Belize Part 38 (Aug 1 to 8)
August 1 Life in the jungle: Over two months ago I got sick. This morning I had another cough attack. Everything is pretty wet outside. There is no point in working outside today. Everything...
Belize Part 37 (July 27 to 31)
July 27 Life in the jungle: In four days it will be two months ago that I got sick with a chronic cough and the coughing returned again last night. Another sleepless night. This morning I was up...
Huntsman Spider
Wikipedia Page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntsman_spider More Belizean Creatures Boa Constrictor Red Eye Tree Frog
Unraveling Shakespeare’s Timeless Wisdom: “Some Are Born Great, Some Achieve Greatness, and Some Have Greatness Thrust Upon Them.”
Written for Arie Hoogerbrugge by Sophia Wisdom William Shakespeare, often hailed as the greatest playwright in the English language, left behind a treasure trove of wisdom that transcends time and...
Embracing Our Singular Moments: Grey Owl’s Timeless Message
Written for Arie Hoogerbrugge by Sophia Wisdom In the 1999 film "Grey Owl," there is a poignant line that transcends the confines of cinema and encapsulates a profound truth: "Everyone has a moment,...
Belize Part 36 (July 21 to 26)
July 21 Life in the jungle: Somehow my morning got away from me again! But it didn't help that I slept like crap last night either. I did wake up to a reply from the Labor Department regarding my...
Lizard eater or Dryad snake
Lizard eater - Dryadophis melanolomus I don't think these guys are rare but I have only ever found one of them (in my basement). More Belizean Creatures...
Unlocking Success: How Great Opportunities Often Disguise Themselves in Impossible Situations
Written for Arie Hoogerbrugge by Sophia Wisdom Life has a way of presenting challenges that, at first glance, seem insurmountable. However, what if we told you that behind every seemingly impossible...
The emptiness inside me
An emptiness inside me that won't go away Years and years of desires Looking over the horizon as far as these eyes can see Feeling like the old man on the outside Hiding the little boy in the inside...
Belize Part 35 (July 15 to 20)
July 15 Life in the jungle: I slept in as planned. Today I made two trips to the village. The first one to pick up my cans of paint that I had left at Verna Mae’s the other week and the second...
Belize Part 34 (July 10 to 14)
July 10 Life in the jungle: I ended up sleeping in from a late-night last night. I started my day at the ponds to plant papaya seeds. Twice I dropped the container of seeds. TWICE! I couldn't...
Mastering Your Mornings: Streamlining Decisions for a Productive Day
Written for Arie Hoogerbrugge by Sophia Wisdom In the fast-paced world we live in, every decision we make can have a significant impact on our productivity. The choices we face in the morning can...
Perception Unveiled: Understanding ‘We Don’t See Things as They Are, We See Them as We Are’
Written for Arie Hoogerbrugge by Sophia Wisdom In the complex tapestry of human experience, our perception plays a pivotal role in shaping the way we interpret the world around us. The insightful...
Embark on Timeless Living: Start Living Eternity Today
Written for Arie Hoogerbrugge by Sophia Wisdom In a world that moves at a rapid pace, the quest for a meaningful and timeless existence becomes increasingly vital. "Start Living Eternity Today" is...
Belize Part 33 (July 3 to 9)
July 3 Life in the jungle: It's Sunday so it wasn't my most productive day. With a late start to my day, I retrieved some more 1/2" PVC pipe that had previously been laid and buried out towards the...
Titan Beetle
Wikipedia page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titan_beetle I only ever found of these guys. Click on image to enlarge More Belizean Creatures Pepper Tree Frog...
Belize Part 32 (June 27 to July 2)
Of note, last week I finally started building my greenhouse. June 27 Life in the jungle: I had a much better sleep last night. Orlando and Joseph showed up this morning. No concrete work today. ...
Belize Part 31 (June 21 to 26)
June 21 Life in the jungle: I slept okay last night but at 6 AM I woke up with a horrible cough. So bad I got up and took a walk around the yard and went back to my hammock and fell asleep until 11...
