The Promised Land Is Right Where You Are
When you are following your bliss
My universe is made of stories, not atoms—stories of land, air, sea, and the power of now. To become a true multinational soul and monetize my best asset—myself—I couldn’t rely on cities like New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo, or Paris alone. I needed consecration through the vast, uncharted oceans.
“God’s one and only voice is Silence.” — Melville
The sceneries paint themselves; I’m just the middleman. You don’t create experiences like these; you undergo them.
Ship Happens
After working on ten ships—yes, TEN—I’ve stopped questioning perfection, particularly the idea of America. To some, “It’s not about the money” is a lesser-known variation of the “I have a dream” speech.
The Greeks warned us about nemesis: how a single virtue, when stubbornly maintained, can morph into a destructive vice. For me, vague and abstract love for everyone gave way to a more tangible passion—vowing fidelity to people, places, and ideas.
Fire in the Belly
Steve Jobs once said, “Money is life’s report card.” Sam Keen added, “Nice gets you a C+ in life.”
I’ve seen this pursuit of “success” become a drug of choice—a hollow achievement if unaccompanied by fulfillment. True success lies in the experiences that reshape us, even if they begin as failures.
The Power of New
The cure for my ennui was simple: “Any place but here.” I wanted to be surprised every day. Life on ships offered a rhythm of reinvention—cash wages, breathtaking destinations, and the reassurance of new beginnings every 7 to 14 days.
“The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.”
I became a time millionaire, trading the PowerPoint world of 9-to-5 for the intangible treasures of the sea.
Living Beyond the Painted Line
Cruise life is a microcosm—formal nights, shore excursions, bottled water, and six meals a day. It’s a world where everything is arranged, where the painted line dictates your movements. But real life? Real life starts when you step beyond that line.
“Home is a feeling, not a place.”
Traveling has taught me that the promised land isn’t somewhere else—it’s right where you are, as long as you’re following your bliss.
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