Here Comes the Sun

Here comes the sun, and I say it’s all right…

What’s popping, people? It’s Dante. I got my morning started with a nature hike—my absolute favorite way to begin the day. Peace and solitude, man. This is where I thrive.

I’m just snapshotting my way through life, thinking about how to make better photos. The secret? Just point and shoot. Shout out to Daniel in Mexico City—you know the deal. Just point and shoot. I’m showing you the way, man.

The Eternal Now

The ultimate goal in life, for me, is to increase curiosity. Waking up each day eager to explore, eager to get the day started. I don’t like to delay. The moment I wake up, I want to get outside. Being inside? That’s where my soul slowly dies. Outside? That’s where I thrive.

When I’m moving my physical body, I exist outside the passage of time. Sure, we have a past and a future, but when you’re in the act of creating—whether it’s making photos, writing, reading, or doing something physical—you exist in the eternal now. That’s where freedom lives: in open spaces, with a clear mind and an unobstructed horizon.

Maybe the meaning of life doesn’t need to be questioned. Maybe it comes to you through the process of living—through creating, moving, and coming closer to life itself. Meaning finds you when you’re immersed in the moment.

The Problem with Cars

This morning, my bus was late, so I called an Uber. The driver? Distracted. Checking his phone, emails, texts. His laggy GPS took us off course, extending the ride. And as usual, I got motion sickness—something I’ve dealt with since I was a kid.

Driving feels so confining, so hateful. I’ve driven a handful of times and even have a license, but it’s not for me. I used to drive out to Amish country, park, and just walk around their communities—people who don’t even drive! It’s funny, right? Me trying to escape cars by driving to where they aren’t.

Here’s the thing: cars, and everything tied to them—loans, insurance, gas—are just tools of enslavement. The less you own, the freer you become. A car as a symbol of freedom? I think it’s the opposite. Real freedom is about stripping away distractions.

A Flawed System

Sitting in traffic, watching people in their cars—they’re eating, on their phones, honking horns. It’s chaos. I’m looking forward to the day when transportation is solved, maybe with automated, self-driving cabs. That would free up so much time.

But even deeper, I think about how strange the 40-hour workweek is. The natives who lived on this land before us didn’t believe anyone owned it. They believed the land belonged to God, shared communally. Now, we work to survive, not to live.

Hunter-gatherers spent maybe 10-15 hours a week hunting, gathering, making clothes, and the rest of their time was spent with family, in spiritual practices, or storytelling. Compare that to now, where productivity and busywork dominate our lives.

Designing a Life Worth Living

I’d rather work a seasonal position in a garden, earning less but living freely. If someone offered me $100,000 to sit in an office, I couldn’t do it. I don’t need much from this world. I’d rather maximize experiences over materials.

At the end of our lives, are we going to cherish the mansions, yachts, and cars? No. We’ll remember the experiences, the memories, and the things we created. That’s what matters.

If we think critically about how we live, maybe we can find ways to balance work, play, and life. I want to disconnect from the systems that enslave us and design a life of simplicity—one that maximizes creativity and happiness.

Lessons from Self-Sufficiency

Traveling has taught me so much about freedom. Volunteering on farms in Israel, milking cows, drawing water from a well, washing clothes by hand, and preparing food over a fire—I’ve tasted true freedom.

There are so many unconventional paths in life, ways to carve meaning and joy that don’t align with societal expectations. Maximizing joy and minimizing pain isn’t a bad philosophy. Pain is a great teacher, but we don’t need to seek it.

Aligning with Nature

The other day, I strained my finger hanging from a pull-up bar. Painful, yes, but it reminded me how alignment—physical and mental—is everything. When your body is out of balance, your mind suffers too.

Maybe that’s the path forward: aligning ourselves with what brings us joy, what feels natural, and avoiding what doesn’t.

Continuously Exploring

I’m on a journey to explore and seek new experiences every day. Freedom isn’t about what you own—it’s about how you live. For me, it’s about simplicity, creativity, and living in alignment with my values.