Wonderful! We’ve been spending some serious time this past week working on spreading the word of Walking Hungry and Action Against Hunger. And I do believe we are getting some where. We’ve begun a Facebook Cause called (you guessed it) Walking Hungry. We have gained 21 members in the first week! That’s a great start. What’s more is that our cause has gone international! Thanks in part to Liisa Paas, who has helped to spread the word in beautiful Estonia, and to Mariel Kalkach who has let the wonderful people of Mexico know that this cause was important to her. In both instances, these girls have found new recruits, who in turn have found new recruits. Thank you Liisa and thank you Mariel; it is those smallest of things that can change the world.

We’ve also created a MySpace cause, which is not doing as well. So if you are a MySpace user, add the cause’s application and make Walking Hungry your cause. Get in on the ground floor as we spread the good and make a difference. Simply by joining, and finding recruits, by donating $5 and finding other to donate, you can be a fire starter and get our fight against global hunger to explode.

In other news, we’ve spent some time reaching out to a few companies to see if they would like to sponsor Walking Hungry by donating funds to ACF and helping us with some equipment. We’ve had a quick talk with Keen Footwear who needs to wait on a decision until they “have further information on [their] 2009 Marketing Direction”. Later this week I will be meeting with the Outreach Supervisor from REI with the hopes they can help us spread the word. The head of the Schaumburg Library has agreed to meet with us as well and that will hopefully take place next week. Finally, and this is my great news for the day; Superfeet, a company that engineers premium insoles for different types of feet, for different activities and sports, has decided to sponsor Walking Hungry with 4 pairs of their hiking insoles (nearly a $200 value)! While having these insoles will make a great difference (trust me I have a worn out pair that I love), it is the fact that they found our cause worthy of support. It is my hope that Superfeet will open the door for further sponsorship and donation as we begin to take off!

Now before I head out to make some new contacts, I ask something from you the reader. What ideas do you have to spread the word, get sponsors, and generate some donations? Please get involved! Offer an idea. Give a donation. Join the cause and be the change. I look forward to what you have to say.

Which of these paths will you choose?

A new day begins. A new sun rises. The air is fresh and I am ready to breathe it in! I feel like a fighter loose and anxious, confident and ready for the bell; trembling! I understand that not everyone knows what I’m talking about. For me it’s that feeling I have at the trail head. I’ve stepped away from the road. The air feels sharp and invades every pore of my skin; the air feels clean. The acrid smell of the morning sun warming the pine needles flares my nostrils. I fill my lungs. My mind races through what’s ahead of me. I pour through how I’ve prepared. I become aware of myself inside. I feel like I’m standing at the gate that separates me from everything else. Then it fades away as the sheer power of the world presses on all my senses. The flood gates open drowning me in real ‘here and now’ life. A voice that is all too familiar but at the same time all too foreign comes boiling the surface and in a calm and clear voice says, “Alright — let’s go.”

And then we go.

I’ve spent the last two months preparing for this month. The mission has been set. Home base has been built. Now it is time to venture out in to the real ‘here and now’ world and raise some money. I am a goal orientated person and as such my goal for this month of November is to have $1000 raised for Action Against Hunger/ Action Contre la Faim (ACF). So now I need to tell my family, and my friends, and ask them to tell their family and their friends. I need to blow the dust off some old friendships and ask for help. I need to go knocking on the doors of neighbors and businesses alike and spread the word.

All too often I think people (myself included) focus their energy on how difficult it will be to complete this task or that. The truth of the matter though is that it is impossible not to complete if we give it everything we’ve got. I’m reminded of backpacking again. About how that voice inside of me can be so convincing when it tells me of the easy way out. About how I don’t need to go any farther and I can stop right here on the trail, about how I can turn back, about how I can’t do it anymore. That voice got to me in Patagonia. It’s got to me at times before then. And I’ve certainly heard its voice since then. But now there is a new voice, a calm and clear voice, that speaks with power and encouragement, which tells me I cannot fail so long as I keep going. Otro paso más.

