bigpeteward

[bigpeteward]

One week from today @whimsynyc and I are headed West, back to the US where the adventure continues. I've got a phone camera full of great memories from our time in the U.K. and I'm grateful for every one of them. The more time I spend on this island, the more it reveals its incredible magic to me. Yet it is also true that I find myself, as ever, looking at the horizon, curious and excited for the next step and I'm grateful that the journey continues as well. And all that to say the obvious I suppose: It's good to travel, it's good to experience the vast wealth of new experiences there are to be had, and in the end, it's good also to be headed home. • #travellife #Headedwest #cotswoldway #unitedkingdom🇬🇧 #livingwell #headedhome (at Cotswolds)

[bigpeteward]

A more perfect union. (at The United States of America)

[bigpeteward]

Recently, I find myself having the same conversation over and over again with my friends who have dedicated their lives to service, to science and to progressive values: It starts with acknowledging the crushing reality of ignorance, intentional and accidental, that (combined with apathy and anger) damages our current efforts to continually refine and achieve that "more perfect union". Then the conversation moves into a pragmatic phase where we wonder what can be done? And in the end, although we have no answers yet, we do know that the current challenges can and will be overcome. My generation and the generations around me have hard work to do and to learn the courage required we need only to look to history and the courage of men and women like Dr. King • Dr. King worked harder than I can imagine and stood up for his beliefs with, in his words, "Militant non-violence". ...A turn of phrase that I quite like. Before his assassination he was jailed 29 times, targeted with countless death threats, stoned, stabbed, his home was blasted by a shotgun and bombed, and a motel room where he stayed was bombed as well. Yet he never lifted a finger in response. He simply spoke uncomfortable truths over and over again. Truths which are still uncomfortable and which need to be spoken again. Along with new ones. • In the coming years, we will have to work harder than we have worked in the past to confront the pressing issues facing us rather than being distracted by the loud and flashy ones. Dr. King and those doing his work today will continue to inspire me and on this holiday, I will simply say: Thank you. • • #drking #martinlutherking #standup #speakout

[bigpeteward]

Digging deep into the mug collection on sick day #2 for more good journeys of the mind and finding exactly what I was looking for along the way. One year ago today, I and my friends from IMD were in #Shanghai working to understand how that country has achieved such staggering growth in recent decades and to understand what sacrifices have been made for those goals. I came away feeing like American fears around China are misplaced: It was the worlds leading economy for 5000 years and the reasonable bet is that they're going to be that again. But in our better moments, our system of liberalized freedoms and equality is critical for future growth, the future will not be the same as the past after all, and it seems that the Chinese see this too. At least the people I spoke to did. And because of our insight that equality and freedom drive economic growth, if we don't reverse course on those freedoms, we will also lead the global economy into the foreseeable future. The perfect system has not yet been created and there is much work to be done for all of us. Here's to a good cup of coffee and a fine journey of the mind on a Saturday morning. • #coffeelove #journeyofthemind #travellife #china🇨🇳 #livingwell (at Saratoga, New York)

[bigpeteward]

It's a true pleasure to visit the @caffelena on its grand reopening with @suitcasejunket. I spent so many years here as a kid and a teenager and to see it paying, and playing, forward what makes the act of creative expression so grand does my heart good. • #caffelena #saratogasprings #folkmusic #nostalgia #livingwell (at Caffe Lena)

[bigpeteward]

When traveling, at what point can you say that you've really been somewhere? It's not simply passing through an airport, they're all basically the same, so for me that doesn't count. What about when you check into a hotel? Same problem I think. Seen one, seen 'em all. Perhaps you've really been to a place when you go out for a meal there? But again, we tend to stick to what we know. So that often misses for me as well. • I think that you've really been somewhere when you've ridden public transportation. Preferably to somewhere far away from wherever it is you are staying. For me, the way that people commute reveals little things about what they value as a culture. • I stayed in #Shanghai solo for a few days earlier this year to ride the trains and walk the streets so that I might feel as though I had really been there. The trains are clean and punctual and there are plexiglass barriers preventing you from inadvertently falling into the tracks. Once you're on the train, more people dip their heads and plug into their smartphones than I've ever seen anywhere else. And further, as is starting to pop up in the more advanced trains of the world, video screens play advertisements on the tunnel walls as the cars speed past. On this train into the #Pudong new city from #Nanjing rd. A Kung-fu panda tried to convince us of something that it was beyond my language skills to understand. • The Pudong new city is a district of Shanghai built from farmland in only the last 25 years. It is now home to millions of people, the main financial district, and some of the worlds tallest buildings. In recent living memory, it has seen all ends of the human experience, from livestock to soaring steel, glass and wealth beyond imagination. • And this lady, old enough to have seen it all as an adult, was the only person of thousands with her head up, not down. Her eyes remained closed for her entire journey thinking something I'll never know while we sped past the Bund, #Dongchang rd, and endless rows of concrete under one of the most incredible cities on Earth. My 2016 retrospective begins today and oh my, it was an incredible year. • #2016retrospective #travellife #china🇨🇳#livingwell (at Nanjing Road)