Unlocking Success: Discover Your Strengths and Leverage Them
Written for Arie Hoogerbrugge by Sophia Wisdom In the pursuit of personal and professional success, understanding and harnessing your strengths can be a game-changer. "What are your strengths, and...
Belize Part 30 (June 13 to 20)
June 13 Life in the jungle: It rained all morning. My allergies were at their worst and my cough was bad. It took some Jack ass bitters that I had picked last week. Last week Verna Mae showed me...
Embracing Authenticity: The Power to Eliminate Who You Are Not
Written for Arie Hoogerbrugge by Sophia Wisdom In a world that constantly bombards us with expectations and societal norms, it's easy to lose sight of our true selves. The journey to self-discovery...
My confession
I fall to my knees I look away in shame I bury my face in my dirty hands Darkness rolls in The rain drops begin to splatter upon the earth Lightning streaks across the sky I confess, I confess, I...
Belize Part 29 (June 2 to 12)
June 2 Life in the jungle: It rained and thundered hard last night with a power outage. Because I couldn't run a fan during the power outage, I spent the first part of the night in my hammock....
Royal Palm
Wikipedia Page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roystonea_regia# Royal Palms are common in the area and on the farm. I have a local harvest the bark/outer skin of the tree to use for natural and...
Nourishing the Soul: The Transformative Power of Reading 100 Pages of Fiction a Day
Written for Arie Hoogerbrugge by Sophia Wisdom In the hustle and bustle of our fast-paced lives, carving out time for leisurely activities like reading might seem like a luxury. However, there's a...
Now That You’ve Said That Out Loud, How Does It Make You Feel?
Written for Arie Hoogerbrugge by Sophia Wisdom In the ever-evolving landscape of self-discovery and personal development, there is a simple yet profound question that has the potential to unlock...
Central American Wood Turtle
Central American Wood turtle - Rhinoclemmys areolata Wikipedia page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furrowed_wood_turtle Locally know as Black-bellied turtle. Reasonably common at certain times of...
Belize Part 28 (May 28 to June 1)
May 28 Life in the jungle: It must have rained most of the night and into the morning. The road is drenched and it was a wet bike ride to the bus in the rain. I bussed it to Belize City and then...
Belize Part 27 (May 22 to 27)
May 22 Life in the jungle: I was expecting to wake up to heavy rain. It never came. I woke up and went down to my hammock and ended up sleeping until 10 AM. My day was spent completing my...
Weevil
Wikipedia Page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weevil More Belizean Creatures Green-headed Tree Snake Passion Flower
Cry of the heart
I lie in the darkness Memories drift through the fog of this life A single tear rolls down my cheek In a moment, my eyes are wet with regret Where did it go wrong And where did it go right So many...
Red Eye Tree Frog
Red Eye Tree Frog - Agalychnis callidryas Wikipedia page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agalychnis_callidryas This the first and only (juvenile) Red Eye tree frog that I have ever found on my farm...
Shifting Tides The problem is not the problem; the problem is your attitude about the problem
Written for Arie Hoogerbrugge by Sophia Wisdom In the grand tapestry of life, challenges are inevitable; they come in various shapes and sizes, demanding our attention and resilience. Yet, the...
Belize Part 26 (May 17 to 21)
May 17 Life in the jungle: Because of how I felt last night before bed I didn't set my alarm. While I don't feel sick my allergies are really bad and it feels like I have a cold when I sneeze but I...
The Power of Decisions: What Outcomes to Hope for When You Finally Decide
Written for Arie Hoogerbrugge by Sophia Wisdom Life is a series of choices, and at every juncture, we are faced with decisions. From the seemingly trivial ones like what to have for breakfast to...
Happiness
At some point in early 2016 I thought about the word “happiness”. Happiness has never really been part of my vocabulary. It was a word that makes me feel rather uncomfortable. I don’t want to say...
Alone
Always alone Always have been alone In a crowd, I am even more alone Will always be alone Die alone Written December 10, 2022 I don't trust you I still feel empty
Belize Part 25 (May 7 to 16)
May 7 Life in the jungle: I started my morning chopping in coconut field. It was a very hot morning and even a hotter day with no breeze. I then took a walk out to the ponds. I haven't been there...
