Who am I? 3 words that say it all

Explorer

I may not pack a wagon and vanish into the wilderness for years at a time, but I value taking the road less traveled, discovering the unknown, and forging your own path.

I love to get lost in nature, wandering through the woods looking for wildlife or anything interesting—even some of my earliest memories are me searching for salamanders under rocks at my friend’s family cabin.

But, that’s only one side of the coin. I also love to explore ideas and philosophies. I am always thinking, tinkering, building, and exploring the boundaries of ideas and concepts. It’s these fringes of possibilities, not the black and white, that I find most fascinating.

Essentialist

While a minimalist may try to limit all of their possessions, I don’t shy away from items or activities that I’ve decided truly add value to my life. My camera equipment, for example, fills an entire closet, and I’m okay with that.

The opposite is also true. I expel as little energy as possible on things I don’t value. I don’t value fashion (no shade on those that do), and that becomes painstakingly obvious when you realize I wear the exact same shirt every day.

Of course, this applies to more than just “stuff”. It’s core to how I think, and translates to everything from my hobbies to my approach to design.

Idealist

Rarely do I simply accept things the way they are without a second thought. My mind naturally lives in a world of “what could be”, not “what is”. Just because something is or has been a certain way, doesn’t mean it should be that way.

As you might expect, “good enough” doesn’t sit well with me. I understand that there are scenarios that warrant it, or that make the most “business sense”, but none of them will ever get me excited.

I believe that as people we can almost always do better. We should consider what’s possible, and set the bar high. Challenge yourself (and others) to do what’s best, not just what’s good enough.