From the recording Onward
After a 4300 mile bicycle ride across the United States, I was filled with more inspiration than I could imagine. "From Within" is the only piece that I wrote to commemorate that journey. I met some of the most amazing people along the way. It was a time in my life that taught me that our lives should not be judged by the amount of money we have, the cars we drive, or the worldly success that we achieve; but by the things that we do to push ourselves beyond what our logic and emotion tell us.
One particular thing that was a constant reminder for me was that every day will bring us peaks and valley's. While riding through the Ozarks of Missouri, I was taught a term by a truck driver that I had met. I was so exhausted from the constant climbing and descents. I had told him how crazy the last few days of rollercoaster roads had been.
His exact words were, "those are called PUD's son". "PUD's?" I asked. "Yes", he said. "Pointless Up's and Down's". Boy, if that weren't the truth! I think life is full of "PUDS". Often times they are necessary, and often times we bring them upon ourselves. But, it's how we get through those peaks and valley's that define who we are. I wish I could say that I took all those lessons and lived by them to the tee. You always think that such an ambitious adventure will change you for the better and that you'll never forget. Time has a way of blending in the old with the new. And if you don't constantly do your best to remember where you came from, then you're often dooming yourself to forget what you've learned and go right back to where you started.
But quite simply, that's life. We forget, and it is that forgetfulness that is our constant reminder that we need to get back on track.
"From Within" was featured in the comedy film, "College Debts", with the late Academy Award Winner, Celeste Holmes and Janet Caroll