ENNUI GO TOUR
We don’t live in a meritocracy.
But sometimes grace isn’t getting what you deserve.
And I don’t deserve to be where I am.
I couldn’t and didn’t earn the attention, love, and family -still I chose to use my ability and willingness, and found a community who’d choose to meet us with the same sacrifices -giving each of their ability from their means and/or willingness.
We’re on the threshold of 15,000 miles -mostly walked and bicycled to discuss human trafficking, community development, and mental wellness.
Each with their own hiccups, faults, and falling shorts -but, each with their memories, celebrations, and personal or familial growths.
With a new and unique composite in each interaction of the tour cast, this final features yet another 1 of 1 run:
Myself (Joshua “Jay” Atlas): the waning vet
Elayna “El Boogs” Mae Darcy: author and future educator
Noah “DM” Brouse: advocate and dungeon master
Sam: A man questing for adventure and purpose
We often hear the phrase “find your purpose,” but how many of us truly understand the depth of those words? Finding your purpose is not just about discovering a job or a title—it's about understanding the unique path only you can walk, the passion that fuels you, and the impact you’re meant to have in this world. Sometimes, finding our purpose is the only thing that keeps us North of Bermuda grass, and sometimes, in order to truly find that purpose, we must be willing to step outside of our comfort zones.
Venturing into new towns, new environments, is not just about exploring a different place; it’s about discovering different parts of yourself. Every town, every city, every unfamiliar street holds the potential to unlock a deeper understanding of who you are, what you want, and how you can contribute to the world. Whether it’s learning new things, meeting people from diverse walks of life, or simply being open to new experiences, these journeys shape our purpose in ways we often can’t predict but can always appreciate.
And as we embark on this journey—literally & metaphorically—it's crucial that we also nurture our mental health. Too often, conversations around mental health are avoided or sidelined. Yet, acknowledging our feelings, struggles, and well-being is essential to living a fulfilled life. Mental health is not just about getting through tough times; it’s about creating the space to reflect, recharge, and grow. We need to foster environments where speaking about mental health is not stigmatized, but encouraged—because only when we acknowledge the state of our minds can we unlock our full potential and pursue our goals with clarity.
When we address mental health, when we engage in conversations that open doors to understanding and support, we give ourselves the freedom to fulfill our dreams. The freedom to venture into new towns, to take bold steps, and to live with purpose. It’s in these moments, when we are fully aware of ourselves and our mental well-being, that we can finally say, “I’m free to become the person I’m meant to be.”
So, this venture takes 3 where they’ve LITERALLY never been, and hopefully returns 1 to a state of wellness, years since visited.
Participation in varying types of therapy will hopefully help with self exploration and recovery in our individual journeys; ECT, equine, psychotherapy, CBT, group, art, and more… Additionally we hope that familiarizing folks with these options can remove the stigmas surrounding treatments.
We want to speak about the power of making things familiar and the unique value of presenting through a documentary format (called Ennui Go Doc).
We live in a world filled with aforementioned stigmas, and complexities, and sometimes, the most impactful way to engage an audience is to take something unfamiliar and make it relatable -or show how available, present, survivable it is. When we make things familiar, we create an entry point for understanding. Whether it's challenging because it's a new, different, previously shamed, or overlooked issue, familiarity brings clarity, breaks down barriers, and invites participation.
The documentary format plays a crucial role in this process. By blending storytelling with real-world images, facts, and voices, documentaries turn abstract ideas into tangible experiences. They make the unfamiliar feel immediate and personal. A documentary doesn’t just tell; it shows. It offers the raw, unfiltered truth, allowing the audience to form their own connections with the subject matter.
Through documentaries, we have the opportunity to present information in a way that is both engaging and educational, creating a bridge between the unknown and the known. It’s a powerful tool for sparking curiosity, fostering understanding, and ultimately, inspiring change.
We have already collected years of media to give a visual to our journeys, with folks met across decades to give context, corroborate, or correct stories, and experts to fill in things we can resolve, things we missed, and/or things we’ll carry forward.
We know the cities we plan to be in.
We know the people we plan to hug again.
We know the method we plan to travel.
At the fifth and final iteration, we still can’t say that we know exactly how it’ll go.
Neither touring, nor life have ever played out as we’ve hoped. We’ve been given grace to cover our known failures, and opportunities to escape the places we couldn’t will ourselves out of.
We’ve been fortunate to be supported by friends, strangers, and organizations -all only in the agreement that we (on our behalf) would act in good faith. Many of those who allowed us to carry their logos, names, and represent their character have reaped financial benefits. Never in our decade plus have we gone out with the intent to make ourselves known & funded.
Just the same, in this, again, our final run, we will to reward 3 partners with the passive benefits that come with media, outright promo, and observed familiarity and 10% of the overall balance we hope to earn at the end of the journey.
Those will be announced closer to departure!
In the interim, please reach out if you’re along the way -or contact us at any time with words of encouragement, advice, or questions.
We’ll see you soon!
As always: THANK YOU
-JAY
