I’ve spent many years with the desire to visit Canada. It’s not a difficult trip nor is it an “off the beaten path” adventure. Many years ago one of my odd infatuations after 9/11, was that of skyscrapers, building structures and building engineering. At the time, one of these record breaking structures was the CN Tower, a tall free standing structure overlooking Toronto, New York and one of the Great Lakes.
Despite the level of ease and the close proximity, I’ve always come across obstacles that prevented me to venture up to visit the neighbors to the north. Post college, a year was spent trying to finding stability in a struggling web design career. Not only was gaining experience an issue, holding a job was far too difficult. During these harsh times, a trip to Toronto alone seemed beyond my grasp as each time I went to book that flight, a job was lost. Just a simple dream weekend getaway to get to the top of the CN Tower was taken away before my eyes not once, but four times.
In due time, as a result of my perseverance, financial stability got a hold of me in the state of South Carolina, the last place I’d imagine seeing all of my dreams come true. I now work two jobs and continue to pursue my goals to travel the world. What does this all mean? Why am I talking about this? Because no matter how much I get told, “Oh, why are you going to Canada? Just go to Europe.” I still follow my dreams and remember what I couldn’t do and appreciate what I can do now. Not only do I get the opportunity to climb up the CN Tower, but also see Niagara Falls, enjoy the city of Toronto, walk around the capital, and get a taste of French Canada in Montreal with a game of hockey to go along with it.
Any one with a passport can go to Canada, but my trip to the north is beyond that. It’s a result of my hard work, perseverance, and to be proud of saying, despite all problems I faced, “I DID IT!!”. This trip is not just an ordinary Canada trip, this is my long desired Canadian adventure.
“When obstacles arise, you change your direction to reach your goal, you do not change your decision to get there.”
-Zig Ziglar
