“The only people who ever get anyplace interesting are the people who get lost.”
— Thoreau (via awakenthisspirit)
(Source: northofcanal, via iliketolive)
FROM OCCUPY WALL ST. - The people rise
Take away everything, and we have nothing to lose and everything to fight for.
The People are rising. Get ready. This aint over yet.
via youranonnews
(via madcameljockey)
LESSON #127: Free yourself from “plans”
I‘ve been back in the US now for a couple months - I think. I don’t know. I still haven’t quite caught up with “American time.” I knew the transition would be jarring, but what I didn’t anticipate was that other people in my circles would be going through transitions of their own.
It seems that people of all kinds are breaking free from previous plans. A relationship, a job, school, whatever - we are living in a time when people are no longer willing to “put up” with anything anymore. People are getting tired of settling for the things that make them unhappy or disatisfied.
Some see this phenomena and greet it with fear. “The economy is going to collapse”, “Your credit will be ruined, “But what about this or that, him or her…” No. That’s fear and it’s gross how normalized it has become in this country.
It’s nice to see that people are taking a stand and, in the words of Joseph Campbell, getting rid of the lives they’ve planned in favor of the lives waiting for them.
Mexico: Celebrating Independence?
I try not to get too political on this blog, and admittedly, it’s been a long time since I actually lived in Mexico. However, I know that as Mexico celebrate’s 201 years of independence today, there are plenty of Mexicans that are feeling a little less than festive.
On the same soil in which Mexico’s rich, lively, and enticing culture rests, and on the same manuscripts and hyroglyphs that mark Mexico’s ancient civilizations - the same pages of history are marred by kidnapping, political corruption, civil unrest, and fear. But that is only part of the story and we must never forget that. What the news tells us is not always fact and it is never the whole story. Ever.
All anyone wants is the freedom to be, so whether you are Mexican or not, let us take today to appreciate the independence that we have, not only as travelers, but as human beings; the freedom to take ownership of ourselves and the present moment, with compassion for ourselves and others, without discrimination or fear.
Circumstances may affect us, but it is our character that shall overcome all forms of grievances and make independence a cause to celebrate every day, in Mexico, the US, and wherever else your sails may send you.
¡Que viva!
LESSON #128: Don’t worry, be happy
A lot has been going through my head lately. I know. It’s gross. As one friend said, “In a culture dominated by left-hemisphere thinking, living in the moment takes a great amount of focus.” It’s like as soon as I get back I’m actually encouraged to start worrying. In my opinion - and I think I have a pretty good perspective on this - American culture thrives on fear. An appreciate for freedom would not exist without it. We Americans pride ourselves on freedom but sometimes don’t even see that it’s negative counterpart is dancing right along with us. I was traveling the world for almost a year with no insurance, sometimes no job, and no secured way home and I worried less than I have in the past 3 weeks being back in the US. Simply put, I felt more freedom abroad than I do “in the land of the free.” (I realize that, in part, it is because I’m American that I was able to take advantage of the world the way I did, but that’s another post.)
My return stateside hasnt been entirely dominated by anxiety, however. Its been great to see my friends and family and relax in the odd familiarity of this city. But I have come to realize that there have been a number of themes reinforcing themselves throughout my life, sticking around through all the growing pains and transitions. These themes all point my compass outward. I think some of my readers can relate.
My purpose is to be happy and to bring happiness to others. It’s what I’m good at. It’s what we’re all good at, and I believe we’d all be more apt to take advantage of this gift if we’d just give ourselves the chance to break away from all the worry, anxiety, and fear that dominates American culture and media. “Am I good enough?” “Will I make enough money?” “Am I worthy?” All these expectations we impose on ourselves - they aren’t without reason - but they aren’t enough for me.
What I need no longer requires any questioning or imposition. The answer’s been within me all along. Time to listen up. Again.
Q: Where will your next adventure take you?
A: Trick question. No one knows. But something great is on the horizon. I can feel it.
I may be back home, but that doesn’t mean the journey’s over.
(Source: observando, via sojourneronthisearth)
“Wouldn’t it be powerful if you fell in love with yourself so deeply that you would do just about anything if you knew it would make you happy? This is precisely how much life loves you and wants you to nurture yourself. The deeper you love yourself, the more the universe will affirm your worth. Then you can enjoy a lifelong love affair that brings you the richest fulfillment from inside out.”
— Alan Cohen (via ninefoldgoddess)
(Source: the-healing-nest, via ninefoldgoddess)
A MESSAGE TO THE WORLD
People are revolting all over the world.
People are taking action.
People are breaking down barriers.
And nature Herself is in flux.
If you haven’t already noticed, the world is undergoing a metamorphosis, but not everyone is an active participant. Not everyone sees this great shift for what it is.
That’s just the thing. We don’t realize our greatness! As human beings, we are the only creature on earth with free will. We use this to rationalize away our unhappiness, hypothesize away experience, and idle away our hours on material excess, negativity, and mind games. We allow others and other things to determine our worth. We don’t realize our greatness.
But many do. A collective voice in rising. Consciousnesses are expanding. People are waking, and they’re knocking at your door. Soon that knock will become a raucous you can’t ignore. And soon you’ll have to do something about it. You’ll have to wake up and take part in the world, as well. You’ll have to give up that which you once depended on. Money, status, what kind of car you drive, your 401k, investments, your plan B. Already we have seen that so many of these things are either destructive to life or fickle in strength. It’s this change people fear. Well, you can either fight with time and what it has to bring, or you can make time your teammate and flow.
Take stock of the things you do in your daily life that are destructive. We find so many ways to slowly kill our selves and dull our energy - what we put into our body, what we project off of our tongues. What if, instead, we all bettered ourselves on a daily basis? What if we all conserved our energy for good? What if we honored, as the last pure elements that exist in the world, the ground we walk on, the air we breathe, and the water that nourishes us? Those who don’t will undoubtedly wish they had. And so will their children, and their grandchildren, and so on.
There is so much beauty, so much joy, and so much love in the world. Take one step and it will be offered at your feet. Instead of clenching onto fear, what ifs, and I cants, I ask you to look around, look inward, and ask yourself:
What if I woke up, too?
(Source: christopherbaker.net)
“At long last he was unencumbered, emancipated from the stifling world of his parents and peers, a world of abstraction and security and material excess, a world in which he felt grievously cut off from the raw throb of existence.”
— From Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer
GERMANY LESSON #119: It’s a process of elimination
Sometimes, happiness is a process of elimination. Life is the process that gives us the freedom to eliminate.
Freedom is more than just allegiance to a common set a values. Freedom is doing what you love. Happiness is loving what you do.
Happy Independence Day, Americanos. Some wave flags, I wave my passport. To each their own, but before you put down the hot dogs and fireworks, actually celebrate your own personal independence. Sound good?
So how are you going to do that?