The right path!

So now Walking Hungry begins to raise money: $1000 in November. Step by step, and dollar by dollar. I know that anyone and everyone who reads this can help. I can’t say for certain that you will help. But keep this in mind before you dismiss the idea to donate. Have you ever been hungry before? Maybe very hungry to the point where you felt weak? Maybe you’ve just been a little hungry, enough to loose your train of thought? I personally cannot even imagine living a life time in that condition and still keeping a smile on my face. So hypothetically, if you were given the opportunity to give away $1 with the knowledge that it would end that hunger that you have felt, and that others live with; would you? That $1 isn’t even a glass a beer or a glass of wine…you can spare one beer from now until forever can’t you?

I ask for a $1 for a simple reason. We’ve all been hungry at some point in time. We’ve all had a $1 to spare, or have $1 we’ve wasted at some point and time, maybe more! If we all give that small amount, that $1, then we can all build the steps, bit by bit, to end global hunger. That’s global hunger! Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America (and Antarctica I suppose too).

So here are your options:

Click here to go to Walking Hungry. You can read about my campaign to raise money for Action Against Hunger/ Action Contre la Faim (ACF). Then follow the link on the left hand side to donate to ACF via Walking Hungry.

Or

Click here to skip my site and go straight to the donation page of Action Against Hunger/ Action Contre la Faim (ACF).

Either way though, as we struggle through tough economic times and make small sacrifices. Think about what you still have: a place to sleep, a computer to play with, cable maybe? Know that these tough times are hurting others more than they are hurting us. Donate a $20, donate $5, donate at least $1 right now. Your donation will build on top of others and that will make the difference.

All right — let’s go.

Wow! Almost a month since my last post! So where did all that discipline talk go, huh!? It has been a trying few weeks since we last spoke. I was sick for a while, battled through some personal issues, but still managed to increase the exercise intensity, continue with my Italian lessons, and most importantly there is now a website up and running dedicated to our cause. There are still a couple of dead links, but the meat of the site is fully functional, with the remaining to be complete by November 1^st 2008. What is the site about you ask? Well here is an excerpt that describes things quite succinctly:

Walking Hungry is a site dedicated to the mission of Scott Zielke of Chicago, IL and Ashley Green, a native of Knoxville, TN and their journey through three European countries in an effort to generate awareness and funds for Action Against Hunger/ Action Contre la Faim (ACF). Through this site you can check up on Scott and Ashley’s progress via their blog, view their photos as they work, and read the press coverage of their effort to combat hunger. You can also follow links to see who has donated funds ACF via Walking Hungry and decided that they too want to be a change in someone’s life. Additionally you can contact Scott and Ashley by clicking on the contact link. Most importantly though, you can donate as little or as much as you choose to help make someone else’s world a better place.

So there you go, that’s the news. That is what I have to report as far as progress goes. Now if you’ll excuse me while I climb a top my soapbox, I’ve something to say. In my last post I spoke of discipline. Today I would like to talk about a subtlety of discipline…motivation.

The confidence of youth

Perhaps one of the most drastic, least talked about changes from childhood to adulthood is motivation. Now of course I cannot speak for everyone so I will refer to myself throughout this post and if the sizing is right, you’re welcome to try on my shoes. As a kid I was so involved in everything around me, sports, friends, school, and all the obnoxious things I did for fun because it made me happy. And I was happy! I loved my childhood! Through most of my life I was a three sport athlete, a 3.0 student, and had tons of friends. How is it that I was able to balance these extra curricula’s, my grades, and my friendships? Was I that self motivated at the tender age of 14? NO! Not me! I had everyone there to do it for me. My parents got me involved with sports, my coaches trained me and pushed me to be better, my parents made sure I did my homework, they grounded me when my grades weren’t good, and my friends called me and asked if I wanted to hang out! It wasn’t me motivating myself to do what was needed; it was everyone else telling me what to do and me saying YES! Then one day I got shipped off to college…

Excuse me! Can someone please tell me what to do? Things weren’t all that bad. I had some great roommates (all friends I had had from middle school) who helped to motivate me to go to the gym, to be involved with the school, to achieve now so I could succeed later. But then came the next step. I moved away from everyone and everything I knew and started my life in Sevierville, TN.

