The Moment I Realized I Wasn’t Alone Anymore
There was a moment, not dramatic, not even that loud, when it finally hit me: I wasn’t doing this alone anymore.
It wasn’t when I hit a certain number on social media.
It wasn’t when the trips started selling out, or when my work got published.
It was much quieter than that.
It was on the water. Early morning in the fog. Freezing cold.
The water was flat calm…
That kind of silence that only exists when everyone’s watching nature with the same reverence you are feeling.
We had a group of return guests, people who had seen me at my best and my worst, who’d followed me to different corners of the world not just for the wildlife, but because something in them trusted something in me.
I remember turning around on the boat to say something, and I caught this moment, one guest handing another a lens cloth, a quiet laugh between two people who’d only met days before.
And it hit me… this is a tribe.
Not a fan base. Not clients. A Tribe.
People who show up raw.
People who know that discomfort is part of the reward.
People who wake up at 4am, sit for hours in silence, get sunburned and salt-soaked, all for the chance at seeing something wild.
Over the years, that tribe has grown.
Some join once.
Some return again and again.
Some send me photos of their kids wearing SDM gear.
Some email just to say “hi and how are you doing.”
I didn’t build this tribe by being perfect.
I built it by showing up and loving what I do everyday.
By chasing something I couldn’t fully explain, and sharing it with the world.
And somewhere along the way, others started chasing it too.
So if you’ve ever joined me on a trip, sent a message, shared a photo, told a friend, you’re part of it.
And if you’re still looking for your people… we’re out there, waiting for you.
In the salt. In the silence. In the stories we tell when the trip is over.
Let’s go share an adventure together!
