Lions in my room & Sacrifices

Lions in my bedroom

The most striking thing about my recent trip to northern Kenya was something I couldn’t capture for you.

Every night and every morning for four days, I listened to a pride of lions that couldn’t have been more than a few hundred yards away from my tent.

While the area I slept in was surrounded by electric fencing, and covered by security lights that lions avoid, there were ways they could’ve come inside.

We never saw the lions as the bush around us was thick, and we weren’t about to go walking around looking for them.

Nonetheless, I lie in my tent thinking to myself “This is as Africa as Africa gets - sleeping in a tent in the wild, listening to lions roar the night away.”

What more do I need to say to get you to message me about planning a trip?

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Sacrifices

As I caught up with an old friend from law school the other day, I learned that she was getting married to the guy she met while we were in school… the very next day!

While I was truly happy for her, there was a little part of me that was envious.

Today I met a sweet girl at a bookstore in Nairobi that I would’ve asked on a date had I been back home, but since I was leaving tomorrow for five days, and she was leaving back to where she lived in another part of the country, there was no time.

Both of these events revived a recent thought train I’ve had - the romantic void.

I haven’t been on a date since my ex and I broke up almost a year ago - I didn’t invest time into it Miami as I was planning to leave and not move back, and while traveling it’s quite hard being on the move nonstop.

In these moments of gloominess I remind myself - I can have anything, but I can’t have everything.

Things can’t come all at once.

Whatever it is we’re after, it’s going to require a sacrifice. Nothing comes for free.

It’s a balance between how much someone is willing to give in order to gain, there is no right way.

I’m willing to make the sacrifices - both during and after this trip - to live the dream life I know I’m destined for.

Sincerely,

Jacob

P.S. Off to one of the most famous national parks in the world tomorrow - Maasai Mara National Reserve. More lions.