[Music] [Applause]
a step a single step it’s such a simple
a step a single step it’s such a simple movement we take thousands of steps
movement we take thousands of steps
movement we take thousands of steps every day rarely thinking about how
every day rarely thinking about how
every day rarely thinking about how powerful and purposeful those steps can
powerful and purposeful those steps can
powerful and purposeful those steps can be in 2015 I took seven million three
be in 2015 I took seven million three
be in 2015 I took seven million three hundred fifty nine thousand five hundred
hundred fifty nine thousand five hundred
hundred fifty nine thousand five hundred and ninety nine steps during a walk
and ninety nine steps during a walk
and ninety nine steps during a walk across America over the course of 191
across America over the course of 191
across America over the course of 191 days I walked 30 250 miles from Virginia
days I walked 30 250 miles from Virginia
days I walked 30 250 miles from Virginia Beach to San Francisco it was an
Beach to San Francisco it was an
Beach to San Francisco it was an incredible experience so why did I
incredible experience so why did I
incredible experience so why did I decide to walk across America in
decide to walk across America in
decide to walk across America in December of 2014 I returned to Colorado
December of 2014 I returned to Colorado
December of 2014 I returned to Colorado in december from a self-supported
in december from a self-supported
in december from a self-supported cycling trip I had biked from eastern
cycling trip I had biked from eastern
cycling trip I had biked from eastern Kansas to southern Florida I love the
Kansas to southern Florida I love the
Kansas to southern Florida I love the simplistic nature of living off of two
simplistic nature of living off of two
simplistic nature of living off of two wheels and was still in a transitional
wheels and was still in a transitional
wheels and was still in a transitional phase in my life I was laying in bed one
phase in my life I was laying in bed one
phase in my life I was laying in bed one night and randomly this thought to walk
night and randomly this thought to walk
night and randomly this thought to walk across America popped into my head at
across America popped into my head at
across America popped into my head at first it seemed ridiculous how could
first it seemed ridiculous how could
first it seemed ridiculous how could someone actually walk from one ocean to
someone actually walk from one ocean to
someone actually walk from one ocean to the other but once I thought about the
the other but once I thought about the
the other but once I thought about the trip in terms of a month-by-month
trip in terms of a month-by-month
trip in terms of a month-by-month state-by-state day by day and then step
state-by-state day by day and then step
state-by-state day by day and then step by step it seemed a lot less
by step it seemed a lot less
by step it seemed a lot less overwhelming and entirely possible in
overwhelming and entirely possible in
overwhelming and entirely possible in addition to the physical and mental
addition to the physical and mental
addition to the physical and mental challenges of the walk it would also
challenges of the walk it would also
challenges of the walk it would also give me an opportunity to meet new
give me an opportunity to meet new
give me an opportunity to meet new people encounter new town’s new scenery
people encounter new town’s new scenery
people encounter new town’s new scenery and for every day to be a little
and for every day to be a little
and for every day to be a little adventure so on februari first of 2015 I
adventure so on februari first of 2015 I
adventure so on februari first of 2015 I fully committed to the walk I’ll never
fully committed to the walk I’ll never
fully committed to the walk I’ll never forget the concerned look on my parents
forget the concerned look on my parents
forget the concerned look on my parents faces when I told them what I was
faces when I told them what I was
faces when I told them what I was planning but I was set on it and on
planning but I was set on it and on
planning but I was set on it and on April first promising everyone in
April first promising everyone in
April first promising everyone in Colorado this wasn’t some elaborate
Colorado this wasn’t some elaborate
Colorado this wasn’t some elaborate april fools joke I packed up my backpack
april fools joke I packed up my backpack
april fools joke I packed up my backpack who I named forest I prepared to head
who I named forest I prepared to head
who I named forest I prepared to head for the east coast
my initial plan was to carry forest for
my initial plan was to carry forest for the first half of the walk and then
the first half of the walk and then
the first half of the walk and then acquire a pushcart who I named TJ I have
