The Pursuit of Being Fully Alive

Gobs of Gratitude for the Greats and Gurus of Globetrotters

These are the people who have become my global village

I had scarcely imagined that spending a few minutes writing each morning would lead me to such an inspiring community of writers, poets, photographers, and genuinely lovely human beings.

On this day of Thanksgiving I’m deeply appreciative for these last few months on MEDIUM. Not only have I found an opportunity to relive so many amazing journeys while foraging through my innermost thoughts, but I have come to meet so many lovely humans.

Globetrotters was the first publication that offered me a new home within the vast expanse that is the MEDIUM platform. Had they not taken a chance on me, I might still be sitting in the corner wondering “exactly how does one get picked up by a pub?”

A few gentle nudges from JoAnn Ryan, along with a truckload of encouragement from Adrienne Beaumont and Jillian Amatt - Artistic Voyages helped me find the right platform before I outright missed the train. (See what I did there?)

And even though he’s no longer on the Globetrotters editorial board, The Sturg has been an inspiration to me in so many ways, not the least of which has been his unrelenting encouragement while contributing to some of his own publications.

In an effort to express my gratitude, I thought I’d post of list of good reads by these and other devoted followers who have helped me along my way, even if only in their offering enthusiastic applause or thoughtful comments that make it clear that my words are simply not evaporating into the abyss.

While JoAnn Ryan and I have tussled once or twice over the ambiguity of my verbiage, I have so much admiration for her work in creating this remarkable pub. Her appreciation for the detail and nuance that so many take for granted is truly a gift.

I think Adrienne Beaumont has written a response to every story I’ve published, on Globetrotters and beyond! Problem is, she’s so prolific herself, I can hardly keep up. But I love the accounts of her travel adventures. No surprise that I particularly enjoyed this one.

Sam Millichap was one of the very first people I followed on MEDIUM, and she also inspired me— along with Adrienne Beaumont — to take up the A-Z Travel Challenge. I’m quite smitten with her most recent piece which hearkens back to my homeland.

Who amongst us isn’t brimming with envy for Jillian Amatt - Artistic Voyages for her wide-flung adventures? Her stories about Africa cut right to the core!

I’ve been inspired time and again by the versatility and worldliness of Linda Ng, but maybe it’s just her proclivity for body positivity. In any event, I think she’s a rock star, especially for all of the valuable advice she offers to other writers in her stories.

With over 140k followers, it’s hard to believe Anne Bonfert would even notice I exist, which makes it all the more impressive when she takes a moment to comment on one of my stories. I love her writing almost as much as her photography. And were it not for her, how would Romania and Transylvania have ended up on my bucket list?

And while I already mentioned him, I have truly enjoyed the banter with The Sturg on everything from naturism, to travel, to the meaning of life. Like I really needed another reason not to move to Erie, Pennsylvania.

There are several other great humans I’ve come to know for whom that— if I’m being totally honest — relationships have been a bit less… complicated.

That is, our interactions have taken place mainly in the comment section of my own stories, as well as those written by others. But I hope to get an early start on my new year’s resolutions to read more stories by Darren Weir, Melvin Heath, Scott-Ryan Abt, Sh*t Happens - Lost Girl Travel, Christopher J, and Mary Louisa Cappelli, MFA, JD, PhD in the coming weeks. These are all people who have been incredibly kind and supportive in my writing journey here on Globetrotters, along with too many others to name.

Thank you all for your kind words of encouragement and support!

And finally, I’d like to give a shout-out to two authors I was well acquainted with on other blogging platforms — dedicated mainly to social nudity — long before I made the leap to MEDIUM.

Au Naturel and I go back quite a way, and we even took a free-hiking expedition together a few years back in the California desert. He’s just getting his footing here on MEDIUM, but if you dig around a bit — including through his work on WordPress — you will find him to be a person of considerable breadth and insight. Thanks for your sustained friendship and support, Fred!

Here’s his latest work.

And finally, I’m happy to take some of the credit for pointing Robert G. Longpré toward MEDIUM in his search for a potential writing platform. He has taken the world by storm, leaving most of us new writers in his dust. All you need to do is read one or two of his stories and you’ll see why.

Like me, he’s on a mission to demystify social nudity. Unlike me, he has the professional credentials and experience to back up his words.

With that, I wish you a most beautiful day of gratitude, offering my sincere thankfulness in return. I had scarcely imagined that spending a few minutes writing each morning would lead me to such an inspiring community of writers, poets, photographers, and genuinely lovely human beings.

For all of this, I am truly thankful.

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