Steve is spreading the message of the joy of loving life all over the country after the loss of both his children. Keep living life more abundantly is his basic mantra.
I have long followed Steve's journey on Facebook, but his heartfelt book of what took him there is not to be missed. I laughed through his adventures hiking the Appalachian Trail, and cried through his sorrows. His message is simple, but so impactful to those it touches. Love Life- it's simple.
I’m giving this book a 5 star rating, but not for the reason you might think. I was originally given this book as a gift, and at first glance I thought it was going to be very similar to Bill Bryson’s book, Walk in the Woods, so I was a bit hesitant to read it thinking how could it compete with Walk in the Woods.
Then, I discovered that the Appalachia Trail story was only thirty pages in length and then it shifted and discussed other walks the author had taken, so I was confused about the direction of the book. There wasn’t any transition from one story to the next, so I looked for an introduction or chapters within the index to see if that would give me any clarity, but there wasn’t an introduction to explain any of this and the book didn’t even have chapters mapped out.
I thought to myself, what publisher would publish a book without any basic structure, so I looked closer and discovered that this book was self-published. Considering it was a gift, I felt a little obligated to read on, so I kept reading and when I got to the 70th page, I started to lose interests once again. The stories weren’t more than a couple paragraphs at best, and they seemed disjointed and repetitive. I just didn’t get it, but I read on.
As I read on I noticed a trend. All the stories talked about how Steve, the author, helped others gain a different perspective on their loss and suffering. This old guy lost his two children and decided to walk from one end of the country to the other, multiple times, carrying a big sign over his head that read “Love Life.” Every time he ran into someone who would listen, he would share his story about how he lost his children, and then he’d talk about how he dealt with that loss. He is a gentle soul with all kinds of patience and would try again and again to help others with their loss.
The more I read, the more I liked this guy, and before long I found myself admiring him for being so selfless and compassionate about helping others. He is filled with wisdom and has the knack of guiding people through life’s challenges. He is a true sage and he teaches others how to let go and embrace forgiveness no matter what the circumstance might be. Wow, what wisdom! He always looks for the good in life.
On a personal note, his stories reminded me of some of the miracles I’ve experienced while traveling like a vagabond alone with no agenda. Something special happens when you travel by yourself. You meet people and have experiences that would have never come your way if you were traveling with a friend or loved one. If you haven’t tried traveling alone like this, I would highly recommend it. It will be one of life’s most memorable experiences. I promise!
I’m so glad I read this book, but if I were asked why I gave it 5 stars, I would have to say it was because I believe in his cause, and I want to promote him in any way that I can. He’s not a great writer, but I just love him in so many ways. Steve, keep up the good work. Who knows, one day we might have a cup a joe together, and it will be my treat.
As I side note, this guy is from Vero Beach and I grew up right next door in Melbourne, Florida, so I connected with him there as well.