Five years ago, when I first moved to the United States, I bought a book called 120 Most Scenic Roads in the U.S.

I bought it during one of the loneliest periods of my life. I was struggling with my mental health, living in isolation, and quietly fighting thoughts that almost took my life. That book wasn’t a travel plan. It was a promise I made to myself that if I ever found a way to stay alive, I would one day move through this country instead of hiding from it.

I’m still here. And I’m ready to keep that promise.

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Why this matters

Today, I work as a suicide prevention counselor. I speak to men every day who feel unseen, unheard, and unsure how to ask for help. Their loneliness doesn’t always look dramatic. It looks quiet. It looks functional. It looks like getting through the day and collapsing alone at night.

I don’t believe I can fix men’s mental health. What I do believe is that isolation thrives in silence, and that movement, conversation, and being witnessed can interrupt it.

This project is my attempt to do exactly that.

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What I’m doing

I’m starting a video project called The Mildly Motivated Guy.

Using a small, reliable motorcycle, I’ll travel across the U.S. in phases, following roads from the book I bought when I was at my lowest. Each episode centers on one road and one or more conversations. I’ll talk with men I meet along the way, not as an expert, but as someone still figuring himself out.

These conversations aren’t performances. They’re unscripted, human, and imperfect. Some will be shared publicly. Some will remain private. Not every story needs to be content to matter.

The goal isn’t motivation.

The goal is presence.

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A quiet rebellion

Men are often taught to endure quietly. To keep moving without being seen. To disappear emotionally while staying physically present.

This project is a quiet rebellion against that.

If you support this, you’re not funding a trip. You’re helping create space for listening, movement, and honest conversation in a culture that rarely allows it.

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How the journey will work

To keep this sustainable, I’ll camp when it makes sense and stay in simple motels when my body or schedule requires it. I’ll carry minimal motorcycle luggage to safely hold camping gear, filming equipment, and essentials, allowing me to travel responsibly without unnecessary costs.

I’ll continue working my job while doing this in phases. This is not about quitting life. It’s about staying in it.

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About the visuals

Alongside the videos, I’ll carry a small film camera to create quiet portraits of the men I meet, only with consent. Film slows the moment down. It asks for stillness. These photographs are not the project. They’re a way of remembering.

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What you’re supporting

I’m raising $12,000 to launch a three-month pilot of this project safely and responsibly.

Funds raised will go toward:

A modest, reliable motorcycle and basic functional upgrades

Safety gear

Minimal video and audio equipment

Motorcycle luggage and camping essentials

Travel and accommodation for a three-month pilot phase

A small emergency buffer for safety and continuity

This project only works if it’s done carefully.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for listening.

And thank you for taking part in a quiet rebellion against isolation.