Breakaway with Bart
Breakawaywithbart
Escaping the ordinary, that’s what breakawaywithbart is about.
I remember well the moment I first thought: I want to experience such an adventure. It was back in 2017.
I was watching Discovery Channel, and there was this TV commercial: “Follow Bas on his cycling journey from Amsterdam to China!” I started watching his videos and became very inspired by his adventure.
Several months later, I bought a Koga Miyata Traveler touring bike. In 2018, I did my first ever bike trip: from home in the Netherlands to Bordeaux in France.
Besides the fact that traveling and adventure really appeal to me, there is another motivation for creating breakawaywithbart.
I feel that many people today are way too focused on things that ultimately bring no genuine happiness.
There’s an endless list of quick, easy dopamine hits. And I agree, they are tempting, and I’m also guilty of indulging in them from time to time. But in the end, they don’t lead to true fulfillment.
I believe that the things that will bring genuine happiness are building meaningful relationships, personal growth, creating lasting memories, being outdoors and pursuing a passion. Therefore, ‘breakaway’ also hints at choosing that path.
A lovely breakaway parable
The Mexican Fisherman:
An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village, when a small boat with just one fisherman docked.
Inside the small boat were several large tuna fish. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
The Mexican replied, “only a little while.’’
The American then asked why he didn’t stay out longer to catch more fish? The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs.
The American then asked, “but what do you do with the rest of your time?”
The Mexican fisherman said, “I fish a little, play with my kids, take siestas with my wife, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine, and play guitar with my amigos. I have a rich and meaningful life.”
The American scoffed, “I am a Harvard Business Graduate and can help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the earnings, buy a bigger boat. With the revenue from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats.’’
‘’Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the processor, later open your own packing house. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, and eventually New York City, where you will run your growing business.”
The Mexican fisherman asked, “But how long will this all take?”
The American replied, “15 to 20 years.”
“But then what?” asked the Mexican.
The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part.’’ When the time is right, you would announce a stock market launch and sell your company and become very rich, you could make millions!”
The Mexican fisherman asked, “Millions? And then what?”
The American said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal village where you would fish a little, play with your grandchildren, take siestas with your wife, and stroll into the village in the evenings to sip wine and play guitar with your amigos.”
The fisherman smiled and said, ”But I already do that now.”
By Heinrich Böll