Prologue and Introduction
A hint of what is to come: Little did Jud know that this reunion would mark the beginning of a journey he never anticipated, one that would challenge every belief he held about himself and the life he thought he knew.
“The greatest danger for most of us
is not that our aim is too high and we miss it,
but that it is too low and we reach it.”
Michelangelo, artist of the 16th century
Prologue: The Reunion, Early January
Jud raced down Brompton Road at breakneck speed, eager to share the news. He was still in shock and couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry. As he approached the pub's entrance, he slowed to regain composure.
"Deep breaths, Jud. Show some sobriety," he muttered to himself.
Standing outside, peering in, he was flooded with memories of that night when the group had formed two decades earlier. It had been the night of their graduation, a night of celebration fueled by drinks and dreams. Together, they had declared an unwavering commitment to their aspirations, vowing not to fall into the same trap as their parents, who they believed had embraced the mundane, becoming entangled in lives of drudgery, predictability, and regret.
"The pact is forever," they had shouted, forming a tight-knit circle—seven men and five women united by their dreams.
They agreed to meet at this pub every five years to hold each other accountable and inspire one another to chase their dreams, no matter the cost. They called themselves the Dream Weavers. In the years to come, during the web-publishing boom, someone had remarked that they were fools for not patenting the name. But it had perfectly described their vision: to weave all their actions into the pursuit of their dreams, leading lives that were integrated, diverse, and never settled.
Their numbers had dwindled over the years, and as far as Jud knew, only two others besides himself would be attending this reunion. Most of the members had fallen away due to "busyness." A few kept in touch, occasionally circulating emails with pictures of babies, new homes, or holiday snapshots—typically of the sender standing on a beach with a drink and a broad grin. Jud seldom responded but enjoyed receiving news from others. He hadn’t planned to attend this gathering, especially after his father's untimely death just ten days prior. But a surprise package from his father's lawyer had changed his plans, making the trip to London not only possible but imperative.
“The best way to make your dreams
come true is to wake up!”
Paul Valery, a French poet
“Glorious it is when wandering
times have come.”
Inuit proverb
Introduction: Awakening
Jud could barely contain his excitement as he entered the pub. It looked much the same as it had on the night when he and his friends had made their collective pledge. The sticky beer stains on the deep-pile rug, the embedded odor of pipe and cigar smoke lingering in the velvet drapes, and the familiar sight of patrons leaning against the brass rail at the dark wood bar brought back vivid memories of evenings filled with friendship and nuanced conversation. A large man and a petite woman were serving drinks with an air of joy. The pub's ambiance soothed Jud more than his self-talk had managed outside.
Robert and Sarah were already there, exchanging pleasantries and catching up on family and personal news. Jud had emailed them the week before, explaining that a sudden change of plans had made it possible for him to come to London and that he had news to share upon arrival.
Jud had always felt admiration and unease around Robert and Sarah. Of all the friends who had formed Dream Weavers, they were the ones who seemed to need the group the least—they were living their dreams. Each of them had completed postgraduate work at the London School of Economics to secure positions in large companies, banks, or financial institutions. Yet within a week of the first Dream Weavers meeting, Sarah had called each group member, declaring that the group's formation had made her realize her true passion was not economics but medicine. She announced that she was returning to university as a medical student. After several more years of study, she became a general practitioner in northern England, seemingly loving her life and job.
Robert, a Canadian Jud, had met at university, graduated alongside him, and moved on to LSE simultaneously. He was one of Jud's closest friends. Like Sarah, Robert soon decided the corporate ladder was not for him. After three years, he moved to Asia to set up his own business in one of the tiger economies there. Despite the Asian currency crash of the mid-1990s, his business survived and thrived. Jud was genuinely happy to see them both.
"Hey!" Robert and Sarah greeted in unison.
"Hey!" Jud replied. "I have news, but let me buy a round of drinks first. The usual, I suppose?" A few moments later, he returned with three pints of Guinness and slid in beside Sarah on the velvet-covered bench.
"Wassup?" Robert asked.
Jud stared at his pint of dark ale, examining the rising foam. It gave him a moment to collect his thoughts. He looked up and said, "My father just died."
