That clarity is what’s now leading me to the next chapter, deep into the Chocó region of the Ecuadorian Andes, to spend a year working and living at the Maquipucuna Reserve. This isn’t a continuation of what came before—it’s an expansion of it. A step further into an environment that demands more, teaches more, and reveals more, but only if you’re willing to meet it on its terms.

Returning has a way of stripping away illusion. Growth feels convincing when you’re moving forward into new territory, but it is only truly tested when you circle back. Familiar places don’t allow you to hide from who you’ve been. They quietly present the same patterns, the same energy, the same invitations to repeat old behaviours, and wait to see what you do. This time, I noticed how quickly I recognised situations that once would have pulled me in. The tolerance I used to have for drama, emot

Giving up drinking, smoking, and coffee wasn’t just a lifestyle change—it became a declaration of self-respect. A line in the sand. A moment where I finally decided that the man I wanted to be was far more important than fitting in, blending in, or sharing beers with people who come and go. I don’t preach. I don’t judge. But I will say this with full honesty:It’s fucking amazing.