Belize Part 24 (April 30 to May 6)
April 30 Life in the jungle: Because of my late-night last night I turned off my alarm. Nery called and woke me up at 6:45 AM this morning from my driveway. Usually, he showed up closer to 9 AM on...
23 Days with no power
In 2010 Hurricane Richard a Category 1 hurricane hit on October 25th. There was tremendous yard damage due to fallen trees. I was without power for one week. Truthfully all I remember is that it...
Stop It Already: Why Cowards Hide Behind Rules and How to Rise Above
Written for Arie Hoogerbrugge by Sophia Wisdom In the complex landscape of human interactions and decision-making, some individuals resort to hiding behind rules as a shield for their insecurities...
Don’t remind me of what can never be
I don't want to feel your skin I don't want to taste your lips I don't want you inside my head Better to live with the emptiness Better for the heart to ache Better to just go away We both know I...
Mastering Discipline: Why the Price of Regret Far Exceeds the Price of Discipline
Written for Arie Hoogerbrugge by Sophia Wisdom In the pursuit of our goals and dreams, the choices we make play a pivotal role in shaping our future. When it comes to discipline versus regret, the...
Belize Part 23 (April 24 to 29)
April 24 Life in the jungle: I had a dream last night and a girl from my teenage social circle made a very brief appearance. That inspired a quick morning poem called l should have told you. From...
One Full Year in Belize and 2022 in Review
I crossed into Belize on November 23rd, 2021 and I arrived at my home on November 25th, 2021 after spending just over two years biking just over 26,000 km’s to get here. The original plan was to...
Future-Proofing Your Brand: A Decade-Long Strategy for Success
Written for Arie Hoogerbrugge by Sophia Wisdom In the ever-evolving landscape of business and technology, forward-thinking entrepreneurs understand the importance of not just planning for the...
Belize Part 22 (April 13 to 23)
April 13 Life in the jungle: I started my morning with some housework in preparation for a fire and health department inspection for my tourist license Airbnb listing. After breakfast, I weed...
An internet connection story
On June 2, 2023, I finally got my own internet connection. This was one of my biggest priorities upon arriving at my home on November 25, 2022. The experience to get internet to my house was...
Scars
There is my childhood one from when my forehead made contact with a door knob during a pillow fight There is the one on my stomach when I ran from killer bees and tripped and landed on a tree stump...
Belize Part 21 (April 5 to 12)
April 5 Life in the jungle: Victor left this morning on his way to the bottom of Argentina. It was strange watching him push his bike through my gate. [Victor was a Warm Showers bike touring guest...
Awake my heart. Awake my soul.
I think about things deeply. Far more deeply than I care to or want to. This forces me to bury most of my life so that I hopefully forget. And usually, it works. I forget, but the soul never...
Belize Part 20 (March 29 to April 4)
March 29 Life in the jungle: It rained last night and through the night and into the morning. The road is a mud bath. This rain has really screwed my immediate working plans. I swear between all...
Turning 50
On May 18th,2023 I turned 50. I guess that only happens once in a lifetime (along with every birthday). Some days I feel like I am 20, some days I feel like I am 50 and some days I feel like I am...
Belize Part 19 (March 21 to 28)
March 21 Life in the jungle: Last night, half asleep coming down from my bedroom loft to use the washroom I decided to step off the ladder a few steps too early. Within a second, I fell and was on...
Tubroos Tree
Tubroos or Guanacaste tree - Enterolobium cyclocarpum Wikipedia page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enterolobium_cyclocarpum The Tubroos tree is one of my favorite trees. I have two very large ones...
Catasetum integerrimum – orchid
Wikipedia Page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catasetum_integerrimum Not exactly the prettiest orchid but it has unusual flowers. One of the more common orchids around the farm. Click on image to...
Yellow Tree Frog
Yellow Tree Frog - Hyla microcephala Wikipedia Page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dendropsophus_microcephalus A common tree frog found around the house and sometimes inside the house. Click on...
