About ten rural miles up and down hill after hill of narrow country roads, autumn beauty all around, bring me to Media, PA–on the outer edge of the Philadelphia metropolitan area…

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Due to on-the-road accidents, nearly 100 of us will die today across these United States. Years ago, I had a very, VERY REAL nightmare that on my way to work, I was mangled in a horrible auto accident, and left with just minutes to live. Everything that was happening, everything I was feeling, it was all SO REAL.

Knowing that I had only minutes to live, a stream of thoughts rushed through my mind:

“Why did I waste so much time doing XYZ?
Why didn’t I use the time I had to go for ABC?
Why did I let QRS bother me so much?
Why did I just keep sleepwalking through this job I’ve been working??
Why didn’t I listen to my soul’s voice for what I could and should really be doing with my life..??”

As I reached my final few breaths of life, the consciousness stream desperately repeated:
“If I JUST had another chance–I could do ABC. If I just had another chance, I could LISTEN to and FOLLOW MY SOUL’S VOICE!!!”
Through the course of these final few breaths of life, I suddenly realized how truly ENORMOUS is the potential that I in addition to YOU and EVERYONE else has in this life we’re living–and only when everything was so quickly slipping away did I finally feel more ready than ever to actually open myself up to and seize this vast potential–to actually live life in a way in which I could wake up and go to bed every day feeling truly happy and spiritually self-assured with the path I was taking with life.
As my final few breaths wound down, soul full of trauma, I reached the end. Death.

Then I woke up.

This nightmare was so real, that part of me still wonders if it actually happened–and that after dying, I was placed back into my body, back in bed over the weekend to awaken and to digest the full meaning of the experience. Who am I? Why am I here? What should I be doing with the limited time available to me?

At the time, I couldn’t just leap out from the entirety of my current existence and role I’d been living; however, I could plan radical changes in life–and ultimately, this is exactly what I’ve done: I’ve radically transformed the life I was living. Life now is much more challenging than it was ten years ago, and it’s also vastly more rewarding. The challenges may not always be fun, but I learn from every one of them.
Recently, I’ve again dreamed of a death scenario:
I was in a shopping mall, and gunmen opened fire. I was in the line of fire and was hit twice in the abdomen. I wasn’t sure if I’d be surviving or not. This time, however, there was no “Oh Shit!” expression on my face. This time, I fell to the ground and found a smile on my face and in my heart. In recent years, by and large, I’ve been walking the trail of the life I feel I should be living. And the greatest lesson of the road that I’ve learned is this: whether I shall pass from this Earth in 60 years from now or 60 days from now, the most important object in life is that each of us (you and I) continue to follow our soul’s voice through the path which is our unique role for creating the better, brighter world for ourselves in addition to the world around us.
Hopefully, we aren’t one of the 100 Americans who succumb to on-the-road accidents today, tomorrow, or any day. That said, having walked by and through countless graveyards from coast to coast, one thing is certain: you and I will both reach those final few breaths of life as well. This has happened to people we know, and it will happen to us as well. It may happen in 60 years, or it may happen later this week. It WILL happen. Therefore, the most critical life’s question you must ask yourself is:
“What state of mind do I wish to be in as I reach my final few breaths of life..?”
Meditation will clear the clouds of clutter and reveal your soul’s path to you–even if the path extends across mountains over which you cannot yet see.
Only by following your soul’s path will you truly be ready to transition on, at your time.
Only by following my soul’s path every day will I ultimately reach the greatest goal of my life–a goal which is ultimately be summed up in two simple words–only then will I “DIE SMILING.” <3

Ever spent a weekend with an Indian restaurant?
Until now, neither had I.
BIG THANK YOU to Nanda, owner of Nirvana Fine Indian Cuisine in Wilmington, Delaware, for hosting me for 48 hours and providing me with delicious Indian food from lunchtime Friday till lunchtime today, introducing me to many great locals along the way.

BIG shout of GRATITUDE to Jamie Graham, Rosemary Mento & Staff at nbretail.com.
Jamie fitted me yesterday with a brand new pair of New Balance MW1569 (Gore-Tex) “Country Walking Shoes.”
I had only the worn-down pair of sandals shown, which I’ve been wearing since Charlotte, North Carolina. These sandals were not the best way to walk into winter in New York, lol! These new waterproof, high-top shoes will easily get me to New York, and then some! Jamie and staff also ensured I was prepared with other gear for the road. They gave me a pair of super helpful running pants–an important layering piece. They also offered me tops; however, I’m good to go on athletic shirts for now.
I happily departed with valuable new essentials for the road (YAY!!!)–and better than those, a big, happy, running store hug!!!
Thanks so much Jamie, Rosemary and NBRetail staff!!!

I’ve been wearing these sandals almost exclusively since Charlotte, North Carolina. This is quite the upgrade!!

A dozen Wednesday miles from Newark bring me into Wilmington.

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Reaching Wilmington’s Trolley Square shortly before nightfall (5 PM). End of the line for today

While walking across Harford County, the Baltimore Sun caught up to me at the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company and printed this story: Man’s cross country trek stops in Harford to promote healthy living.

Not only one of the sweetest, soul-widening experiences of the entire Walk, but of my life, I’d say.
On the final Friday of every month, hundreds of smiling spirits from within and outside of Baltimore converge in the heart of Charm City for a 10-mile, 7:30 PM bike ride through both busy and abandoned streets of Baltimore, “good” and “hood.” Hundreds of citizens of all economic stripes come together into one big, awesome bike party to generate and spread the consciousness-expanding happiness across many miles of Baltimore–a new route each month, through sidewalks of wealth and of ill health. All are invited, all hearts are lighted.
Host Carlo Rago heavily insisted I stick around to participate in Baltimore’s October Bike Party, and host Eddie Bee provided me with a bike to do so. Wow, WoW, and WOW!!!!
I’m not sure exactly who organizes Baltimore Bike Party, but what’s clear is that their efforts have continued to inspire a fantastic community to flourish in happy, healing Charm City. ♥

Photo: Baltimore Bike Party

Photo: Baltimore Bike Party

Photo: Baltimore Bike Party

Host Carlo Rago tells me Bike Party is a favorite aspect of Baltimore culture: “instantly addicting.”
Eddie Bee, another Baltimore host, lent me a bicycle for the off-the-route excursion…

Bike Party with Carlo Rago!

Bike Party on Halloween week, where we also meet up with wonderful CSers Michelle and Maegan, mother and daughter, appropriately dressed