An Ode to HWY Truckers!

A trucker is a paradox.
He is a blue jeaned executive with his office in a cab.
He is a scientist who hauls dangerous chemicals and explosives;
a purchasing agent in a baseball cap;
a personnel director with grease under his fingernails;
with a fondness for burgers and fries, steak and potatoes'
a student of geography
and a weather watcher who reads the clouds for rain or snow.

He likes sunshine, smooth pavement,
good traction, clean loads, dinner at home,
weekends with his family, his shirt collar unbuttoned
and country music. And there is a special place
in his heart for his rig.

He's not too fond of city traffic, tourists,
or rotten drivers, fuel prices, dispatchers,
snarly receivers, rubber neckers,
kids in high-powered cars or drunk drivers.

Nobody else gets as much satisfaction out of
talking about trucks, truckers, gear shifting,
good weather, homemade pie, strong hot coffee,
kids, wives, sweethearts and the price of diesel.

He is your friend and your customer.
He is your source of food, building products,
clothing, petroleum, natural resources, in fact,
nearly everything in your life arrived in his truck."

At first I was scared of the rushing, angry trucks that passed me along the Trans Canada and when I was out there running on the shoulder I received looks of shock, frustration and facial expression that seemed to say, "what, are you mad? get off my road!" Then, I decided to just run with my head down, lost in thought and surrounded by the beauty and expanse of the prairies... not always the safest way to run on the highway. Finally, I came to a better and more peaceful solution when I discovered that I just needed a shift in perspective. And I started to realize that the truckers love the road as much as me, long for the freedom, silence and glory of a never ending road ahead. They also have deadlines and loved ones waiting for them at home. And thus, began my sweet embrace with truckers (from afar); the trucker wave! I often notice them giving other truckers a nod or a wave and I decided that now that I am a runner of the road I too can give and receive the supportive wave!

I went for a 15 km run with Wayne a few days ago, and what better day to start my waving project! We waved and smiled, threw a bunch of peace signs out to the guys behind the big rigs and watched the smiles and enthusiastic waves roll our way! Let the joyful, roaring, honking game begin. One by one we enticed trucks of all different shapes and sizes to let their horns shine! We laughed and waved and ran our little hearts out that day with an extra spring in our step and a renewed respect for our fellow warriors of the road!

Friendly Manitoba!

Manitobans are really living up to this slogan! So many people have gone out of their way to help us out, people who have helped this project continue to inspire others and encourage Canadians to speak up for mental health care. There is so much that needs to be done within this industry and towards the overall mindset surrounding psyche and how we view our selves. This project is not just about promoting physical exercise or asking people to join together to support those affected or only to shatter the debilitating stigma that gets attached to mental illness. Of course those are the main focuses, yet, there is an underlying message that is emerging, a shift of consciousness that I can sense within myself and others, pulsing and shattering old philosophies that we mistake for our reality. Modern ideas of ego and entitlement, self and society are transforming and providing new spaces for conscious development. There are a lot of worries that hang over us, but as we become aware of these fears, they diminish and we begin to find happiness and health in abundance!

And the gracious Manitobans that I am meeting on a daily basis are helping me discover the real joy of living and being. Good people are attracted to this run. In the last 24 hours I have met some amazing peeps! At the Welcome Inn, a mental health organization, we met a group of enthusiastic women who are passionate and involved in mental health education and advocacy. They all work within the industry and are also affected in various ways. They were very inspiring to me, overcoming huge obstacles and opening their minds to different perspectives in order to lead healthier lives. A mental health care worker told me about her anxiety and the havoc it has wreaked in her life. One of her huge issues has always been blushing, turning scarlet when consumed with anxious thoughts, an embarrassing exhibition of fear displayed in multiple, burning shades of red. She shied away from social situations and spent many days alone and fearful of her cheeks showing her true colours. And then the shift; she realized that red was a beautiful colour and if she told people about her anxiety and physical reaction they didn’t focus on her cheeks and neither did she!

Then one of the administrative girls, Amber, ran back into the room, where we all chatting, just beaming from ear to ear. She announced that she had just called her Mom and she had agreed to have us over as dinner guests. Amber was so excited to have us over and to cook some of her favourite recipes for us later that night. The Collister family was very welcoming and supportive. We had a great dinner and warm-hearted conversation. It feels so good to sit around a table with kind, supportive and open minded locals, getting their perspective on their communities, family life and personal struggles and passions.