A beautiful picture of my old home town in TN

I can remember my plans for moving there <laugh>. I had found an apartment online and made the down payment with my credit card, after all I had no job while in my first college years. I had no job lined up for my time living in Tennessee either. I didn’t know anyone, or really where it was I was moving too (except that it was next to the Great Smokey Mountains National Park GSMNP). I didn’t even have a car! I planned on just riding my bike every where (obviously not considering the difference in terrain between the Smokey Mountains and Illinois)! That’s the confidence of youth in action! I didn’t know what it was to fall down hard and have to pick yourself back up, I only knew what it was to fall ass backwards into the next day.

Once I moved to TN I stopped eating healthy, stopped exercising, I found a job, I found a school to transfer too, my parents very generously donated a vehicle, I made friends, I hiked a lot, I was happy in a content sort of way. My job came naturally to me, school was never that difficult, friends were never a problem…life was easy. But there was something missing from it all…it was if my life was steaming but I wanted it to boil! It was Andrew Carnegie who said, “People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents.” At the time I was content with my mediocrity, I had achieved that mediocrity all on my own after all.

When college graduation came in December of 2005 though, I felt compelled to experience something more. You can get a flavor of my post-collegiate years by reading Being Scott Zielke, an earlier post of mine. “It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting…” (The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho). While I believe that statement to be true, it is the fulfilling of a dream that makes life heavenly. With that said let me also say that my life right now is very interesting, and it is my deepest hope that soon it will be heavenly, if only until the next dream settles into my soul.

So that now is my self motivation. What was once the confidence of youth is now the rock of ages.

I’m back after a bit of a hiatus. Rent was due so I had to pull in some extra shifts…you all understand I’m sure. But here I am again and back with new vigor. You see since I began constructing this walk for Action Against Hunger at the beginning of September, I’ve had so many ideas and possibilities come my way. I’ve rearranged my entire life schedule to prepare and plan for this walk. I mean lets face it…1500 miles is a heck of along way to walk, and 4 months living out of pocket with out a job is a long time to spend. I know what needs to be done, I know how to prepare and furthermore I genuinely want to dedicate my time accordingly; but all too often another day passes and I haven’t accomplished my goals. So my next step forward is critical. I need discipline.

“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” (Jim Rohn) I’ve made that little quote into my desktop background in an effort to get my self off the computer, off the couch, and to start working.

So what do I need to do to prepare for this trip? What is it that takes such discipline?

I need to be prepared physically. 1500 miles across flat lands, rolling hills, snow covered mountains, rocky paths, steps up, steps down, stumbles and tumbles, blisters and sore backs, getting lost, doubling back, and all that falls in between is very taxing on your muscles, bones, and joints. It takes energy to move your body, calories from food. That is food that we won’t always have! That is food that a lot of people don’t have. But that is why we’re all here isn’t it!? For now though, I do have that food. In fact I have a pretty nice selection of food. I have the energy it takes to prepare my muscles and bones. I have the time to train as I work mostly nights, and I have the knowledge and the means to train and eat properly with a background in exercise physiology. But I’m lacking something.

I need to be prepared mentally. Luck as I am to be fluent in the most prevalent international language: English. I can’t always assume that every one I speak with will have equal fluency. So I need to learn Italian, French, and Spanish. That means lessons and lessons take time and dedication. Language however will not be my biggest mental challenge. I need to have an idea of where our route will take us, how far we can move in a day, and what to expect culturally to get along. This journey is going to leave a lot to spontaneity and I understand that. In fact I think the easiest way to ruin this whole course (and I mean from now until the finish line) is to plan too much. I need to be like pieces of a puzzle; open as a single piece to all the possibilities of the picture, but fitted together formed into a beautiful scene. And that takes something.