[bigpeteward]

Where In The World Have You Been?

Two years ago I realized that I have almost all of the meaningful privileges a person can have in modern society and that therefore if I wish to see a positive change in the world, that change begins with me. I set a goal of learning everything I can and earning all the money I need by the time I'm 50 and then being in politics from 50-75 (Current events may accelerate that timeline). I’m not attached to what “Being in politics” means, it could be leading a company, starting another one of my own, supporting a candidate or a cause, or being a candidate myself. But I will stick my neck out, be the change I wish to see in the world and leave a mark. That is my promise to myself. 

The catalyst for this decision, back in 2014, was that I was accepted into the Executive MBA program at IMD which I hoped would be, and very much was, a life and perspective-changing experience. My cohort was 55 executives from 26 countries and this year alone I have studied (in the hands-on “Real world, real learning” sense), in Switzerland, China, Brazil and Silicon Valley.

Like most of us, I did not see the wave of destructive populism coming that has swept over us across continents and cultures this year. Worse still, I could not have imagined the progressive Left turning in on itself as it did in the US during the last election cycle, ravenously consuming and cultivating transparent lies to our own detriment. That there are angry people bent on blaming someone, anyone, other than themselves for the problems of humanity, truth and consequences of that rage be damned, is no surprise to me. That some of them have recently come from my own circle of leftist friends has laid bare to me the extent to which the current challenge we face is no less profound than evolution itself.

Three weeks ago (Only three? Wow.) I graduated from IMD and now the next phase begins. I believe in art. I believe in science. I believe in people. I believe, believe it or not, in our current system with some relatively minor, but also relatively profound, tweaks. To my way of thinking, the great problems we face are human condition problems more than problems of faceless corporations and conspiring governments. To the extent that faceless corporations and conspiring governments even exist, which is less than we believe, they exist as reflections of ourselves I think. 

I am proud to be an American. We’re doing some very important things very well here and the more I travel, the more pleased I am to believe, as many Americans do, that whatever the problem is, I am able to find a solution with enough hard work and determination. We’re not unique in that regard, but our ambition and our belief in ourselves really are two of our finest qualities. 

Much of my foundational thinking about our current reality is reflected in the work of Daniel Kahneman, Thomas Picketty, Daniel Goleman, Phil Rosenzweig and others who are examining variations of the question, “Will what got us where we are, get us where we need to go?”. The answer invariably is “Probably not”, which leads us to the subject of transformational change and to the importance of the little things in our personal lives that enable us to manage, endure and benefit from change. Exercise, mediation, journaling and travel are all of endless benefit to me and on the days, weeks and months when I do all of them, my life is better for it. 

And finally, I have found that halfway through my life, the importance of love and family amplifies with every passing day. If you are, as I am, blessed to have family who will work with you, even when you disagree, then I believe it is our critical life task to do that work. We learn profoundly from the people who know us best when we accept them as individuals who love us rather reflections of the parts of ourselves we wish away. They are not us and we are not them and because of that, we are a family, not a political party. My best friend is my Dad and my partner is as passionate, courageous and as mad-dog crazy as I am. I love her and the potential that we create together and while it has taken me half a lifetime to get here, I am grateful that I have arrived at all.

And that’s where I’ve been lately. It’s good to be back.

