I remember gearing up for extra coming work one Summer. I was already working a regular job and I was asked to take on another over a weekend. I had a burst of energy develop, suddenly there was a part of me that just wanted to go into an even higher gear, proud and happy to work. Like a drug, the more I worked the more drive for doing so developed. On top of this, I was developing goals for my own future. This felt like a critical turning point for me and my life.

As fate would have it, a good friend let it be known of a trip to a special island among friends. I remember I was stuck in indecision. Do I follow the new found sense of self-determination, or do I accept the invite and spend a weekend among good friends? It was a tough decision for me. I was ready to break out of the box I was in, let everything go and move on with my own life. Prior to the invite I was setting a goal, thinking I should let nothing knock me off course. I remembered in the past, teachers of life stated it’s always friends that held you back and I struggled with this internally. In the end, I chose friends. Good friends and the memories we make were worth my time.

Once at the island I was in a different frame of mind than the others of this particular trip. I was not drinking, I wasn’t partaking in any substances. None. I was just happy to be among good friends and a great environment. The weather was beautiful, hot, sunny and we had that ocean breeze.

The property we were on sat high above the beach. We had to hike down undeveloped paths on an almost cliff like grade. Inside, I had instincts which were deeply unsettled. Everyone was drinking among other things. Trips up and down, to and from the beach were common. Even sober, I didn’t feel safe and even more so I was concerned for my friends. I sensed danger. For the life of me, I still don't how Erik managed to get that boat down to the water. Must be a Viking skill!

Still having the drive of wanting to work, my very own substance of happiness myself I started clearing a trail for the others. Soon, this motivating work of good intentions turned into an even bigger drive. I began clearing stumps, bushes and anything in the natural path down from the property to the beach. Like a highway builder, I started grading the path, filling in valleys, cutting through steep embankments and doing whatever I could determine to keep the trail a minimum width.

I was enjoying myself so much a friend named Keith even stopped for some of the fun. Picking up the axe, he took his own swings for a bit. Another good friend by the name of Brendan made a reasonable, mature, moral comment. Perhaps the property owner didn’t want the trail there? That was a valid point and one that made me feel a little ignorant but it was too late as the project was well underway and 60% complete.

If I remember correctly, I spend the rest of the weekend plugging away into near exhaustion working on that trail. In the end, it was a preset width with minimal grades, right from the top heading all the way until nearly the bottom where it ended at the rock face. I probably needed some small explosives to clear some of that rock out of the way. It’s been years, I don’t remember, I just remember the frustration of what to do with that area.

Returning home after that weekend I was exhausted. I burned up all of the extra energy I had. I had a solid week of work ahead of me. I even had an extra job on the side. The same drug that made me feel good, happy, proud and self-determined now did the opposite. I slipped into a depression. I lost my own personal direction for my life and I fell back into the box I was trying to climb out of.

To make things worse, in time Brendan’s words proved to be true. The property owner, a very dignified man, someone I look up to in many ways voiced his displeasure. Although he was very polite to point out he was very happy someone took the initiative, the trail I built was in a different spot than the one he planned. As is often is the case, good intentions can become the path to hell. I didn’t feel very good learning that.

However, sometimes fate, karma, goodwill has a means of turning things around with time. Years later and it did seem to take years, a new perspective came about. The property owner realized after using this trail that he was thankful for it. It grew on him as did the realization that a trail likely would have never of been built if one energetic young man didn’t take the initiative after feeling a deep concern for his intoxicated friends.

It was my honour and my pleasure to build that for you. It actually was well worth it.  I am glad I did it.  I thank you.