It was my Uncle Tom who first launched me to the artist, writer, filmmaker, and world-renowned canoeist, Invoice Mason.
Mason’s filmmaking struck such a chord with me that I wrote a paper about him for a movie historical past class I took whereas in school.
When the professor was handing the graded papers again at school, she stored mine until final and instructed me she needed to talk to me after class was over. Boy did I feel I used to be in bother! However because it turned out, she simply needed to reward me for such an inspirational piece of labor.
“I’ve by no means learn a paper full of a lot ardour,” she instructed me. “You clearly have a terrific curiosity on this man and his work.”
And she or he was proper. That paper on Invoice Mason was one among my greatest items of school work… and the rationale it was so good was as a result of I cared concerning the topic I used to be writing about.
As time goes on and I study extra about myself, I notice that the issues I do rather well are the issues I actually have a ardour for. However sadly, society doesn’t all the time reward ardour (at the very least not at first)… and for that cause, I’ve these days been worrying about payments and standing, reasonably than pursuing the issues that really make me glad.
When instances like this come round, the highway calls to me and I do know I must get again out on my bike.
Over time, I’ve come again to Mason time and time once more… and his work jogs my memory that life isn’t all about the home you reside in, the automotive you drive, or how a lot cash you’ve acquired within the financial institution.
The explanation I fell in love with touring by bike was as a result of it made me notice that you just don’t want all these fancy issues to make you cheerful. And it was Mason who first made me imagine that I may do what I like, reside the life I wish to reside, and be glad all on the identical time.
Invoice Mason died of most cancers in 1988, however his movies, books, and art work reside on right this moment. The extra I look again on his work, the extra I notice that I wish to someday develop into the Invoice Mason of bicycle touring and do for bicycle touring what he has carried out for the world of canoeing. He’s actually the inspiration for my work now and sooner or later.