I need to be prepared emotionally. Here I feel is the toughest part. With all the unknown that lays ahead it is difficult and at times seems impossible to keep your self together, but it is necessary. On the days when it’s raining, on the nights when it’s cold, during the days when it’s hot, when I miss a good meal, when I want a soft bed, when I feel like I can’t take another step, or; when I have a good meal, and a nice place to sleep, and I don’t want to leave, when I just feel like giving up and coming home, when that voice in my head tells me I’ve done enough already, when it tells me I’m the one who matters most, when I tell myself I can’t do it, that I don’t want to do it, when I’m scared that I’ll fail, when I think it’s easier to quit; that is when I need something.

DISCIPLINE

A wonder of life, another step more. A photo of El Camino de Santiago.

When I left my mates in Chile I wasn’t prepared in any way. And I lacked that discipline I needed. But after I left the trail I stayed at the NOLS campo for almost 2 weeks and got to work with a peaceful man who was preparing the next class. He was a spiritual guy, a Rasta native to that land who as a youth had himself participated in a NOLS Patagonia course. He taught me two very important lessons. First that every moment is a wonder: in that it is a mystery and a beautiful thing. Second, and in response to that mysterious beauty, we must always take “otro paso más”…another step more.

Introducing one of two main characters, your humble narrator: Scott Zielke! Pleased to meet you world! I have to say it is a bit awkward holding one’s self to the character trait of humble when you create a blog that is seemingly to be written about one’s self and my effort to help Action Against Hunger. That said I suppose that’s just the way things are and I shall have to deal with it. After all, these few opening blogs have been made to set the stage. I want those who are reading to have an idea of how this whole mess is coming together. It really is quite a project planning for 4 months on foot, and promoting Action Against Hunger, and trying to find money for the trip to take place. But I guess that today we are here to hear about me for the simple fact that I want you to know who is putting this thing on…who did you help sponsor?

Scott Zielke in GSMNP, TN

Scott Zielke, age 26, graduated from Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, TN with a degree in Education. My life really took a huge turn in 2003 on my way to spring break in Savanna, GA. I stopped by the Great Smokey Mountains National Park for a solo camping trip (my first actually) and fell in love with the beauty that surrounded me! 4 weeks later I packed all my stuff and moved to Sevierville, TN into my first apartment living right next to a national park (a dream of mine). I planned on staying for the summer (3 months) and then returning to Eastern Illinois University to finish out my last year of college. Instead I stayed in Tennessee for two and a half years. In that time, I lived a total of six places, all unique and very dear. I started out in my apartment, and then moved into a country house with three roommates from the Czech Republic. When they left, I couldn’t afford the rent and moved into my truck. I found the worst part of living in your vehicle was having now where to go. I got out of work late walked to the parking lot and there I was. I woke up and drove to school, finished class and sat in my truck until work started. It really wasn’t as much fun as I thought it would be. I co worker of mine (now a very great friend) found me one day and his family (John and Patricia Thomas) invited me into their home for the next 8 months! When he (Christopher Todd) moved away to school I left too. I moved into his father’s trailer he was attempting to sell. When that ended I moved in with his father (Alvin Todd) until I graduated and came back to Chicago. You might ask yourself how all of that applies in any direction, but it does and deeply. You see their kindness to a stranger, their willingness to give without receiving, really opened me up to a new kind of living. It helped to solidify what was important in my life. But that wasn’t the end of it.

When I moved back to Illinois I was fortunate to get a job at Country Wide Home Loans. The job was good to me, but I didn’t feel like I was doing any good for anyone else. More than that though, I missed that feeling of adventure I had when I lived in TN. So I applied to the Peace Corps, the Americorps and NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School). I prayed day after day, week after week month after month to hear something! Then it all came flooding in; Peace Corps, Americorps, and NOLS were all possible and within my reach! I moved forward with the Peace Corps and NOLS. As time moved forward it was determined that I would spend a semester in Patagonia, Chile with NOLS and then come back to the USA for a few months and move to the Ukraine to work with the Peace Corps as a Youth Developer.