Yesterday, I met a guy that used to suffer from severe panic attacks on a daily basis. His doc gave him tons of pills and sent him on his way. He felt doped up and out of control on the meds, without really feeling emotions, just swimming through life without experiencing complete sensations. Scary! He decided to take matters into his own hands and flushed his pills and started power walking for 1 to 2 hours a day in the early mornings before work. He figured out that intense physical exercise could produce similar bodily reactions that the panic attacks were causing him to experience (i.e. shortness of breath, tightening of muscles and organs, racing blood pressure, etc). And he could experience these “symptoms” in a safe environment where he felt control over them. This process, over six months, allowed him regain confidence and control over how his body and mind reacted to different triggers or in certain situations.

It felt like time stood still for a moment, as this large burly man (think stereotypical trucker) poured his heart out telling Wayne his story and recovery through exercise. He no longer experiences these attacks because of this shift in consciousness. I was so glad to meet him and hear his story! I love how this project attracts such positivism and hope!

Just picture it: two grown men discussing the science of exercise with their eyes just shining with compassion and respect for one another in the middle of a cold, blustery Tim Horton's parking lot in friendly Manitoba! A hallmark moment, so to speak. I really got to get Tim Horton's on the line here, what a heart stirring, truly Canadian, commercial. Roll Up the Rim for Mental Health!!! ;)

A note from a 12 year old...

Dear Wayne,

Hello Wayne it is Duncan from Ms. Lentz awesome class. Just wondering how
the the run is doing ? How you are doing? and how many kilometers you have
to go? Just to let you know, that you are the coolest person I have ever meet
in my whole life. Also that you are so encouraging to me that when people
ask me who my role model is when I am older I am gonna say Wayne Cho because
he is the nicest and encouraging person I have ever met.


thank you Wayne yours truly,
Duncan Macgillivray

Backtrack: Two weeks ago Wayne and I stayed in Dryden with a social worker we had met at one of our hospital speaking engagements. Cathy and her husband Carl were marvelous hosts and we all felt like old friends within minutes of stepping into their cozy home. While we were staying with them we received a phone call from Donna Chief who lives on the native reservation, the neighbour to our last couchsurfers. She called to say that she had been able to organize a healing sweat lodge ceremony for us for the following day. After convincing Wayne that I wanted to drive back 100 kms in the opposite direction of his run, we planned for the sweat, bought the necessary offerings (tobacco, towels, cloth, etc) and headed to the rez the next day.
Cathy had agreed to perform the ceremony for us in honour of Wayne’s run and it had been orchestrated just for us, set up as a healing sweat to help nourish Wayne on his journey. I felt so honoured to be there! They had really gone out of their way to help us, make this a special celebration and give us insight into their traditions and natural, therapeutic practices.
For most of the ceremony I could not speak…everyone else was singing, chanting and shouting out the sacred, “SAMA”, which was to signify that you felt, saw or heard spiritual energy. Wayne was calling out sama every few minutes, he had lots of visitors! But, for myself, I had a lump in my throat that kept me from making any sounds. At one point, I felt mesmerized by the dancing blue illuminations that created a northern lights type pattern along the ceiling, playing like the wind but always coming back to the center, a target of sorts, an opening, central, small, focused and peaceful but incredibly energetic. And then a powerful self talk conversation was generated. I told myself to stop looking so hard and to let go. To just be- and that was a very peaceful moment. I continued to fluctuate between calm and anxious feelings. And as I focused on the shadows I saw an ancient totem face form before me. It sounds kooky to even write it here… Yet, this mans face began to twist and transform into a bear! This really frightened me but I couldn’t look away and felt so fascinated by this twisting image. And then, like a wave it came over me that these two images were one and the same-man and bear, living forms of the same web. And this bear presence continued to stay with me throughout the sweat and I felt somehow protected and comforted.
We all took turns talking in the circle, asking for guidance, healing or speaking about what we felt grateful for in life. I asked for a blessing to this native community, so that they can continue practicing and teaching so that we can all learn how to live closer to the earth.

