Scott Stoll logo world traveler. A bicycle wheel and the globe symbolizes Scott's journey around the world on a bicycle.
Underground kayaking Kentucky
Underground kayaking in Red River Gorge, Kentucky. This is an old cavern that filled with water.

The Big Scotty Five-Oh!

I recently celebrated a big milestone. A weekend in Red River Gorge, near the Adventure Capital of Kentucky, gave me time to think about what I’ve achieved in my life so far and where I want to go next. It was a bit overwhelming. It’s easy to look at the past through the lens of regrets and all the forks in the road. Fortunately, with time and wisdom, the past seems more like a movie or a dream. To make a long story short, I feel good about where I stand and hope there are a lot of adventures left. I also hope that I will continue to learn how to increase my joy of life. And, I invite you to share the journey with me.

I don’t have a lot of time now to wax philosophically. (I suppose that means I’m waning philosophically.) As for my current thoughts on life, I’ll defer to Emerson on this one. Meanwhile, my adventure in life continues, though not always on a bicycle:

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety. Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in. Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense. This new day is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on the yesterdays.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, Collected Poems and Translations
Red River Gorge waterfall.
This close up of a waterfall and the sun streaming through the trees made this seem like a magical portal.

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