I recently came across a saying on facebook or pinterest or somewhere that said "Be in love with your life, every minute of it." And at the time I thought that sounded nice so I liked it or repinned it or maybe both. Today, as I was sitting on the ground after teaching some new and old friends a yoga class in the park in the beautiful sunshine, that saying suddenly popped into my head. I thought, "This is what it feels like to be so utterly in love with your life. This right here."
Then the second half of the saying came up. "Every minute of it." That's where it gets difficult. Of course I'm in love with my life right now. I'm in a beautiful place surrounded by beautiful people without a care in the world except where I'm going to sleep Monday night (I should maybe care, but I don't). The hard part is being in love with your life when you're almost done a 13 hour shift and about to lock the doors when a table walks in and orders coffee. Or that dreaded minute when you're in the middle of an argument and you realize you're wrong. You have to love these minutes too.
I think the trick lies in soaking up the moments when it comes easily. When you feel truly content and happy, bask in it. Stop for a moment and really notice it. Remember it. Then when you are struggling to remember why life is so great, just try to remember that feeling. Remember that it exists, then go one step further and try to recreate it in your body and spirit. Regardless of circumstance. Because sometimes we forget that this entire life is a gift. The best gift we will ever receive. Every minute of it.
Wednesday 25 June 2014
Monday 9 June 2014
There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be
These past few weeks, I have found myself contemplating everything that has lead to me meeting all the people I have met, and continue to meet. Every moment, every decision in every one of our lives has led us here, to the same hostel or train or bar in Spain. Each of us with our own past. Our own reasons for being where we are. It's a rather exhausting thing to think about. I find myself contemplating the "what ifs". What if I had never chosen to go to Primavera Sound in Barcelona? I would have already walked the Camino. Would I have met someone who completely changed my life? Did I miss an opportunity?
Last night, I walked into the common area of my hostel and there was a man sitting on the couch. He looked up at me, and before even saying hello, he said "You are a light bearer." So I thought "Cool, here's a weirdo. This should be interesting." But we started talking. He told me about how he used to be a workaholic. He used to care only about making money. And he was good at it. He had 70 million dollars in the bank. He had planes, boats, cars, properties. Then the market crashed and he had nothing. He was living in a parking lot. Cold, wet, and hungry. So he started a non profit organization, and before he knew it, he was speaking in front of thousands of people, several times a day. He told me the market crash was the best thing that has ever happened to him and he couldn't be more grateful.
His plan now, is to spend a month in every single country. It will take him 15.7 years he says. But he's doing it. He's already been to countries that Americans "can't" go. He's already been threatened with death numerous times. He's been robbed. He's nearly been arrested. But he told me "When you radiate love and peace, you are protected. Nobody wants to hurt someone on their side. So give. Give everything you can. Love everyone with everything you have. Be a source of divine light. You will be amazed what life gives back to you."
As I was thinking about this, he asked me, "What have you learned on your trip?"
When people would ask me this question before, I would say something along the lines of the world being too big and beautiful to ever comprehend. But this time, without thinking, words were just falling out of my mouth. I said, "I have learned that every person I meet on this trip needs something from me, and I from them. Every moment, in every one of our lives brought us here, together, not out of coincidence, but because our paths were meant to cross. And sometimes the lessons and impacts we have on each other are greater than others. But I have never made a wrong decision in my life and I never will. It's not possible."
"Do you understand now how you are a light bearer?," he asked, "I saw it in your eyes the moment you walked in."
And I understood.
For the rest of the night, I walked slower, I noticed more, I felt peaceful. Very similar to the feeling you get after a really amazing yoga practice. I felt so incredibly present.
The man left this morning, and I likely will never see him again. But he came into my life and accomplished what he came to do. He reminded me that there is no "what if." There is only what is. And what is is exactly perfect.
