Every journey has a beginning.

Ari's story starts with getting out in nature. This retelling of a few points was done while Ari was concentrating on launching JTreks, an outdoor expeditions company, which is now dormant.

This reflective video shares Ari's origin story and how his deep connection to nature began. Told through text on screen and quiet visuals, the video begins with childhood: playing in the forest at age five, surrounded by curiosity and freedom.

That early spark eventually led to a life-changing trip through Outward Bound, facilitated by a once-active organization called Yancheini. That experience didn’t just build skills, it solidified a lifelong relationship with the wilderness, one that continues to guide Ari’s message, mission, and mindset work today.

From Ari:
As I watch this video, put together in 2019, my mourning for my close friend Ben deepens, as he is part of the footage used in it. He gave me a chance early in my speaking career and hired me to lead a team-building exercise in the woods, which is a major component of this video. Tragically, Ben passed away in 2023 when the small airplane he was in had engine problems while flying in bad weather.

Nature gives us clarity. It gives us healing. It gives us memory.
And for many of us, it gives us the foundation for who we become.