A month in the life: A tribute

Buena Vista, Colorado //

Years ago, I heard an author say, “Sometimes I don’t know what I think until I write.”  I can’t recall who it was that said that, but I can tell you that few words have resonated more deeply with me.  Writing is how I process things.  For me, clarity often lies on the other side of the written word.

Today, instead of sharing how our day unfolded, I’d like to use this space to share the feelings that consumed my day.  Maybe as I sit here and type, I’ll be able to come out of the haze from which I’ve been consumed.

For context, I’ll start by saying that my favorite form of entertainment and inspiration comes by way of real-life stories.  If I’m reading a book, it’s usually a memoir.  Instead of traditional television, I’ll take a travel vlog on YouTube.  YouTube is my go-to for entertainment, and there are a handful of modern-day storytellers that keep me coming back for their videos week after week.  

Matthew and Stacey of the YouTube channel Toyota World Runners fall in that camp.  Their channel blew up as they documented their road trip from Canada to the tip of Argentina in the most compelling and cinematic fashion.  Something about the way they documented their travels got me more excited for my own.  Their films recounting their time in mainland Mexico lit the fire in me to make that trip for ourselves, which we did at the start of this year.  Their stoke for life, for getting out there and exploring all the world has to offer, was infectious.

Today when I opened Instagram and learned that they both died in an off-roading accident in British Columbia, my heart sank.  My eyes welled with tears.  I couldn’t believe it.  And I was caught off-guard by the deep sadness I felt for two people whom I had never met.  They weren’t our friends, they weren’t even acquaintances, but they felt like kindred spirits.  They were very much forging their own path in life, just like Mark and I.  They took risks but in the name of doing the thing that they loved.  I could relate to them and looked up to them and had no doubt we would have been friends had our paths ever crossed.

My sadness and disbelief were met by a deep desire for reason.  I think this is what the human brain does when faced with loss.  We want answers, something to help it make sense.  When someone dies of a horrible disease or torturous addiction, we find a thread of comfort in the fact that that person is no longer suffering.  But when two people die who were young, ambitious, and full of life, you can’t help but feel jarred by death and how non-discriminatory it is.  The death of such a vibrant couple reminds us that anything can happen to anyone anytime.  My mind understands that truth but my heart finds it so discombobulating.  

We can go to great lengths to protect ourselves but we can’t outrun the inevitable.  Some near-death experiences the last couple of years have driven that point home for both Mark and myself.  Life can end in an instant and we don’t get to choose when.  That fact, no matter how unsettling it may be, continues to motivate me to follow my dreams, lead my life with gratitude, and never take my loved ones for granted.  

The overlanding community lost two beautiful souls this week.  The way they lived their lives showed how positive an impact you can make on the world when you follow your dreams.  They inspired me and countless others.  May their legacy live on through their videos and continue to inspire others for many years to come.  

Long live Toyota World Runners.