Each Day

Today I came across the blog of an artist named Ben Sollee.  He is a young cellist who is doing something really unique... instead of doing a super fast tour through cities that you don't ever get the taste of,  he and two of his friends are actually biking through the appalachians doing tours in several small towns while also promoting the work against poverty that Oxfam has been doing.  What's sweet about this idea is how much is happening, there's the fact that they are riding bicycles through the entire tour (over 330 miles) which is a 100% green mode of transportation.  As they are traveling through this method they end up spending time the towns they go to enjoying the people they meet, making friends a long the way and really experiencing some amazing opportunities along the way.  And then there's the promotion of Oxfam.  

Quite honestly I am captured by what the these three people are doing.  It's really simple idea, but also incredibly wonderful.  Here's this group of people who are living out loud their passions.  I am touched by it, and I am sure I'm not the only one.  Their example reminds me that each day we have the opportunity to have an effect on the world around us.  And you will, you will have an effect whether you want to or not.  The question is will you enliven that choice or choose by default.  I want to be a person who intentionally chooses... chooses to live, love, and learn.  To have a positive effect upon the world I get to live in and empowers others to do the same.  What effect will you have today?  

Check out an excerpt from Ben's Blog  "Pedaling Against Poverty"  below.  I have posted a link to his blog in the side bar under blogs I follow.  They've got some great videos that they're posting, and I haven't even begun to talk about what a fantastic musician he is!

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to give a quick introduction to this blog. Here you can find daily video logs on my bicycle-driven tour to Bonnaroo 2009. I want get away from the conventional high-speed methods of touring and really take the time to embrace each town. I hope to be more a part of the community that has invited me to share my music with them.  My cello, equipment, and merchandise will be strapped to an Xtracycle extended-frame bicycle (www.xtracycle.com) and I'll be spreading the word about the amazing things that Oxfam America (www.oxfamamerica.org) is doing to help alleviate societal and economic hardships both abroad and here at home.

I'm kicking off the tour in Frankfort, KY and then zig zagging through Appalachia for some performances at Bonnaroo. We're putting 330 miles under our wheels! If you're in the region, I'd love to have you come bike along with me and my friends Katie and Marty Benson, who are documenting, the tour. You don't have to ride the whole thing, even a mile would be fun. To get up-to-date information about our location and traveling progress, head over to Twitter and follow @bensollee.