Many more angels have come our way over the last two weeks! We had half a dozen great speaking engagements in town, but my favourite were with The Challenge Club and the grade seven classes we visited. The Challenge Club is a day-program facility to help support those who face mental challenges. Wayne spoke to ten of their members, all people affected by mental illnesses and it was so enriching. Everyone shared their story and then Wayne urged them to speak about their passion in life and how they could utilize their skills to create their dreams- powerful stuff! The grade sevens were a wonderful bunch, too, because they are at a great age to understand the material and also eager to learn more. I was weary of presenting to 12 and 13 year olds at first, not sure if they’d really connect to the ideas being presented, but man was I wrong! They had some of the best questions and ideas that I have heard over the last three weeks. And they really looked up to Wayne and what he was doing with his life. Most of them stayed throughout recess to ask him questions, take pictures with him and get his autograph. We have also started giving away a pair of Wayne’s rundown shoes at some of these functions. And the girl who won the pair that day was just glowing! She said she’ll keep them in her home for as long as they last and tell everyone who visits the story and cause behind the sneakers.
Next, we reached the boundary/border of Friendly Manitoba! And indeed, it was friends we found there. First stop, Falcon Lake, a beautiful, peaceful space surrounded by lakes, forests and an incredible amount of deer. We spent three glorious days in paradise with couchsurfer Eric Young. The Young residence is a sweet spot where the Planet Earth documentary is played on a continuous rotation, where something is always being baked and enjoyed around a table of tea drinkers, where Aussies have a never- ending supply of energy and a place where people are in high spirits and feel comfortable enough to do headstands or juggle in the middle of the room! It was hard to leave this warmhearted, sociable playground, but we are on a mission here and wacky Winnipeg was just around the corner.
Winnipeg is a jumbled city of confusing streets, a magnet that keeps ‘Peggers coming back for more, trying to withstand the -50 winters while it holds a long list of “worst city for…” titles. Yet, we continued to make friends and uncover the true meaning behind the province’s slogan. Sarah and Chris were our first couchsurfers in Winnipeg and they were super sweet and accommodating. They are a cute couple, expecting a new addition in a few months, who truly embrace life through the down to earth, creative, colourful lives they have chosen to lead. We also stayed with Lukas, a 24 year old guy who has a great hunger for knowledge, a passion for good beats and a curiosity about people and the world around him. Laughter, local brews and St. Paddy’s Day merriment was enjoyed by all at Low Bar! We also met the owner of a local bakery, Tabitha, an ex-social worker, who was touched by Wayne’s run and felt that our project was so inspirational and therefore she loaded us up with sort of free goodies and hearty, energy packed breads. Good peeps in the ‘Peg!
The highlight of my time in Winnipeg actually came after Wayne grazed a bus with the RV’s extended side mirror…both vehicles and everyone involved was unharmed, minus the cracked side mirror. The bus driver came over to the RV to exchange insurance info and shortly after a parking enforcement officer walked over. Understand, this minor accident happened in downtown Winnipeg and we had to stop close to a busy intersection. As soon as the officer approached the bus driver started accusing Wayne and describing the details of the mishap to him. The officer just simply stated that he was not concerned about accident or where we had chosen to park. He just wanted to come over, meet the runner and shake Wayne’s hand to thank him for his dedication and passion for the mental health awareness project! The bus driver was speechless and Wayne was beaming, a surprising and heart warming moment indeed.

Finding the Balance in Northern Ontario!

Eco-psychology: an attempt to reconnect us with our natural sense of self and place in the world.

When we separate ourselves from nature we separate from ourselves. We are infinite: this is the great web of life and everything is connected, there is no end and no beginning. The circle of life-and all that lion king jazz! Ultimately, what we do to our surroundings we do to ourselves.

Many friends and family have been asking me what I have been up to since arriving back from my whirlwind tour of Latin America. I left my blog fans hanging when I landed in NYC, USA in June. Well, have no fear, the blog is back, baby! You can be comforted by the fact that I will be blogging weekly or bi-monthly now.

I moved to Toronto on New Years Day and for two months I gave the urban world my full attention, trying to feel where I belonged in the concrete jungle and how the natural world fit into my skyscraper backdrop. There were many days of struggle, frustration and anxiety as I felt trapped within Toronto’s man-made setting. I felt so far from the green, lively landscape of my paradise farm in California and the mountains and vast beauty of South America, seemed like a lost dream. Misplaced and troubled, in this fast-paced, zombie roaming metropolis, I decided I needed help. Operation I Love Toronto was put into effect immediately!

First things first; find green-loving, environmentally focused individuals who can show me how and where to find nature in the midst of this synthetic center. And find I did! I joined L.E.A.F, the local enhancement and advocacy group for urban forestry and The Stop Community Center, an association that focuses on growing, teaching and sharing healthy, affordable food. These groups and the fantastically motivated individuals, who fuel these organizations, brought the colour green back to my palette!

It was also fabulous to be a part of Nicci’s life again! I lived with Nicci, Jason and their two pugs, Tuni and Penny, for a month. We haven’t lived together for over 7 years so it was nice to be close to my big sister again, have some heart to hearts, hugs and share some fond memories.