Last night, I walked into the common area of my hostel and there was a man sitting on the couch. He looked up at me, and before even saying hello, he said "You are a light bearer." So I thought "Cool, here's a weirdo. This should be interesting." But we started talking. He told me about how he used to be a workaholic. He used to care only about making money. And he was good at it. He had 70 million dollars in the bank. He had planes, boats, cars, properties. Then the market crashed and he had nothing. He was living in a parking lot. Cold, wet, and hungry. So he started a non profit organization, and before he knew it, he was speaking in front of thousands of people, several times a day. He told me the market crash was the best thing that has ever happened to him and he couldn't be more grateful.
His plan now, is to spend a month in every single country. It will take him 15.7 years he says. But he's doing it. He's already been to countries that Americans "can't" go. He's already been threatened with death numerous times. He's been robbed. He's nearly been arrested. But he told me "When you radiate love and peace, you are protected. Nobody wants to hurt someone on their side. So give. Give everything you can. Love everyone with everything you have. Be a source of divine light. You will be amazed what life gives back to you."
As I was thinking about this, he asked me, "What have you learned on your trip?"
When people would ask me this question before, I would say something along the lines of the world being too big and beautiful to ever comprehend. But this time, without thinking, words were just falling out of my mouth. I said, "I have learned that every person I meet on this trip needs something from me, and I from them. Every moment, in every one of our lives brought us here, together, not out of coincidence, but because our paths were meant to cross. And sometimes the lessons and impacts we have on each other are greater than others. But I have never made a wrong decision in my life and I never will. It's not possible."
"Do you understand now how you are a light bearer?," he asked, "I saw it in your eyes the moment you walked in."
And I understood.
For the rest of the night, I walked slower, I noticed more, I felt peaceful. Very similar to the feeling you get after a really amazing yoga practice. I felt so incredibly present.
The man left this morning, and I likely will never see him again. But he came into my life and accomplished what he came to do. He reminded me that there is no "what if." There is only what is. And what is is exactly perfect.
Tuesday 3 June 2014
Finding Yourself
Often times, you hear people say that they are going travelling to find themselves. When I left home, I would say this, but not really fully grasping what it meant. This morning, as I sat on the beach and watched the sunrise with a new friend and fellow solo traveller, our discussion turned to why we were here. Why we were travelling alone. He said "When you're in the same place,who you are is constantly influenced by the people around you. Everyone is guilty of it. Acting differently around different people. But when you're travelling, you only have you. You have to be who you are."
I've been reflecting on this all day. Solo travel strips you down to your rawest, most vulnerable core. Everyone you meet is seeing you for the first time. They don't know you through someone else. They haven't heard stories about your past or what kind of person you are. You are just you.
I started to compare this to the search for enlightenment. Yoga, meditation, Buddhism, really all religions if you want to look at it this way, they all centre around uncovering your true self. Stripping down the layers of personality and hobbies and all the artificial things that make up "you" and getting to the centre. To the purest form of you.
And I finally understood exactly how travel helps you find yourself. When you're out in the world, alone, meeting new people, you don't have a preconception of how to act around these people. You just have to be yourself. Your raw, pure, true self. It's a journey of discovery. Pealing back all the layers of who you thought you were and coming home to the truth.
I've been reflecting on this all day. Solo travel strips you down to your rawest, most vulnerable core. Everyone you meet is seeing you for the first time. They don't know you through someone else. They haven't heard stories about your past or what kind of person you are. You are just you.
I started to compare this to the search for enlightenment. Yoga, meditation, Buddhism, really all religions if you want to look at it this way, they all centre around uncovering your true self. Stripping down the layers of personality and hobbies and all the artificial things that make up "you" and getting to the centre. To the purest form of you.
And I finally understood exactly how travel helps you find yourself. When you're out in the world, alone, meeting new people, you don't have a preconception of how to act around these people. You just have to be yourself. Your raw, pure, true self. It's a journey of discovery. Pealing back all the layers of who you thought you were and coming home to the truth.
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