The boat was built in early 2000s by The Discovery Expedition, a nonprofit organization out of St. Charles, Missouri, dedicated to rediscovering the legacy of Lewis and Clark. They promote education and the study of American history and heritage through discussions and living history demonstrations. You can see more photos and read more information at http://lewisandclark.net
The Lewis and Clark Expedition is a perfect example of using the Carpe Diem Life Map.
President Thomas Jefferson CHOOSE the audacious goal: For Meriwether Lewis, Jefferson’s personal secretary, to lead a group of around 50 men to explore the vast interior of North America to the Pacific —an area completely unknown to American citizens. In all, they traveled over 8000 miles in less than two and one-half years, losing only one member of their party (most likely of a ruptured appendix).
Lewis created his ACTION PLAN / LISTS
Utilized all the RESOURCES available to him
Took PERSISTENT ACTION both preparing and throughout the trip
Made constant EVALUATIONS
Changed DIRECTIONS as needed
Strove for CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT for himself and his men
Recognized that he was responsible for everything — including everyone's lives
Now, you may have noticed that I missed one of the letters of the CARPE DIEM acronym: E = ENJOY THE PROCESS.
It’s evident many of the men must have thoroughly enjoyed the process because they choose to head back shortly after returning to St. Louis.
Meriwether Lewis, on the other hand, is a different story. As a young man, Lewis was labeled as being, "prone to long bouts of melancholy." In fact, Lewis' good friend, Thomas Jefferson, described him as, "a man of good sense, integrity, bravery and enterprise" but also, "prone at times to sensible depressions of the mind."
Little is known about the events of October 10, 1809, after Lewis – armed with several pistols, a rifle and a tomahawk – stopped at a log cabin lodging house known as Grinder’s Stand along a perilous Tennessee trail called Natchez Trace. Has only 35 when he died of gunshot wounds — most probably suicide.
William Clark, who had for years observed his companion’s melancholy states, wrote after receiving word of Lewis’s fate: “I fear the weight of his mind has overcome him.”
Admittedly, I really don’t know where I’m going with this post. It's a story of the past, present, and future; it’s a story of one of the greatest achievements in explorations; it’s the story of a group of men and women who are working today to insure that future generations don’t forget The Expedition; it’s the story of setting goals, creating action lists, persistent action, etc.; it’s the story going forth every day with courage undaunted; and it’s the story of "melancholy" and mental illness.
It's a story to remind me not to let the weight of my mind overcome me; to find ways to enjoy the process as I try to Carpe Diem Life.
David Kuhn
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