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Stolen Rocks

If you saw my recent story, you’ll know a terrible tragedy occurred.

My rocks were taken from me.

I’ve collected rocks, sticks, water, grass, and other assorted items throughout my travels over the last twenty years. I started with a stick from the White House lawn when I was eleven on a school trip.

When my bags went through the scanner at the Jinka airport, located in southern Ethiopia, they found my rocks and took them. You’re not allowed to travel with rocks, minerals, the like, without a permit (how the fuck does someone know that?!). There’s a concern about people improperly exploiting the mineral resources in the south.

Give up? Move on? Hope is lost?

Not here.

I spent eight hours going between the Ministry of Mines and the Ministry of Tourism this past Friday, looking for someone that would help me. Finally, I met that special person - the last of the day, at the final hour. A kind, understanding, wicked smart PhD in geology at the Ministry of Mines has agreed to help me get my rocks back.

I’ll submit an application for the rocks to be sent to him and assessed for return to myself once it’s determined they are not from Ethiopia.

There is hope, strong hope, that we will be reunited. Operation Save the Stones is a GO!

Lonely Chapter

Chris Williamson’s Modern Wisdom podcast is one of the best out there for the thoughtful individual. One concept he’s spoken about a great deal this year is the “Lonely Chapter”.

Someone that has taken action towards becoming something different than what they are - professionally, personally, or both. They have done this with the motivation to be better, to be different, to break from the norms they find themselves in.

One example might be someone that’s quit their job as a lawyer and set off to backpack in Africa for seven months as their “all in” on being a content creator… but there are many.

You’re in between worlds:

Too dissimilar to the people from your past to have any meaningful connection with them.

Too new to the people in the arenas of life your path is headed towards to be taken in.

For many, this is a time where relationships can be sparse.

Chris’s acknowledgment and discussion of the Lonely Chapter is reassuring to people going through it. There is comfort in knowing you’re not alone, that what you’re dealing with is normal.

As for me, I don’t quite this applies as one might imagine. I’ve been fortunate to have several friends that’s connection is rooted deeper in who we are as human beings - open minded, introspective, ambitious, creative. Our paths may differ, but our bond remains strong.

However, there is a gap in the relationships I have with the new cohort of people I am a fledgling amongst. I have been fortunate again to have connected with people online and developed relationships in that sphere, a couple of them materializing into real life meetings.

Could you bear it? Is what you’re after worth the sacrifices it will require?

“If you don't sacrifice for what you want, what you want becomes the sacrifice.”

Sincerely,

Jacob

P.S. While Ethiopian food is good, I am at the point now where I need to taper back. Too much injera, too much heavy.