The Power of Faith

I am remembering back to the time this photo was taken in November 2016. I had spent the past few weeks like a rolling stone, backpacking by myself through Oregon where I found a job working on a legal cannabis farm. Although I had decided I was ready to start heading home, I wasn't ready for the adventures to stop. I started in a rest stop in Southern Oregon. The first person I saw was an older man having lunch in his truck. "I am heading south," I said, "Can I have a ride?" He kindly agreed and off we went crossing the border lines into Northern California. After getting acquainted and exchanging a few stories, I had remembered that it was Election Day! I quickly realized how bold I really was!... Not only for hitchhiking across states but doing during the most controversial election day in history.

I rode with a few different lucky people for the next 2 days, only traveling while there was light out and stopping at rest stops where people are already stopping. I realize the danger in walking on the highways and I didn't expect anyone to stop for me if it was not safe to pull over. I finally reached the city of Los Angeles and by that time I had seen some shit! It had gotten more difficult and sketchy as I travelled more south, so I decided to spend 24 hours in LA then take an Amtrak train to Houston.

On route to LA, I connected with a couchsurfer through my Couchsurfing App, which connects me with people from all over the world hosting travelers for free. I ended up staying with an actor who picked me up from Union Station, made me a vegan dinner, and allowed me to stay on his couch for one night. I made use of the internet and resources (Instagram hehe) to meet up with a local photographer who gave me a tour of amazing places to photograph around the city. We photographed on bridges, rooftops, and at this place called The Last Bookstore in Los Angeles.

I remember seeing the title of this book The Magicians. I picked it up because the words stood out to me. I was traveling with a deck of tarot cards and the Magician card was a card that I repeatedly picked out throughout my trip. It is a card that signifies using your own will power and resources to manifest all the things you want, which was exactly what I was doing. I had put myself in a situation where I knew no one and had nothing, just solely relying on the universe to provide everything I needed and more. And the universe did!

It had taken me 5 days to get to Houston from Southern Oregon this way, but I learned more about myself than I would if I had stayed at home, comfortable in Houston. I am not afraid. I like to take risks. I had the chance to meet up with a friend from Houston to stop at a national park for a day. I got to meet people from all over the world to photograph and tell their stories. I got to look at people in the eyes and feel the raw expressions of trust and kindness with complete strangers. I learned that when connecting with people, especially hitchhiking, people want to get something out of it, an exchange of energy; whether if its money, services, or just some company and cool stories.

I no longer want to be a like rolling stone; with no direction or home. Instead, I like to think of myself as a pebble being thrown into a river; dropping into the water and flowing wherever the water takes me where I finally settle onto the river bed and ground myself, not allowing anything else to move me.