acquire a pushcart who I named TJ I have
acquire a pushcart who I named TJ I have this tendency to name an adamant objects
this tendency to name an adamant objects
this tendency to name an adamant objects that I travel with I wanted to get a
that I travel with I wanted to get a
that I travel with I wanted to get a pushcart so that I could carry more
pushcart so that I could carry more
pushcart so that I could carry more water and food as I encountered more
water and food as I encountered more
water and food as I encountered more desolate territory in the west so i
desolate territory in the west so i
desolate territory in the west so i arrived in virginia beach by train at
arrived in virginia beach by train at
arrived in virginia beach by train at midnight on April fourth the following
midnight on April fourth the following
midnight on April fourth the following morning I walk down to the Atlantic
morning I walk down to the Atlantic
morning I walk down to the Atlantic Ocean I touched the cool waters turned
Ocean I touched the cool waters turned
Ocean I touched the cool waters turned West and I took that first pivotal step
West and I took that first pivotal step
West and I took that first pivotal step of my journey I was overcome with
of my journey I was overcome with
of my journey I was overcome with emotion when I began my walk I was
emotion when I began my walk I was
emotion when I began my walk I was extremely excited but I was nervous I
extremely excited but I was nervous I
extremely excited but I was nervous I was admittedly afraid because I didn’t
was admittedly afraid because I didn’t
was admittedly afraid because I didn’t know what the road was actually going to
know what the road was actually going to
know what the road was actually going to hold for me but my tensions were
hold for me but my tensions were
hold for me but my tensions were steadily put at ease as I made my way
steadily put at ease as I made my way
steadily put at ease as I made my way west because I was met with so much
west because I was met with so much
west because I was met with so much kindness from strangers people would
kindness from strangers people would
kindness from strangers people would pull over on the side of the road and
pull over on the side of the road and
pull over on the side of the road and offer me food water encouragement in
offer me food water encouragement in
offer me food water encouragement in conversation strangers would buy me
conversation strangers would buy me
conversation strangers would buy me dinner at restaurants and gatorades at
dinner at restaurants and gatorades at
dinner at restaurants and gatorades at gas stations when I was in West Virginia
gas stations when I was in West Virginia
gas stations when I was in West Virginia I was approaching horse pen mountain it
I was approaching horse pen mountain it
I was approaching horse pen mountain it was about a fifteen hundred foot climb
was about a fifteen hundred foot climb
was about a fifteen hundred foot climb an elderly woman pulled off the side of
an elderly woman pulled off the side of
an elderly woman pulled off the side of the road and offered me a ride to the
the road and offered me a ride to the
the road and offered me a ride to the top claiming that it was too dangerous
top claiming that it was too dangerous
top claiming that it was too dangerous for a pedestrian I politely declined the
for a pedestrian I politely declined the
for a pedestrian I politely declined the ride explaining my need to connect every
ride explaining my need to connect every
ride explaining my need to connect every step along the way she drove off only to
step along the way she drove off only to
step along the way she drove off only to return half an hour later with a slice
return half an hour later with a slice
return half an hour later with a slice of chocolate cheesecake telling me that
of chocolate cheesecake telling me that
of chocolate cheesecake telling me that I would need those calories in order to
I would need those calories in order to
I would need those calories in order to get over the mountain finding camping
get over the mountain finding camping
get over the mountain finding camping spots on a daily basis was always a
spots on a daily basis was always a
spots on a daily basis was always a challenge I generally knew where my walk
challenge I generally knew where my walk
challenge I generally knew where my walk was going to end every day but i rarely
was going to end every day but i rarely
was going to end every day but i rarely knew where i was going to sleep each
knew where i was going to sleep each
knew where i was going to sleep each night an incredible 68 different
night an incredible 68 different
night an incredible 68 different families hosted me as I made my way west
families hosted me as I made my way west
families hosted me as I made my way west offering up a spot for me to put my tent
