Self Discovery

William's journey begins because of personal loss. He has reached a point where everything familiar in his life has vanished. Realizing that he can either fall to pieces or look outward, he chooses the outward view. Although he has no preconceived notion of what to look for or what he will find, William takes a positive step in hopes that he can learn not only some things of interest about other people but also about himself. During his trip, William relies on the silent help of Walt Whitman and Black Elk, his two favorite authors whose writings William calls to mind to help him wrestle with emotions as well as to appreciate that life is sometimes nothingness and that is as natural as abundance. On his trip, William discovers that there are so many types of people and so many ways to live that he forgets his...