Tiny Boy - Lost in London

I was a tiny boy 😂 from the ass-end of the world, lost in one of the world’s busiest cities.

2007. London. Yeah, that’s me in this photo.

Fresh-faced, way more hair and embarking on a journey of a lifetime.

I was completely overwhelmed.

London was massive.

I had never ever been on a train before 😂

Okay, that’s a lie, but it’s funny to me.

I dunno about you, but sometimes when you are scared, overwhelmed or worried that the worst thing might happen to you, the best thing you can do is embrace failure.

In my case I was terrified of getting lost is such a busy melee of people and culture.

I did not want to end up on a milk carton 😂

So for my first 3 days in London, I did something crazy…

I tried to get lost.

I would hop on the subway with zero plan.

Get off at whatever spot had a nice name. Like Stanford Bridge or just anywhere really.

I’d wander around aimlessly, but myself a nice pint and then try and find my way home.

This was before I had a smartphone.

I embraced my fear of getting lost in a big city by deliberately getting lost.

By doing so a few things happened…

One, I developed a huge amount of self trust. No matter where I am, I will always find my way home.

Two, I turned the trains in London into my playground, i absolutely loved riding them, watching people, writing poetry and even making friends.

Three, I learned to wander through the world with a kind of abandonment that has made me the fearless man I am today. I became brave.

Self trust, a playful spirit and a brave soul.

These things are only made possible when you embrace your fears.

I miss London a lot, but I still carry the story of it in my bones.