Tailless Whip Scorpion
Wikipedia page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amblypygi Very common under my house. Completely 100% harmless. Click on images to enlarge [gallery...
Green-headed Tree Snake
Green-headed Tree Snake or Mexican Green Tree Snake Wikipedia page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptophis_mexicanus A reasonably common snake around the farm though sometimes hard to find likely...
Mexican Burrowing Toad
Mexican Burrowing Toad - Rhinophrynus dorsalis Wikipedia Page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_burrowing_toad These toads live most of their lives underground and basically can only be seen...
The Forgotten Middle: Why You Don’t Get Remembered and How to Change That
Written for Arie Hoogerbrugge by Sophia Wisdom In the hustle and bustle of life, the middle ground often goes unnoticed. Whether in personal achievements or professional endeavors, being in the...
Cane Toad
Cane toad - Rhinella marina Wikipedia page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cane_toad A common toad around the house. Native to Belize this toad has been introduced all over the world with...
The Power of a Smile: The Importance of Remembering to Smile
Written for Arie Hoogerbrugge by Sophia Wisdom In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it's easy to forget the simple yet profound act of smiling. Beyond being a mere expression of joy, a smile...
The Power of Exceeding Expectations: Why It’s Always Better to Over-Provide Than Under-Provide
Written for Arie Hoogerbrugge by Sophia Wisdom In a world driven by expectations, the choice between over-providing and under-providing is a critical one, with far-reaching implications. This post...
Checking In – April 30, 2023
2022 was a really tough year for me. It would be my first full year living in Belize after taking two years to bike here from Canada. Arriving here in Belize I would end up facing challenges that...
White Lipped Mud Turtle
White Lipped mud turtle - Kinosternon leucostomum Wikipedia page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-lipped_mud_turtle I have ever only found 2 White Lipped mud turtles in all of my time in...
Central American Bark Scorpion
Central American Bark Scorpion - Centruroides gracilis Wikipedia Page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centruroides_gracilis These guys are fairly common underneath my house and I typically find one...
Mexican Masked Tree Frog
Mexican Masked Tree Frog - Smilisca baudinii Wikipedia page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_burrowing_tree_frog Mexican Masked tree frogs are easily the most common tree frog I find around...
Breadfruit Tree
Wikipedia Page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breadfruit I have a breadfruit tree in my front yard. The tree bark is quite beautiful. The "fruit" tastes like french fries when fried in the frying...
Pepper Tree Frog
Also known as the Pepper Tree Frog - Phrynopyas venulosa Wikipedia page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milky_tree_frog Probably the second most common tree frog found around the house. When...
Speckled Racer Snake
Speckled Racer - Drymobius margaritiferus Wikipedia page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drymobius_margaritiferus Speckled Racer snakes are actually fairly common but generally difficult to catch,...
Gulf Coast Toad
Gulf Coast Toad - Bufo valliceps Wikipedia page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_Coast_toad A very common toad around the farm Click on image to enlarge More...
What would my older self say to me today
When I first heard about this exercise, I thought that there might be some important insight I could glean from “my older self”. But when I took a moment to consider the answer. To consider where...
Gaudy Sphinx Caterpillar
Gaudy Sphinx caterpillar - Eumorpha labruscae Wikipedia page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eumorpha_labruscae Click on image to enlarge. Photo of the moth is a random of the internet. [gallery...
A new dream. A new goal
Bear with me as I fumble through this new dream and goal of mine. Most people when they look at their bed, they see a bed. I actually don’t sleep in a bed. I sleep in a hammock. But that is...
When it all made sense
When it all made sense is sort of a goofy title for this blog post because in many ways I don’t know if my life has made any sense to me. Every day of my public school and high school life I was...
Red Earth Centipede Snake
Red Earth Centipede Snake - Tantillita schistosa Wikipedia page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tantilla I never heard of this type of snake until I found this one. Click on image to enlarge...
Trapped
This morning was a rough morning. I attempted to write out what going on inside my head. I am paralyzed by indecision not so much by fear but from lack of purpose, passion and conviction. There is...