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Sarah exclaimed.
"No, I’m fine. In fact, I’m great," Jud said, feeling embarrassed by the enthusiasm in his voice.
Sarah and Robert exchanged perplexed looks. "But I thought your relationship with your father had improved," Sarah queried.
"Oh yes, you're right, and it's been awful losing him. The cancer that took him was savage; it came so quickly… I know death was a relief for him."
"I can understand that," Robert said, "but it doesn't explain the silly grin plastered on your face. You look like you just won the lottery."
Jud gulped his Guinness as the two waited for him to continue.
"Well, although I miss him terribly and I'm still coming to terms with everything, he left me a surprise."
Jud’s relationship with his father had been complicated. Growing up, he rarely saw him due to the demands of work. When his father did come home late from the office or after a long business trip, he was often quiet and distant. As a middle manager in a large company with ambitions to rise to the top, it was clear to Jud from an early age that his father’s career took precedence over his family. That’s not to say he wasn’t responsible. He was faithful to Jud’s mother and tried to have at least a short conversation with Jud a few times a week. He always brought gifts and made an effort to be a good father. But deep down, Jud felt that his father’s job was more important than he was.
This changed when Jud’s mother died. Her death sparked a period of reflection and re-evaluation, and over time, Jud and his father not only became friends, but his father became Jud’s role model. This development came as a surprise. Jud had never wanted to be like him, but gradually, over the last ten years, his father had come to represent everything Jud aspired to be.
"Get on with it, Jud. Tell us," Sarah urged.
"Right. After the funeral, the lawyer asked to see me. So I stepped outside and he handed me a package. Being an only child and with Mom having passed away a few years ago, I’m the sole heir. The lawyer told me what I’d expected: except for a few shares and some land, my father didn’t have much. But there was a surprise package. The lawyer told me to open it. Inside, there was a bundle of envelopes, each numbered. Ten had numbers from 1 to 10, and the eleventh was blank. The lawyer told me to read the letter in the blank envelope first, and then he’d answer any questions I had."
"The letter?" Sarah and Robert asked simultaneously.
"Yes, a letter. I have it with me."
Jud’s hands almost trembled as he unfolded the letter from his father. He read it aloud, hearing the voice of his father as if it were speaking directly to him:
Dear Jud,
You are reading this letter because I am gone. I do not have many material possessions to leave you, but I do have some advice and experiences I want to share. Over the last ten years, I’ve learned so much about what it means to live—truly live—a large and meaningful life. So, in addition to the few assets I must burden you with, I am bequeathing to you a “journey of discovery.” In the bank account (details enclosed), you’ll find a sum that should cover ten to twelve weeks of travel. Kathryn (you can thank your wife for being an enthusiastic collaborator, visiting me in the hospital, and helping me write these letters) has told me you have over three months of leave available. So, taking the time off won’t be an issue.
I am proud of you. You’ve worked hard and are advancing well in your company. I know you’re busy, but I want you to do something for your old man: take the time and go on this journey. It’s a journey I had hoped to make with you, and I was saving up money to do so. But perhaps this is better—a solo journey will help you internalize it and reflect on its insights and discoveries at a deeper level. I’ve met interesting and diverse people throughout my life, particularly in the ten years since your mother died. I’ve learned a lot from them and been enriched by visiting the places where they live.
There isn’t enough money for you to travel in the way you’ve become accustomed to —staying in top-notch hotels and flying business class. It will be a challenge to make it around the world on the budget I’ve set. But believe me, the rewards will be great if you succeed. Along the way, you will discover clues that will help unravel the mystery of how to live a `LARGE `life.
One last thing: in the folder the lawyer gave you, there are ten envelopes. Open each of them in the correct order and at the designated destination. Each envelope will reveal where to go next. Your first stop is a place from which hundreds of adventurers have set out to explore the four corners of the world: The Royal Geographical Society in London. Do not open Envelope 1 until you are standing at its entrance.
With great love,
Your father
The weight of his father's words hung in the air, leaving Jud and his friends in silent contemplation. But the letter had lit a fire in Jud’s heart, which would soon set him on a path of discovery he could never have imagined—a journey that was just beginning.
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