Day Onze: New paths are shining

The clouds come over way, casting dark lines upon the golden beach and brown-tipped waves of the Amazon River. The sun had been beaming, poking itself out of the white pillows of the sky until violet rain clouds push our way. I wander around taking picture after picture from every angle of the river’s last beach before it opens up to the Atlantic Ocean. I know this was one of the last moments I could capture of a forest that has grown so close to my soul over the past two weeks. When will I get to come back here, I wonder. When will get to lay my eyes on this wide and mysterious river again?

I sit in silence while the others go about their storytelling and last-minute bonding. I only want to bond with the various palm trees and brightly colored rocks tumbling ashore by the gentle river waves. And then it begins to rain.

On the way back to the city I watch the bicyclers trudge through the heavy chuva (rain) but with it being such a daily occurrence, the rain doesn’t bother them. I’m glad I enjoy the warm rains here and houses built on stilts and children kicking cans with their feet and sticks. Life is so simple. Everyone puts their hands to work here — no one is left sitting.

The downpour turns into a drizzle. The rain comes and goes faster than the people drive here, which is a difficult feat. My return someday will hopefully not be long from now and my stay here has only encouraged the achievement of my dreams. No longer do I feel I pressure myself to accomplish too many things or that anyone else does for that matter. These dreams are my goals because I am going to reach them. They are not too far off or impossible — this is my choice.

I feel a knot forming in my throat and emptiness in my stomach. I do not want to leave but I know this journey has only been a confirmation of my abilities to expand my mind, maybe even to overachieve (as some say I do too often). This world, I decide, needs overachievers. The bricks do not get laid by themselves — there must be someone willing to do the stacking; someone to pursue the direction people say they want but don’t choose. They just continue on the already-trodden road because much less work is necessary. Your life’s work is the legend you leave, and whether few or many know of you or your legend, as long as you make one then, to me, life is worth living.

The drizzle ends and the sun makes its way from behind the clouds and dries the red soil and brown skin of the cyclers. The sun always prevails. I begin my legend.