When you look upon my heart
Do you see what I see. I look at you. You look at me How does it feel to see the pieces slip between my fingers To see all those memories slowly sink into the depths below I wanted life I got pain...
Lo Moth or Peacock Caterpillar
Lo Moth - Automeris io Wikipedia Page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automeris_io All I know about this species is that is the stinging spines have a very painful venom. Thankfully I don't speak...
No Excuses
I don’t know what this post is going to look like. I am going to “follow the wild goose” which is a term I heard about a long time ago referring to a term the ancient Celts had for the Holy...
Click Beetle
Wikipedia Page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Click_beetle A fairly common beetle on the farm. Locally known as cookeye, dry weather cricket or pine wally. Other Belizean Creatures Mexican...
Life
It's the thought of interacting and meeting the hundreds of people that for one reason or another will cross my path in my remaining time on this planet that will ultimately reveal their true colors...
Opsiphanes tamarindi Caterpillar
Wikipedia page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opsiphanes I only have ever seen this caterpillar once that I know of. More Belizean Creatures Green-headed Tree Snake Pepper Tree Frog
Boa Constrictor
Wikipedia Page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boa_constrictor Local Name - Wowla On previous trips to Belize I rarely came across Boa Constrictors. I now find them quite regularly. I suggest...
I don’t care anymore
I know, an extreme statement and what don’t I care about anymore? What I don’t care about anymore is my life here in Belize. I know that sounds very extreme given everything I have worked for. ...
Belize Part 18 (March 13 to 20)
March 13 Life in the jungle: Considering how hot yesterday morning was I didn't not see this morning’s weather coming. This morning was cool and overcast. I started the morning chopping in the...
Some days I feel so old (and really lazy)
When I look in the mirror I can't tell if I am old. I don't look old. Anyone would tell you that I look very young for my age. Some days I feel like I am in my 20's. But most nights when I go to...
Better Questions and Reflections to Live By – Part 17
Better questions and reflections to live by - Part 17 Over the years in truck I got into listening to podcasts. First a few a week and then depending on the day sometimes listening to podcasts 6-7...
Belize Part 17 (March 5 to 12)
March 5 Life in the jungle: I started my morning chopped the river lot behind my house. Then I went to the hardware store for a final load of 1x4 lumber for the cabbage wood project. I discovered...
Ambition
The standard pace is for chumps I have huge challenges ahead of me which will make my life interesting for sure. But I have no expression of ambition in my life and it's crippling me. Beyond...
I should have told you
Last night I dreamt about you You were still as pretty as all those years ago I should have told you long ago Your long dark hair Your quirky personality Your pretty smile I will never forget your...
Belize Part 16 (Feb 19 to March 4)
February 19 Life in the jungle: I slept in until 7 am. I spent a few hours working at the ponds. After breakfast I weed wacked some areas around the house that were getting overdue. I came across...
Belize Part 15 (Feb 12 to 18)
February 12 Life in the jungle: On my way to chopping at the ponds I saw my first deer in Belize and then I saw an agouti. I spent a good part of my afternoon with my chainsaw. I cut down pretty...
26,000 km’s later and I am still me
26,000 km's through a Canadian winter, through Covid-19 across Canada, down the USA and across Mexico still during Covid-19 and I am still me. I figured if I bike toured through a Canadian winter a...
Belize Part 14 (Feb 4 to 11)
February 4 Life in the jungle: After doing a laundry first thing Heath and I biked 20 km's to Rancho Delores to visit the farm Nery has worked at for the last 20 years. They grow like 9 types of...
Belize Part 13 (Jan 26 to Feb 3)
January 26 Life in the jungle: With Nery coming this afternoon to look at my fencing project my priority was cleaning my last fence line on my home property that runs along the road. I got a good...
The elephant in my room
A while back, I believe sometime in 2016 I realized that I was not a very happy person and that I was a very lonely person. And for the first time I actually questioned that and asked myself if...
Belize Part 12 (Jan 21 to 25)
January 21 Life in the jungle: I started my morning continuing and hoping to finish digging my waterline trench. I did get a pleasant surprise when I dug up a Mexican Burrowing Narrow-mouthed toad....