Find your own peace and make your own happiness
Evan Buksbaum, 24
Intrigued by Evan’s thirst for global awareness, we spoke briefly about his willingness to shed some light and share some insight for the Restoring Humanity project. His loving pit bull (and only son), Blue, remained sprawled out by his side for the entirety of the interview. Below are Evan’s hopes, strides, setbacks, and dreams as illustrated by a series of raw, stream of consciousness inspired responses.
What is your most recent endeavor?
“I’m still currently working on a few musical projects. I play in two bands and I also produce my own music. Aside from that, I’m at a crossing point in New York and I’m making strides to move across the country.”
Can you tell me your current, greatest battle that you’re facing?
“Probably, I would say, feeling out of place in society in general. It’s definitely difficult when you don’t see eye to eye with a lot of the common causes that most people get fueled up by. I’m not really driven by financials, or careers necessarily. I’m more interested in, I don’t know - finding my own peace of mind and being creative."
Can you tell me about your current path?
"Well, at the moment, I’m still living here in New York. I’m aiming to move across the country, I’m thinking probably towards Colorado. I would like to get into the medicinal field. I’m looking into helping treat people out west. If not, maybe run a dog farm.”
The steps you’re taking to feel comfortable in your own skin?
“I recently changed a lot of my own habits. I’ve been a lot more physical, I’ve been working out. I’ve been preoccupying myself and trying to spend a lot more time living in the real world and off of computer screens. I’ve also been just putting a ton of effort into music again. I’ve been writing an EP pretty much by myself.”
If you were faced with absolutely no limitations at all, what would you be doing with your life?
“I would definitely travel. I would see as much of the world as I could. I’m really interested in culture, pretty much anything else outside of America. I’m really tired of it. I’d like to build homes where people don’t have resources. I'd definitely like to check out ancient sites too. I’d just like to see as much of the world as I could before I’m not here anymore.”
In what ways are you working to fill the void you’ve been experiencing?
After a slightly elongated pause, Evan replied:
“I have been spending a lot of time trying to become more comfortable with myself. I have a very hard time just being alone and not being preoccupied. I get really lost in thought a lot. I’ve been spending a lot of time being comfortable with being alone, or not doing anything. Stillness, trying to appreciate it as much as I can. There was a saying that I can’t remember right now that really summed it up.”
What are your dreams for yourself, and what is keeping you from achieving them?
“Well, first and foremost, what’s keeping me from my dreams is being a type 1 diabetic. I have to be in touch with modern medicine, which pretty much ties me down to doctors and hospitals. I’d really like to make an impact on as many people’s lives as I can. I’d like to see the world in a more positive light by the time I’m out. At more than one point in my life, I would have just traveled and lived wherever life threw me. Finances, too, hold me back. Emotionally, though, I’m ready to go.”
What advice do you have for everyone seeking to answer the same questions as you?
“Don’t overthink it, hah. That’s the first. At the end of the day, you are the only person that’s ever going to be able to answer your own questions or give yourself solace. You’re going to have to find your own peace and make your own happiness.”