Caught in a snow storm in Banff, AB, Canada Sept. 2006

Road warriors are coming from the heart

by Emily Bouchard

On October 11, 2001, I sent out a heartfelt prayer asking what I could do to help bring peace and harmony to humanity. During a quiet meditation (in the shower) I received a "download" of a vision I have since named the "Got Heart?" Project.  The vision is simple yet profound - to share the tools and strategies for harmonious relationships that I had developed with as many people as I possibly could, and to connect like-minded people with each other.

According to Dr. David Hawkins, author of Power vs. Force, positive thoughts carry a much higher energy than negative ones. I believe that a few people whose intention is on what’s positive and peaceful can overcome the impact of the many whose focus is on what’s negative and wrong in the world.  Understanding this principle, I could see that the efforts of one woman to support individuals, couples, families, and communities to communicate in ways that build trust and bring peace to their lives could have a true ripple effect that could potentially bring peace to nations.

As a way to fulfill this vision, I saw myself driving around North America in a custom-painted, alternative fuel vehicle that catches people’s attention and gets them curious enough to come over and find out more. In my mind, I convinced myself that I was the only one thinking like this. After all, most of us only notice what we have, not what we want. So there I was thinking that I had an original, unique desire. Well not so!

It seems I’m part of a growing phenomenon.  Had I known, it probably wouldn’t have taken five years to build up the courage to take to the road.  I guess I only started noticing similar road-warriors after I made a “no matter what” decision and moved into a 26ft RV with my husband Darryl.  Whatever the reason, I can assure you that many like us are out there, and the numbers are growing as fast as the speed limit will allow.

From what I can gather, these motivated people in brightly colored vehicles traversing the countryside fall into the overarching category coined by Paul H. Ray and Sherry Ruth Anderson:  “Cultural Creatives.”  According Ray and Anderson, Cultural Creatives are people who “care deeply about ecology and saving the planet, about relationships, peace, social justice, and about self actualization, spirituality and self-expression…They are both inner-directed and socially concerned, they're activists, volunteers and contributors to good causes...” in a nutshell – people who’ve “Got Heart!” – people who are highly motivated to make a positive difference in the world.

As I have connected with more and more heart-centered wanderers like me, I’ve had fun creating sub-categories that I’m sure will continue to grow.  Here are a few to start with:

Spiritual and Uplifting

While stopped at a food co-op in Port Townsend, Washington, I saw a psychedelic van with www.allmyrelations.org painted on the side, making me want to find out more.  Were they an organization that helps people find their family members? Do they plan family reunions? Or are they more of the “seventh generation” ilk that sees us as connected to everyone and everything on the planet?  When I went to their website, I immediately saw they were about: “Promoting Interspecies Kinship, Nonviolence and Universal Peace through Performing Arts, Educational and Spiritual programs.”

Environmentalists/Green Endeavors

In Sebastopol, CA I saw a converted bus with a great logo and inviting set-up that promoted a message about “conscious goods”, causing me to want to learn just what that unfamiliar term means.  I looked up their website, www.kopali.com and found out that they are “a group of concerned entrepreneurs who believe the future of humanity and of all life on our planet is in danger as long as commerce continues to be driven by the single bottom line of financial profit.”  They are promoting  a way of doing business they call "triple-bottom-line”  which is fundamentally : people, planet, profits.

Seems that Sebastopol, CA is a place where this way of thinking thrives.  Through a contact I made in Houston, TX, I learned about Anderon Martell, based part time at a farm in Sebastopol, whose mission is “to live by, promote, and bring awareness to environmentally friendly energy technologies and lifestyles through national/international education and awareness tours.”  He has a bus he is converting to BioDiesel and plans to travel across the US promoting sustainable agriculture and fuels.  To learn more about his project, you can visit brightearthsolutions.org

Community/Sustainability

When I drove through Missoula, Montana, I met Laurie, a retired attorney turned social activist. Her station wagon was covered from grill to rear with bumpersticker art calling for a world of peace, harmony, and creativity.  We connected heart to heart on many levels and she was intrigued by my plans.  She connected me with Penelope and Jason, local artists who traveled extensively with lacaravana.org and I learned that this concept of driving to communities and connecting in meaningful ways is alive and well in Central and South America. 

At a bluegrass festival in Stevenson, Washington, I was thrilled to meet the band Hot Buttered Rum. Their song “Well Oiled Machine” peaked my curiosity and I learned that they tour the country in a bus converted to run on vegetable oil. They are sponsored by Clif Bars and, along with playing great music, they promote the concept of alternative fuels – check them out at hotbutteredrum.net

Family Values

While driving in Los Angeles, I looked out my window and couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw two pink busses with www.2moms.com painted on the sides.  As soon as I could I looked them up and found out that they are 2 moms, 2 sisters, as well as being 2 singers who lead inspiring Christian-based workshops and concerts for parents.  They also record positive, uplifting music for families.  They get rave reviews and they are obviously changing people’s lives.

Shifting Collective Consciousness

At the Storyfield conference in Boulder, Colorado, I was deeply inspired to meet Michael Dowd, a minister, writer, speaker, and visionary who has lived on the road with his scientist wife for five years working to change the story of evolution in a way that brings people together. His upcoming book, Thank God for Evolution, is nothing short of revolutionary-- check out his work at thankgodforevolution.com

Explaining the “roadie” phenomenon

Best I can figure, there is a growing concern that while we have the greatest ability ever to contact each other at a moment’s notice, people are not connecting in ways that are meaningful and sustaining.  The information/communication glut seems to create more isolation, mounting fear, and a movement towards extremist thinking.  “Taking to the road” brings individuals together, face-to-face to share ideas and the sincere warmth of common human concern and endeavor. And that makes all the difference in the world.

I am so thrilled to see people taking action, following their hearts, and getting on the road to connect with others and share what they are most passionate about – because they are giving me permission to do the same.  While many people look at me in disbelief when I tell them of my decision to live full time on the road and travel where my heart takes me, I now see that there are others like me who hear the same call and are following their hearts as well.  When I hit up against old fears and doubts, the knowledge that these “HeartHeroes” are out there, doing what they can to make a difference in the way that feels right for them propels me forward and gives me courage to stand for what is deepest in my heart.  

Next time you spot someone doing similar things on the road, don’t be afraid to talk to them. They’ll probably be a wonderful source of information and inspiration! And please, tell them about our Got Heart? Project. Have them visit the Got Heart Blog got-heart.org to see what we are up to. We love to showcase people who are coming from their heart in their family, their community, and in the world.