If you didn’t already know, I am writing a book about our trip paddling the Maine Island Trail. Or, I should say I am going to finish a book when I get home. I have not been writing much at all on this trip except for lists of things to remember. Before we left, I was close to finishing a book proposal to submit to publishers but failed to realize that many publishers only accept work through agents and as of yet I don’t have one. Thankfully, I am glad to have a clear purpose to work on when we are done paddling. The book is a travel adventure story that begins with the question “What is your perfect day?” It will tell the story before this story of how I learned to love the outdoors in Maine and how I learned to become more adventurous. I was not an adventurous child and still have to work to push my own boundaries in good ways. The book will also chronicle the work that went into putting the trip into motion and actually taking it together. I will also weave in tales of others on the trail and the history of those who created this wonderful network. When I realized that I had been depressed, at first situationally and then physiologically, for a couple of years, I determined that I needed to infuse positive adventurous experiences back into my life. Getting ready for the trip and starting to write I also began to read travel adventure books so that I could really know these famous stories, the people who took the journeys, and the underlying themes of the books. Reading more and more, I realized that I was not the only one who looked to adventure to set things straight. In almost every book I read, adventure was a creative response to a frustration with society and a sense of personal depression. Adventure was a navigational point to get back on the right course, to be humbled, and to appreciate things more. It seems strange to ask for hardship, for things to be more challenging and intense, and to get truly dirty but there is an underworld of people who need this to survive and to be able to make other creative responses to deal with this thing called life. Maybe we are all searching for adventure and a feeling that our lives are important and special. I think we also want to be skilled and competent in order to respond to the things we cannot predict, hopefully displaying a bit of grace along the way. I think we have to ask ourselves responsibly how can we be our best selves and how would living your “perfect day” help that process. Ultimately, asking someone what his or her “perfect day” would be is not much different than asking them what they would do if they only had one day to live. I hope that people will respond to these ideas by posting comments on this page. Particularly, I hope that you will help me pick a title. So far I have been thinking about…
A Perfect Day A Beautiful Adventure
Steps to the Island Trail
Float My Restless Heart
Low Tide
or
Flood Tide
I am thinking about a cover picture of an island at low tide maybe linked to other islands by sand bars. The back will have a picture of the same island at high tide. I don’t want this to be just a kayaking book so I am not going to have anyone paddling on the cover. If there is to be a boat, I want it floating alone or lying on the beech.
3 responses so far ↓
Roni Schutt // August 3, 2008 at 2:22 am
To Kathryn, in particular, but all of you I guess. K., you are the artist, but as this commentary states about “the Zen of Seeing”, you don’t need to be an artist to appreciate this book. “the Zen of Seeing”. check it out. I gave it to Sarah years ago, Aubree’s sister, who is quite an artist herself, so I cannot, regrettfully, send it to you. But I read it and owned it some 25 years ago and think it a liberating point of view of the world.
So please quickly please try to find a copy and read it. Here is what one “critic” wrote, which I think is most appropriate:
” I was overjoyed to see this book back in print. I bought, devoured, and used this book in 1975 as an art student. Have you ever been so interested in doing an activity that time seemed to stand still? When you stop, it’s almost like waking up from a pleasant dream or coming home from a long trip. That’s what Franck is writing about here: the process of taking a tiny element of nature, a leaf or a stick or a seashell, and getting to know it in an unbelievably intimate way by drawing it. It absolutely does not require artistic “ability” to do this. Nonartists will be astounded what an adventure it is to take an hour or two and do this activity. It is therapeutic. It feeds the soul on a level that is akin to meditation, hence the title. My drawing teacher said, “I am not going to teach you to draw, I am going to teach you to see.” Franck does this, and weaves into the text Zen stories and koans that shed light on the reasons for doing this activity in the first place. Enlightenment can be found in the art of tea, in the art of archery, in chanting and meditating, and Franck has shown us that drawing is a very valid method to add to this list. Thank you to the person who decided to reintroduce this classic. When so many books focus on creativity as a way to succeed in business, it’s refreshing to return to developing creativity for its own sake. Buy this book, but promise to also plop down under a tree somewhere and draw! ”
I hope you will find it and enjoy it!
RS
Jasmine Fouts // August 10, 2008 at 5:02 am
Stephen,
Scott told me about this book when he was visiting Frankfort, right before you all left. I can’t wait to read it…it sound incredible. I often think of the adventures I have had, whether it was doing a ropes course, jumping off a cliff into the water below, hitchhiking, or traveling, as a way to deal with my depression, confusion, or anxiety. I’m really looking forward to having this book as a reminder that I need to consciously place these sorts of adventures into my life, because they unfailingly remind me that I am alive, and that being alive is wonderful. I need to court them. Thanks for the reminder, have a wonderful rest of your trip, and hope to run into you sometime soon.
Jasmine
carol stoneburner // August 18, 2008 at 4:06 am
Jasmine – great to see your comments – Ialso hope tosee you soon but even more importantly, I hope you and Steve connect – also COTT – YOU WILL ALL LOVE TO KNOW aUBREY AND i AM EAGER TO KNOW HER FATHER. tHINK ABOUT THE WAY aUBREY PHOYOGRAPHS THOSE FLOWERS, ROCKS, WATER, ETC aLL VERY EXCITING AND MANY OF US ARE SO VERY VERY PROUD. aND jOHN AND i ARE SLEEPING BETTER NOW THAT THEY HAVE RETURNED TO LAND – AT LEAST MORE OF THE TIME. bUT ALSO READY TO HEAR ABOUT THE NEXT EXPEDITIONS. aNS YES, i WILL RAISE MONEY FROM YOUR SUPPORTERS AGAIN AND EVEN AGAIN.