Laniakea
Portfolio & Blog.
Blog
Latest posts
Expect the Unexpected
So, our plans for Spain didn’t exactly go as we had imagined. We spent a few weeks working at the place we had planned to be at for quite some time ahead. It quickly became clear the price that would be asked of us if we stayed. So we all sat down and agreed that…
Spanish Paradise
After having spent the entire summer at the Castle—not particularly happy and itching for so much more—these last 72 hours couldn’t have been more of a pleasure. My gut and heart tell me we’ve found a real gem here: Spanish Paradise… We left the Castle on a good note. We said farewell to our friends…
Tschüss Castle
Today officially marks the end of our summer contract here at the castle. In three days, we have a flight from Vienna to Barcelona, where Johana and I will be starting a new chapter in Costa Brava, in the northeast of Spain. We cannot wait to see what this new chapter will bring! It’s been…
The New York Chapter
The New York Chapter Without a doubt, this was the hardest and most soul-crushing period of my life. It was heartbreak, poverty, insanity, and desperation that played a key role in forging who I am today. Despite how grim it all was, I’m glad I went through it. As Nietzsche said: “That which does not…
The Lost Chapters
I recently felt inspired to sit down and write about some of my stories that I haven’t shared before. When I started the blog, I covered a lot of ground writing about both summertime and wintertime. But I want to focus on the latter for this one, because without a doubt, it was the most…
Birthday Surprise
I love this woman. Johana had been planning something for my 26th birthday now for a month. She meticulously crafted and thought carefully about everything. Completely to my surprise, she had planned a full birthday party, with cake, presents, and friends. It was easily the warmest and most special birthday of my life and I…
Who am I?
My name is Oliver. Either you know me, or somehow you have stumbled upon this webpage. Now that you are here, this website is intended to serve as a digital portfolio and a personal blog outlining my story. I’ve had a crazy ride through life so far, but here is a lesson I’ve taken away from it.
“Cease the Day, Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May.” 🥀
This now lies at the crux of my own personal philosophy. Life is too short to spend it doing anything less than what you dream for yourself. I now travel the world, meet people, and get into adventures. I write, I read, and carefully play the game of life. I love to take photos, drink tea, and write letters to strangers around the globe! More than anything else, I love living. Whatever God sends me in this life, I am grateful for it. I intend to make the most of my life, to leave a legacy, and to pour my heart and soul into everything I pursue.
My Story
I was born in the United States in a small town in the ancient Appalachian Mountains. I lived a normal American childhood. I played soccer, loved video games, cartoons, and movies. I graduated from university and began a career working as an IT professional for around four years.
I learned plenty of lessons, earned some money, but I was never quite satisfied with this life. I craved much more and wanted to see the world. So, I started selling and donating my belongings. I learned how to live minimally and travel on a budget. I traveled all over the United States, working as a house-sitter. I loved it! I was alive. I was free. I knew that this kind of life was what I wanted for myself.
Today, I am like a feather in the wind. I’m like Jules at the end of Pulp Fiction—I walk the Earth, meet people, and get into adventures. I left my life in the United States behind, and now my only plan is to be like water and let God guide me along the path.
I dream that someday I will have children of my own, and that this path I’ve taken will pay off in wisdom that I can pass down to them. I want to live as rich a life as possible, to suck out all the marrow of life, and when my time to rest finally comes, take peace in knowing that I lived.
My Flow
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I travel the world. The endless possibilities of life inspire me to see what is out there. I want to live in as many different shoes as I can. I want to push myself far out of my comfort zone. I want to learn everything I can about this world and the different cultures and ways of life around the globe.
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I always look for the lesson in everything. Every success, every hardship — it is all an opportunity for growth. I seek wisdom above all else. I follow the flow of the Universe.
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Be it photography, startup ventures, web development, or coding, I am a creator at heart. I pour my heart and soul into everything I create and tend to it as if it were my own child. I’m very tech-savvy; I love figuring out how things work and how that can be translated into something real.
My Photography
Here are some highlights from my life, my travels, and other moments that made an impact on me. Each of these frames has a story behind it. Some were heartbreaking, some were during high points in my life. All of these moments have made a major impact on my life in one way or another. Photography has always been a passion of mine. I love to shoot 35mm film (Kodak Tri-X 400) from my Canon AE-1, my SX-70 Polaroid camera, and, of course, my iPhone!