offering up a spot for me to put my tent
offering up a spot for me to put my tent up in their yard a guest bedroom they
up in their yard a guest bedroom they
up in their yard a guest bedroom they typically fed me dinner
typically fed me dinner
typically fed me dinner me a much-needed shower and let me do
me a much-needed shower and let me do
me a much-needed shower and let me do laundry I also camped at 15 city parks
laundry I also camped at 15 city parks
laundry I also camped at 15 city parks with the permission of local authorities
with the permission of local authorities
with the permission of local authorities of course I stayed off the side of the
of course I stayed off the side of the
of course I stayed off the side of the road 45 times sleeping in the trees
road 45 times sleeping in the trees
road 45 times sleeping in the trees bushes under a few bridges I even camped
bushes under a few bridges I even camped
bushes under a few bridges I even camped outside of a bar in downtown o’fallon
outside of a bar in downtown o’fallon
outside of a bar in downtown o’fallon Illinois appropriately named the
Illinois appropriately named the
Illinois appropriately named the outdoorsman even though I was met with
outdoorsman even though I was met with
outdoorsman even though I was met with so much kindness and generosity as I
so much kindness and generosity as I
so much kindness and generosity as I made my way across the country there
made my way across the country there
made my way across the country there were plenty of things that made my walk
were plenty of things that made my walk
were plenty of things that made my walk a challenge a lot of the highways that I
a challenge a lot of the highways that I
a challenge a lot of the highways that I walked had very small shoulders I had
walked had very small shoulders I had
walked had very small shoulders I had more cars than I can count pass within
more cars than I can count pass within
more cars than I can count pass within inches of me plenty of drivers honked at
inches of me plenty of drivers honked at
inches of me plenty of drivers honked at me or flipped me off wondering why there
me or flipped me off wondering why there
me or flipped me off wondering why there is this guy pushing an oversized
is this guy pushing an oversized
is this guy pushing an oversized stroller down the side of the road I
battled mother nature on a daily basis
battled mother nature on a daily basis facing strong thunderstorms in the East
facing strong thunderstorms in the East
facing strong thunderstorms in the East 115 degree heat indexes in Kansas
115 degree heat indexes in Kansas
115 degree heat indexes in Kansas mosquitoes and gnats left red welts all
mosquitoes and gnats left red welts all
mosquitoes and gnats left red welts all over my arms and my legs throughout the
over my arms and my legs throughout the
over my arms and my legs throughout the Midwest gusty winds greeted me in the
Midwest gusty winds greeted me in the
Midwest gusty winds greeted me in the deserts of nevada and when i arrived in
deserts of nevada and when i arrived in
deserts of nevada and when i arrived in my final state of california i walked
my final state of california i walked
my final state of california i walked three physically challenging passes as I
three physically challenging passes as I
three physically challenging passes as I made my way through this year Nevada
made my way through this year Nevada
made my way through this year Nevada mountains my feet eight on a daily basis
mountains my feet eight on a daily basis
mountains my feet eight on a daily basis and a lot of days I was left at my
and a lot of days I was left at my
and a lot of days I was left at my campsite or hosts house Limpy just
campsite or hosts house Limpy just
campsite or hosts house Limpy just wincing in pain looking down at the
wincing in pain looking down at the
wincing in pain looking down at the quarter-sized blisters on my toes asking
quarter-sized blisters on my toes asking
quarter-sized blisters on my toes asking myself how in the world am I going to
myself how in the world am I going to
myself how in the world am I going to walk in tomorrow at times like this the
walk in tomorrow at times like this the
walk in tomorrow at times like this the Pacific Ocean could seem impossibly far
Pacific Ocean could seem impossibly far
Pacific Ocean could seem impossibly far away when that happened I just reminded
away when that happened I just reminded
away when that happened I just reminded myself keep taking steps keep putting
myself keep taking steps keep putting
myself keep taking steps keep putting one foot in front of the other and
one foot in front of the other and
one foot in front of the other and walking west knowing that if I kept
walking west knowing that if I kept
walking west knowing that if I kept doing that I would eventually arrive at
doing that I would eventually arrive at
