MY JOURNEY

So, in sharing my own story on “Find Your Fuel, See the World,” cooking is right at the heart of it. I have a huge passion for cooking, and especially cooking steaks. There’s something really immersive about cooking over an open fire, feeling the heat, adjusting to the flame, and just using your instincts rather than a thermometer. It’s a bit of an art form, and there’s a real joy in seeing someone enjoy a steak you’ve cooked perfectly. It just makes the whole process feel worthwhile.

 

Then there’s my passion for street portrait photography. For me, it’s not just about taking a picture - it’s about the whole experience of walking through the streets, noticing someone interesting, and sparking up a conversation. You never know what kind of story a stranger has to tell until you stop and listen. Photographing them becomes more than just an image; it’s capturing a moment of their life, a little piece of who they are. Every photo feels like a bridge between two people, and that connection is what makes it so powerful to me.

 

And then there’s jiu-jitsu, which has been a huge anchor in my life. It’s helped me through some of the hardest times because when you’re on the mat, you can’t think about anything else, you have to give it 100% focus. If you lose that focus, you’ll quickly find yourself in a position you don’t want to be in, fighting hard to get out. Jiu-jitsu, to me, is like a real-life chess game: every move has consequences, every decision can either set you up for success or put you at risk, and you’re always having to think three steps ahead. It’s taught me discipline, resilience, and the value of staying fully present in the moment.

 

And ultimately, that’s what Find Your Fuel, See the World is all about. By sharing our stories and the passions that drive us, we can inspire others who feel stuck in situations they don’t want to be in to uncover their own source of fuel. In doing so, we not only transform our own lives, but we also create the chance to experience more of the world, through our journeys and through the stories of those we connect with along the way.