And then there was couchsurfing, I always come back to CS! There is a fabulous group of couchsurfers in Toronto who write, plan and meet all over town to share their passion for travel, creativity and their fun-loving city, with each other on a daily basis. I went to seminars about the future of food, documentaries about the tar sands, concerts (bluegrass, percussion, classical and folk), I learnt about an instrument I never knew existed (the carillon), sampled ice wine and multiple kinds of maple syrup with a couchsurfer I hosted, and I wandered around the incredibly raw and colourful part of town where graffiti and art studios abound. I was also able to practice yoga and meditation at supportive, loving studios where I found a great community of yogis that celebrate mindfulness- urban style! I also spent one glorious night talking with two couchsurfers about everything from the power of our thoughts, to the wonderful world of popcorn to how to interpret and direct our dreams- until 6:30 am! The astonishing world of couchsurfing soothes my soul!

Needless to say I was a bit melancholy to leave Toronto at the end of February after finding my niche and discovering all the life and colour that lives and shines in the metropolitan world. However, I am very excited about this new journey with Cross Canada Run as I make my way over northern Ontario to Regina over the next 7 weeks.

Wayne and I are currently running outside of Dryden, Ontario and the campaign for mental health awareness will take us to Kenora by Sunday. He is currently running an average of 30 kms a day and I have been able to successfully set up some uplifting speaking engagements along out route. He has spoken to high schools students, mental health care providers, nursing students, and hospital staff. Local radio stations and newspapers have picked up the story and we have found a wonderful network within the mental health industry that has helped us make local contacts.

We are driving and living out of Wayne’s RV but have yet to sleep a cold night bundled up in our -20 degree C sleeping bags. Thank goodness! So many people have given us a place to stay in northern Ontario. Couchsurfing comes through in major city centers and rural generosity has provided us with support and a warm place to sleep in the middle of many no-wheres.

We stopped in the Soo on the way up for some family rekindling. Then, a wonderful couchsurfing couple, Vicki and Dean, hosted us in Thunder Bay and the local CS network joined us for a potluck dinner one evening.

A kind couple that owns a gas station in Upsala, Ontario (2 hours northwest of Thunder Bay) let us park our RV, for two nights, in their barn/garage where the temperature was a toasty 15 degrees. A motel owner in Ignace, Ontario gave us a $20/night deal at his motel where rooms usually go for $50. We stayed with another fantastic couple, Danica and Brian, on the Wabigoon Lake First Nation reserve for two glorious days where I was able to satisfy my love for puppies! And sweet-natured Cathy and Carl Bleich hosted us in Dryden, folks we met at a hospital speaking event. Tonight we are staying with Donna Chief on the reserve where she has set up a sweat lodge ceremony for us! And tomorrow evening the Rotary Club of Kenora is putting us up at their local Best Western. I am so grateful to these people for opening their hearts and homes to us!

Most people we meet, inside and outside these organized events end up sharing their personal or family stories about mental health illness. People really want to talk about these conditions and Wayne has been able to create a project that gets people talking. I can’t even tell you how many individuals have opened up to me within 5 minutes, share their story, shed some tears of frustration or hope and feel a sense of relief to hear that they are not alone. This job is so personally elevating!

I am really having fun running the roads, myself, as I join Wayne 4 or 5 times a week to run 8-10kms with him along his route. I have decided to hit the half marathon circuit when I get back to Toronto in the spring. I used to be a half marathon runner a few years back before I started traveling in developing countries. It’s nice to see and feel my body and mind coming back into its running self.

And this brings me back to eco-psychology and the wonders of our natural world. For true mental health we must challenge the norm and see the inter-relatedness of all people and life forms. I feed off of this land, the air, wind, sun and water carry me closer to my true self.
It becomes easier to find the balance out here, surrounded by ancient trees, with the earth under my feet, I am grounded. I will always take my energy from positive people and from the beauty in nature and I am delighted to find that natural world, the urban realm, the spiritual world and my self and one and the same!

“In the city, without context, (history) information becomes meaningless, without perspective events cannot be evaluated, without connections in time and space, we are lonely and lost.”

– from Sacred Balance by David Suzuki

"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience."

Check out our Cross Canada Run video on You Tube here. And my recent photos are uploaded on my facebook profile. I hope you are having a fan-tabulous weekend wherever you may be!

FOLLOW THE COMPASS OF JOY!!!