doing that I would eventually arrive at the pacific and on october eleventh i
the pacific and on october eleventh i
the pacific and on october eleventh i crossed the Golden Gate Bridge a mile
crossed the Golden Gate Bridge a mile
crossed the Golden Gate Bridge a mile later I found myself at baker beach
later I found myself at baker beach
later I found myself at baker beach during the course of my walk I passed
during the course of my walk I passed
during the course of my walk I passed through 13 states I wore through six
through 13 states I wore through six
through 13 states I wore through six pairs of shoes I ate a hundred and fifty
pairs of shoes I ate a hundred and fifty
pairs of shoes I ate a hundred and fifty jars of peanut butter that was my main
jars of peanut butter that was my main
jars of peanut butter that was my main staple I had lost 20 pounds my hair it
staple I had lost 20 pounds my hair it
staple I had lost 20 pounds my hair it then dab it I also into the trip with
then dab it I also into the trip with
then dab it I also into the trip with three fewer toenails I definitely don’t
three fewer toenails I definitely don’t
three fewer toenails I definitely don’t have a future career as a foot model but
have a future career as a foot model but
have a future career as a foot model but I was full of life and I had gained
I was full of life and I had gained
I was full of life and I had gained enough experiences to last a lifetime
enough experiences to last a lifetime
enough experiences to last a lifetime and once I did arrive at the Pacific my
and once I did arrive at the Pacific my
and once I did arrive at the Pacific my walk concluded the exact same way that
walk concluded the exact same way that
walk concluded the exact same way that it started with a single step into the
it started with a single step into the
it started with a single step into the ocean now this idea that an incredible
ocean now this idea that an incredible
ocean now this idea that an incredible journey begins with a single step is
journey begins with a single step is
journey begins with a single step is nothing new but if my walk is proof of
nothing new but if my walk is proof of
nothing new but if my walk is proof of anything it’s that we must take that
anything it’s that we must take that
anything it’s that we must take that first step when we’re facing a task or
first step when we’re facing a task or
first step when we’re facing a task or have a goal that seems overwhelming now
have a goal that seems overwhelming now
have a goal that seems overwhelming now we all have long-term dreams and
we all have long-term dreams and
we all have long-term dreams and long-term goals whether it’s attaining a
long-term goals whether it’s attaining a
long-term goals whether it’s attaining a college degree maybe it’s a new physical
college degree maybe it’s a new physical
college degree maybe it’s a new physical challenge starting a new career a
challenge starting a new career a
challenge starting a new career a business or writing a book maybe you’re
business or writing a book maybe you’re
business or writing a book maybe you’re a little crazier like me and you’d like
a little crazier like me and you’d like
a little crazier like me and you’d like to walk across America or canoe the
to walk across America or canoe the
to walk across America or canoe the Mississippi River we can’t let the fear
Mississippi River we can’t let the fear
Mississippi River we can’t let the fear of the unknown or a task that seems too
of the unknown or a task that seems too
of the unknown or a task that seems too overwhelming or far-fetched deter us
overwhelming or far-fetched deter us
overwhelming or far-fetched deter us from chasing that dream take that first
from chasing that dream take that first
from chasing that dream take that first step and when you encounter difficult
step and when you encounter difficult
step and when you encounter difficult moments along the way and the finish
moments along the way and the finish
moments along the way and the finish line seems too far off in the distance
line seems too far off in the distance
line seems too far off in the distance like you’ll never reach it keep taking
like you’ll never reach it keep taking
like you’ll never reach it keep taking steps and then take another and another
steps and then take another and another
steps and then take another and another because eventually all those steps that
because eventually all those steps that
because eventually all those steps that you take will add up and you’ll find
you take will add up and you’ll find
you take will add up and you’ll find yourself at an amazing destination take
yourself at an amazing destination take
yourself at an amazing destination take a step today thank you
a step today thank you
a step today thank you [Applause]
”
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