Everyone, I’d like to introduce you to Dylan Rainwalker.

Dylan is on a mission to walk all over the world, connect and share with people, and raise awareness and funds for clean water projects.

Let me repeat that — Dylan is WALKING for WATER.  We’re talking a lot of walking.

Here in the U.S. we can often take for granted that we can just walk up to our sink and get a glass of water. We can go into any store and buy a bottle of water. We can go to our shower and there is water to bathe. But this isn’t the case for nearly one billion people on this earth who STILL lack access to life’s most vital resource.

I can remember “waking up” to this reality my first week living and working in Guatemala 15 years ago. Getting water and having it to cook with, bathe with, wash our hands with, and drink became something I was aware of every day. The days where there was water to heat in large pots and use for a warm “bucket” shower on the freezing cold days in the highlands of Guatemala were extraordinary! I learned to savor those “bucket showers” — every last drop!

As Dylan walks, he talks to people and raises awareness about projects that provide clean water to people around the world. Currently, he supports charity : water , an organization that provides projects for clean water.

Did you know that more people die from dirty water and poor sanitation than any form of violence, including war?

That can sound quite unbelievable to us in the U.S.

Charity : water is a group of passionate and determined creative problem-solvers who want to make a difference and their mission is to bring clean and safe drinking water to every person in the world. Charity : water tracks every dollar they receive through photos and GPS. They are incredibly transparent in what they are doing and where the funds go to. And get this — private donors cover their operating expenses so ANY AND ALL DONATIONS – 100% – go DIRECTLY to the water projects!

And Dylan walks to support charity : water and currently talking to other organizations. He has walked all over the west coast of the U.S. Here is a bit about Dylan’s story. Dylan shares:

“In June of 2012 I began walking along the California coastline. I arrived at Los Angeles International Airport with a backpack, little money, and without a plan, but upon stepping outside of the airport as the sun arose one cool summer morning I started a journey that would lead all of the way to the northern Oregon border and back.”

I am moved by Dylan’s passion, integrity, and mission. Recently when connecting with him, I was reminded of my time working and living in Central America. I remember visiting a very, very remote part of Guatemala where we had to get to by bus, boat and then on foot. I remember seeing children holding BAGS of Coca-cola. I remember thinking, “Wait a second, we can get Coke to these folks in abundance but we can’t get clean drinking water?! Something is majorly messed up in this world.”

Dylan and folks like charity : water are on a mission to change that. Dylan is actively raising funds for his Walking for Water mission. He hopes to raise enough funds to travel to the projects being supported in order to spend time with the people of the villages and communities, share firsthand information on how donors’ support is impacting people’s lives.

I hope you will visit Dylan’s website and join me in following his story and his steps.

Two of his recent posts really speak to me:

The Child Who Will Die if we Do Not Act: In this post, Dylan talks about a dream he had: “In 2006 I had a dream. In that dream I was walking the streets of one of those impoverished villages of which advertising has made us familiar. I came upon a small child, sitting in the street, and instantly knew that his life would end tomorrow because he didn’t have clean and safe water. I also had the revelation in the dream that I could give my life for him to have another day, and I did.”

Walking As Meditation: This post speaks to me because Dylan so beautifully reminds us that walking can be an “everyday” kind of meditation. It’s something we can do with mindfulness that can reconnect us to our own hearts, this earth, and each other.

I am following Dylan’s journey of connecting with people and building sustainable projects that change people’s lives. I hope you will too. Check out his site and let him know how moved you are by his mission.

* Photo credits: Dylan Rainwalker.

Blessings,
Lisa A. McCrohan

MA, LCSW-C, RYT
Compassion Coach

** Please share this post with your dear ones if these words inspire you. Thank you for being a part of the Barefoot Barn community. I hope these words inspire you to live with more delight, compassion, and connection in your everyday lives. Visit the Barefoot Barn for more information or contact me about mindful coaching, psychotherapy, workshops and retreats.