The very beautiful Coyhaique, Chile

Before I knew it I was flying to Chile! My first out of country solo experience! Day one: I got robbed! All my money save $50 gone! I spent a week in Santiago and met some wonderful people and tried to look towards the world with trust and openness. I then made my way down to Coyhaique, Chile. The world was different there on the NOLS farm. I was preparing for a three month expedition in to the sharp and rugged Andes Mountains! We set out on our voyage, hiking up, crossing rivers, pushing through brush so thick you had to fight to stand up, and every once and a while we would come across the pobladore: Chilean cowboys. They lived a life I couldn’t imagine! No one for around for miles on end. No connection to the outside world. Living off what they had on their land.

Pobladore and his welcoming home

They had no roads, no radio, no tv, no electricity, and so on. I was shocked! It was one thing to have heard of people living in poverty, it was something else entirely to witness it, to (in the sense that we were living off the land) live it. What’s more, is that these fine people would give us shelter, and offer us there prize tea. It might not sound like a lot to everyone out there. But to a scared, tired, cold and wet young man who grew up in the luxury of suburban Chicago; this was akin to the beggars of the street putting money in MY cup.

I left my group early. I was scared, shocked, and longing for the comfortable sights of home where I had a warm bed, an abundance of food, a wonderful girlfriend. It was a place where the world seemed to be doing just wonderful! It was my greatest and most prized failure. It took a wile for the wounds to heal, but like a broken bone I grew back stronger, and was determined to make a change.

And that was the beginning of this. I came home in the fall of 2006. I withdrew from the Peace Corps, not yet healed, not yet ready to help those people of the Ukraine. I moved back to Tennessee. Ashley and I grew closer and after 8 or 9 months moved to Chicago together. I became a teacher. I completed my first year this past August. This year will be different though. I’ve had the world given to me by the kindness of strangers. And with your help I aim to give some back. So this year I am bartending and serving and spending my time preparing for the journey of my life. I would have to say that I am incredibly excited for what the future holds.

So now that I have introduced our backdrop for this story, non-fiction of course. Let me be direct about the reasons for this blog and then move on to introduce our main characters.

Quite succinctly, this blog will catalogue our quest to raise money and increase exposure for Action Against Hunger. It will follow us as we prepare for a 1500+ mile (2400+ km) hike along an ancient pilgrims route from Rome, Italy to Compostela de Santiago, Spain. Beginning in May of 2009, this blog will then chapter our journey through three countries (Italy, France, and Spain) as we complete our battle against hunger. Finally this blog serves as a way for those who are interested, and those who have contributed to our challenge and to Action Against Hunger, to see what is going on behind the scenes and to realize the difference that they (YOU) have made!

Tomorrow’s character introduction is…ME! Played by Scott Zielke.

I think that the rivers of the world can be compared to the nerves of the body. Physically speaking they both have many small beginnings. These beginnings eventually become organized to travel a common path. And more often than not they spread back out again to affect many different areas, in many different ways.

Like a river, or a nerve cell, this blog is one of many different beginnings that will converge into an expedition; from Rome, Italy to Compostela de Santiago, Spain.

From Rome to Compostela de Santiago

This expedition will carry information and nourishment on a particular course, until it reaches its finish. Once there it will again branch out and spread all that it has carried along the way so that it too can affect many different areas in many different ways.

So what will this path carry? It will carry money to help the hungry. It will bring with it attention directed at Action Against Hunger, which is the charity we all will be giving to. But what else will be swept into this current? There will be hard work, and endless days.  There will be cold nights with no shelter accompanied with anxiety, and fear.  But there will also be a mastery of that fear, a passing to that anxiety, and the opportunity to do some good; an opportunity to make a positive difference in some strangers life. It is my deepest anticipation that this river flows with love for humanity, a desire to share, and the energy of those who give freely.

Like a river, or a nerve cell, this blog is one of many different beginnings that will converge into an expedition; from this magic moment… forward.