#45: Look Left. Look Right.

Look Left. Look Right. It May Be Right There.

Writing from the Alta Velocidad Española (AVE), the high-speed Spanish State rail service.

In Spain for spring break with Noah, my youngest son, to practice Spanish, expose him to friends, family, culture, and for good ole' father-son time. On a 7-hour journey from Barcelona to Granada.

Something came up in conversation with my best friend I wanted to share, a realization that can help you Try Life On your way.

Back to Where It All Began

Been a traveler a long time, 99 countries over 400 times at this point. Was never to see the entire world. An experience at age 15 pushed me to value worldwide experiences. Since, I've always wanted to fill my life book, at all cost.

These days I primarily split time between homes in coastal Lebanon and coastal Maryland, with occasional stay in coastal Cyprus (note: I always say coastal because I love being by water).

This side trip to Barcelona triggered something.

At 15 years old (1990), spent 30 days road-tripping across France with a family from Paris. My father pushed me to do it. That experience changed my life, an inner city Boston kid being exposed to culture, language, food, and people I never new available, an emotional and confusing experience. Their son Matthieu and I have stayed close over the past 36 years. Saw him again this week. Photos are 1989 (Randolph, Massachusetts) and 2025 (This week in Barcelona).

He and his wife Elisa—whose wedding I attended in Tarragona, Spain, back in 2000—now have three kids. Noah and I visited their home, and it was one of the most beautiful, grounding experiences in a very long time. Their two sons even had their girlfriends over, so it was me, my son, and seven other people...

Just being. Just connecting. How it should be.

Looking Left. Looking Right.

So here's the reflection.

Usually, when I leave the U.S., I head to the Middle East—to my own personal peace and rhythm of eastern Mediterranean Sea life and friends. Felt a bit off breaking my normal back and forth cycle. In a way, just wanted to just go home.

Then a question from my best friend Melissa hit me hard.  

“Maurice, have you looked left or right? You are home!

It took me a second to get what she meant. I’m always looking forward to where I’m going… or reflecting on where I’ve been. But I can forget to pause and look at what’s already beside me.

That woke me up to see everything I'd built here in Spain without realizing it. It can (and likely will be) another frequent home.

Looked around and saw everything I've already built.

Billy, one of my closest friends, is here in Barcelona with his two kids—I’m basing out of his apartment. Our relationship started 4-5 years ago. Noah and his boys took the bus across the city for hours, exploring and doing teenager stuff.

Close friends Byron and Andrea also live and spend lots of time in Barcelona and the DC area. I'm having coffee with her mom on Sunday and we all talk every day. Our relationships started several years ago and they are brother and sister to me.

Matthieu and Elisa are family since 1990 and 2000, respectively. For the first time our kids met each other and we're making plans to be together in a few weeks. I stopped to see his parents in Paris a few weeks ago on a layover as well.

And as I write this newsletter, headed to my business partner Zach's house in Granda to spend time with him, his wife and their two kids. We're headed to events celebrating Semana Santa or Holy Week related to Easter. Flemenco shows and football (soccer) games will follow. I met Zach a few years ago, his wife in 2023, and we've stayed close. I wouldn't have missed stopping by for anything... southern Spain is wonderful.

Here's my point to you....

You May Have What You're Looking For.

Melissa reminded me: if Noah loves Barcelona, if he’s in a Spanish immersion school, if he loves the Barcelona and Madrid football teams, if we have lifelong friends here from as far back as 36 years ago… perhaps you're already home.

We’re watching Champions League matches. We’re walking the streets, not as tourists but as people with real roots. Why? Because of relationships built years ago. We can be obsessed with building what’s next—our future homes, businesses, investments, lives. But we forget to notice what we’ve already built.

Didn't realize my existing world in Spain, one that will grow my son the way that France did for me when I was 15, and he's just 12. And the cool thing is there's nothing to build. There's only plug in and enjoy.

Whether you're in your 20s, 30s, 40s, or close to 50s like me, you have decades of connections—next door, next city, or across the ocean. 

Sometimes, you don’t need to start from scratch to Try Life On. You just need to look left. Look right. And realize what you’ve already created.

You don’t always have to build something new to experience freedom. Maybe you’ve already built it—you just haven’t looked sideways to see it.

From Barcelona, I looked left. I looked right. And I saw a world I’d already built—waiting to be lived in.

So what about you?

Where have you already built something beautiful, without even realizing it? Go ahead.

Look left. Look right.  Try Life On.

Maurice