life is how we deal with the road in front of us. There’s always a choice. Even if it doesn’t seem like a good one, there’s a choice you can make.”
— Forever the Road

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Tune in Next for…

• Tues., July 29, Day 60: A special feature about Forever the Road and the Rucksack Universe
• Wed., July 30, Day 61: 40 Days Till Forever the Road, a recap

100 Days to Forever

On Sept. 8, 2014, Forever the Road, the third Rucksack Universe book, will be released as an e-book and trade paperback worldwide.

During our 100 Days to Forever lead-up, you can follow all the adventure on the blog via the 100 Days to Forever category, on my email list, and at the #100DaysToForever hashtag on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and Pinterest.