CURRENT MISSION

For right-brain people: "Be Love and Live in the Moment."

For left-brain people: "Support positive social change through individual personal and organizational development."

HOW

For right-brain people: "Spread Lovingkindness through Positive Thoughts, Words, and Actions."

For left-brain people: "By building business systems where profits are funneled into a charitable foundation, which then invests the money and donates the dividends to charity."

FORMER MISSION

I completed a 1,500-mile self-supported bicycle tour through Montana, Alberta, British Columbia, Oregon, & California. Along my tour I delivered workshops to inspire youth to take action toward their most cherished goals & dreams!

I launched a fundraiser for the trip where I raised over $11,500 for the Boys and Girls Clubs, an after-school program which supports after-school programming for youth around the country.

Check out the fundraiser video here: http://www.youcaring.com/bike/

ABOUT ME

Ben:

-is happiest when living in alignment with his values.
-deeply enjoys having meaningful conversations.
-is dedicated to personal development.
-travels to expedite understanding.

That said, I'm a real easy-going guy and I LOVE any way that I can participate in CouchSurfing!

What else do I need to know about you, Ben?

-Enjoys being included in your adventures
-Long-distance bike tourer and experienced year-round bike commuter
-I'm allergic to all dairy, nuts, peanuts, and avocado
-It's totally ok to eat things I'm allergic to - don't be afraid! :P
-Doesn't drink alcohol nor smoke
-Donates to awesome crowdfunding projects on GoFundMe, YouCaring, Kickstarter, and IndieGoGo
-Loves fresh juice... especially grapefruit juice.

PHILOSOPHY

Be Excellent to Each Other.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

All the ways. Always (well... as much as possible, at least).

Hosting, Surfing, CouchCrash Organizer, CouchCrash Participant, CS Event Organizing...

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Memorable CS Experiences:

-Waking up to a Sri Lankan sunrise after a fantastic evening sleeping on the beach.

-Going to a New Years Eve CSing Potluck (and subsequently missing the last train [which led to walking 20 blocks through a seedy Chicago Ghetto at 3 in the morning]).

-Cycling the streets of Minneapolis with a crew of CS guests on crisp fall nights. Usually looking for happy hours, but always getting lost in the panoramic view of the city skyline at night.

-Joining 24 CSers to squeeze into a friend's apartment for soup, then getting into a hit-and-run car accident on the drive home. FYI, we got hit, the other person ran.

-Hosting 5 (revolving) guests in my living room all at once for 2 weeks straight.

-Meeting the kindest, warmest friends I have ever known!

Interests

Current Interests: Personal Development, Long-Distance Day Hiking, Meditation, Bicycle Touring, Ecological Conservation, Dream Journaling, Dreaming of Adventures, Making Adventures Happen

Budding Interests: Hatha Yoga, International Travel/Backpacking, Self-Directed Education, Business Building

• education
• meditation
• hiking
• business
• budget travel
• personal development
• bicycling
• bicycle touring
• lucid dreaming
• online marketing
• social business
• nature conservation

Music, Movies, and Books

Music:

Trevor Hall
Nahko and Medicine for the People
Matisyahu
Wookiefoot
Trifonic
Parliament-Funkadelic
BT
Kristoff Krane
Kool and The Gang
Michael Franti
Cloud Cult
Tycho
Bonobo

Books & Audiobooks:

"Autobiography of a Yogi" by Paramahansa Yogananda
"Tao Te Ching" by Laozi
"4-Hour Workweek" by Tim Ferriss
"The Greatest Salesman in the World" by Og Mandino
"Bhagavad Gita" by Vyasa
"Rich Dad Poor Dad" by Robert Kiyosaki
"Awaken the Giant Within" by Tony Robbins
"Think & Grow Rich with Peace of Mind" by Napoleon Hill
"The Success Principles" by Jack Canfield

Movies:

Wet Hot American Summer
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure
High Strung
Stella
The Matrix Trilogy
Wayne's World

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Had a heart beat.

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach:
Upa Yoga
Basic Guitar
AmeriCorps
WWOOFing
Vegetarianism
Bicycle Touring
Conservationism
Financial Travel Tips

Learn:
Low-Cost, High Value Living
Long Term International Travel

What I Can Share with Hosts

A good meal, engaging conversation, and pictures from past/current adventures.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Mexico, Sri Lanka, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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