(Click photos for captions)

[bigpeteward]

On the one hand, it was three days of intensive crisis training with the Swiss Army in a massive bunker complex deep in the Alps. On the other hand, it's not the US, so there was wine at lunch. A win-win situation I'd say and also a fine way to end a brilliant journey at IMD. Thanks to all who contributed along the way. Life is good in the mountains. • • #swissalps #imdemba #swissarmy #switzerland🇨🇭 #apero #livingwell (at Académie De Police)

[bigpeteward]

Spending the next 48hrs deep under the Alps in a massive bunker complex training crisis management with the Swiss army. Effing surreal. 🇨🇭👍🏻#swissalps #switzerland #mountainlife #imdemba (at Académie De Police)

[bigpeteward]

One of the wisest social media posts I've seen recently advised that self-care, the practicing of our personal meditations whatever they may be, is critical before re-entering the fight, a better and more effective version of ourselves. And re-enter we must. The current disaster will not avert itself. But first, a moment's peace after a gutting contest lost. And so on to my own meditation and a fine session on perfect granite in #Cresciano. Living, actively and wholly living, is still the greatest gift I have yet know and Tabea and I had a fine day #bouldering in #Ticino living well. • • #swissalps #climbing_pictures_of_instagram #bouldering_pictures_of_instagram #switzerland🇨🇭 #livingwell (at Cresciano, Switzerland)

[bigpeteward]

Two Weekends Bouldering in The Peak

It’s a short drive really if traffic isn’t bad, which it often is here of late. Too many humans, not enough public transit. Never the less, it’s worth it and we spent two brilliant and productive weekends bouldering at Stanage, Burbage and The Roaches. I look forward to returning when I am fortunate enough to have the time. 

[bigpeteward]

I just voted for the candidate with a specific plan to fight corruption (repeal citizens united), and who wants to fight climate change, and who supports reasonable economic policy, and who supports the LGBT and other minority communities, and who is an unquestionable intellectual badass, and who listened to everything Bernie and Obama stood for and said "Yea, I think we can make that work. Let's put it in the platform". And, for what's it's worth, is not the literal manifestation of everything that is wrong with the human condition. Yea, you're goddamn right I'm with her. And I think you should be too. • And. That said. If you disagree, I will buy you a cup of coffee and shake your hand if you are willing to have a chat in person (or over skype) with me about why. In the end being American means disagreeing and discussing and coming together for the greater good. Win or lose, coffee's on me if you're willing to keep the conversation going about why. Please vote my friends. I've been looking around lately and I can tell you with some certainty that America is bloody brilliant. Let's keep it going. • • #Imwithher #americaisgreat #lifeisgood (at Jericho, Oxford)

[bigpeteward]

A93 & A939 run North/South through the #Cairngorms National Park #Scotland and, as of today, are the best and most roads fun I have ever driven in my life. • • #highlands #scottishhighlands #cairngormnationalpark #roadtrip #travellife #livingwell (at Cairngorms National Park)

[bigpeteward]

In recent years I seem to get to the boulders about twice each in Spring and Fall. Not the frequency that I used to, but enough to keep the daydreams alive which is really the point after all. It's been two weekends already this year and the daydreams are alive and well indeed. And, I ain't gonna lie, I'm bloody well psyched to figure out a third weekend if conditions permit. Still hungry after all these years and, as we all are, missing my brother Phil. He'd love it here. • • #stanageedge #bouldering #bouldering_pictures_of_instagram #climbing_pictures_of_instagram #peakdistrict #unitedkingdom🇬🇧 #livingwell (at Stanage Plantation)

[bigpeteward]

I spent a reasonable portion of my Saturday afternoon trying, and failing, to climb out of a hole in the ground. And considering that it was, in my estimation, time very well spent, I have thought a bit since then of other holes in the ground that I have enjoyed climbing out of. Stereogram at Farley and Ghetto Simulator at Heuco are the two obvious five star holes in the ground that I have enjoyed climbing out of in my life, and I think that if I am fortunate enough to climb out of this one before I leave the UK in two weeks, I will be able to say that Brad Pitt at #Stanage is my new favorite hole in the ground I have ever climbed out of on planet earth. "Rock climbing" is a strange and beautiful thing. • • #bouldering #bouldering_pictures_of_instagram #climbing_pictures_of_instagram #stanageedge #peakdistrict #unitedkingdom🇬🇧 #livingwell (at Stanage Plantation)

[bigpeteward]

It was a brilliant and beautiful weekend on the moors and boulders in The Peak. Last light Saturday evening at #Stanage Edge was lovely as well. #stanageedge #peakdistrict #stanageplantation #unitedkingdom🇬🇧 #livingwell (at Stanage Plantation)

[bigpeteward]

A day of completing minor life goals at #Stanage and, necessarily, gathering my wits on Not To Be Taken Away at days end. God bless the Peak District. • • #bouldering #bouldering_pictures_of_instagram #climbing_pictures_of_instagram #gritstone #stanageedge #unitedkingdom🇬🇧 #livingwell photo: @whimsynyc (at Stanage Plantation)