A Little Bit About Me

You probably know me as the fire lookout. You may even know me as the guy who walked from Boston to LA a few years ago. But my name is Ben. It’s funny, I’ve been posting videos for so long, but have never really introduced myself. So whether you’ve been following me since the beginning or just found me yesterday, I’m thankful for this opportunity to introduce myself a little bit more.

I was born and raised in Texas. It’s a place that I truly love. It runs in my veins and will always be home. Yet at the same time, my heart has always been calling me onward. Calling me to explore, to visit new places, to see new things, to witness as much of this breathtaking world as I can and let it pass through me. This has been my calling for as long as I can remember, and yet I almost ignored it.

I never expected to have this life. As much as I yearned to wander, I was taught that it was my fate to settle down, to find a steady job, to follow the path laid out before me. I almost believed it. There was a distinct moment where I thought to myself, “Does growing up just mean giving up on your dreams?” The thought made me shudder and I quickly pushed it aside. My saving grace has been that I’ve always been a dreamer. I’ve always looked at the bright side and held onto hope even in the darkest moments.

And in those dark moments, as the weight of expectation was bearing down on me, as my dreams were slowly fading, two books came into my life. The first was Walking to Listen, a book by young man who had no idea what to do with his life after graduating college, so he walked from Pennsylvania to California. It resonated more deeply than anything I had ever experienced, and I knew that I had to walk as well. The second was The Alchemist, a novel about a shepherd boy whose dream is to see the Pyramids of Giza. It was the final push I needed to take the leap and follow my dreams.

And what a journey it’s been. Since I decided to walk, I’ve been to 48 states and 908 counties, all by foot or by car. I’ve swum in the Great Lakes, hiked in the Great Basin,  and walked through the Great Plains. I’ve fulfilled my dream of becoming a fire lookout and have never felt happier.

I say all of this because it was a single decision that led to the life of my dreams. And it’s the same for you. You’re one choice away from a completely different life. Does your heart yearn for something? Is your gut leading you in a certain direction? I beg you to listen to it. It will never lead you astray.

I’ll leave you with a quote from the Alchemist:

That has been my experience, and it could be yours. Trust your heart. Follow your gut. Take the leap.

So much love,

Ben