I just finished up my second article for The Journal of Wildlife Photography, which I was thrilled about. My second 3000 plus word article. It is stressful but in a good way. The reason it is stressful is because I want to tell a good story; I am hoping the reader takes something from it and is entertained at the same time. That is always my hope when I write, but you never know. It could be a total lemon, as I am sure I have written many lemons throughout my career.

Thinking about that got me to looking back at my role as a storyteller. I have been writing and sharing stories for years; on paper, in newsletters, in my journal, and my blog. I began writing in a journal right out of high school, and I started a blog back in 2005 on our old website. Sadly I took down that website to divert the old traffic to our new website, and in doing so, all those years of blogging disappeared. I am sure if I wanted to, I could find them floating in cyberspace, drifting endlessly among millions of other web pages. All of them lost with nowhere to go.

Thankfully, I still have those pages and writings saved on a hard drive, so they are there for me whenever I want to look back to read my thoughts from those long-lost days.

I do enjoy writing; I enjoy the art of getting lost in a story, or taking a reader on a journey. Sharing ideas and worlds and moments, I love that about writing. As a kid, all my favorite books were from writers who would take me with them to farway places; exotic lands, exotic animals, exotic people. I wanted to be there, I wanted to see that animal, to breathe in the air, to feel the wind. Those escapes are what helped to turn me into the person I am today.

I do hope that when you read my blogs and stories, you feel the same way - That I have taken you on a journey. I know not all my stories have because sometimes they are just rants that I need to get off my mind. But hopefully, more often than not, I take you on a ride, somewhere… anywhere.

Thanks for reading.

Do you have a story to tell? I am talking about an in-your-face, heart-pounding, hair-raising, exciting adventure story, or maybe it’s about a beautiful day spent at your local hike and bike trail. Hopefully, it's about your experiences with wildlife, but it could be another outdoor activity; tubing down the river, mountain biking, or a walk through the woods, just anything adventurous in nature. If you don't have a story like that, then you need to go out and live one.

Everyone should experience an outdoor adventure that will make you nervous, and excited, and happy, all at the same time. So move out of that comfort zone and attempt something fun and new, at least once a year.

The next thing you need to do is document it (if you're not already). You need to write it up! DO NOT allow a great adventure to die, left buried in your memories. Not when you can pass it along.

Why... you ask?

People out there need your stories; they need your adventures; Your highs, your lows. Your experiences may inspire someone to get up and go live out their own dreams, especially in these crazy-Covid times. People need to remember that the world is still an amazing place. Plus, nature and the local communities around them need eco-tourism. Without it, it isn't easy to protect the animals and wild places we love so much.

Maybe you're thinking to yourself, "I wish I could, but I'm not a writer." I say the second you pick up that pencil and scribble out your first lines; YOU ARE A WRITER! It does not matter if your first writing attempt is good or bad, "you are a writer." With practice, you could one day be a great one. So break out that notepad or your laptop and start writing. Just write from your heart, and you can't go wrong. And if you would like someone to read it, send it to me. I'd love to experience your story.

Remember, the world is full of people who have stories to tell. The problem is, most people don't have anything interesting to write about… you do or you will.

Thank you for reading and I will see you out in the world - somewhere… anywhere.

Storytelling... I Absolutely LOVE IT!

The World Needs Your Fingerprint!