Shut up brain. Yes you! Quit stressing me out.
This was my mantra today. After a week of nesting in my new home of Melbourne, I finally had to catch my breath. Who knew it could be so hard to regroup and settle thoughts?! Those damn things…they keep us up all night, and pressure us into doing things we’d rather not. At some points I feel like being a five year old; sitting down in the middle of the sidewalk with crossed arms and a big pout, refusing to do anything.
Our brains have an oh so sneaky way of making us crazy. Our thoughts can drive us to the point of exhaustion if we let them. Something I have been allowing mine do all week. As most of you know I have been working on my new travel website for the last few weeks. A hefty project that has taken hours of blood, sweat, and tears. Well maybe not blood or sweat or even tears…but let’s just say all the managers at my new favorite cafe know my name, drink order, and just about everything else about my life and travels. But, this morning I finally woke up.
I have been so utterly consumed in working more, doing more, achieving more, that I have forgotten to soak in life. How do we forget to live? This is madness! I was putting so much pressure on myself. Torturing myself. For what? So that my project will be done one day earlier? Yes I’d like it to be finished, but damn…let us not forget that life exists outside the computer. The life that inspires me to write.
It’s funny, I was wondering over the last week where my inspiration to write went. It didn’t go anywhere! It was with me the whole time, just buried under my thoughts and worries. This I realized is home. This is my home away from home. So that no matter how crazy life gets on the surface, no matter how much I miss my home back in the states, that I will always be okay. I will always be home in my body. This is why I feel mind body work like Pilates, yoga and dance are completely transformative. They build the connection between the two until it’s so strong the moment you get into your practice you feel at home. Centered, focused, clear and still.
Running the mantra through my head hits me hard.. “I am home …. I am home”…and knowing that there is no safer place to be. Yogi’s talk a lot about this sense of home on the mat. That their yoga mat or meditation pillow becomes their real home. The place they go to get back in touch with themselves and leave the outside world for a few minutes or hours a day. When you find a safe home within yourself is when nothing in the external world can touch you. A ripple on the surface never penetrates your calm center. This week has been a whirlwind of emotions and change, but damn does it feel good to be back in spirit. Back in control of my thoughts and life.
What is your home away from home? When you travel or spend time away from good friends and family..when you are alone…how do you feel? Do you feel safe or lonely? I know I went through a period where I didn’t feel safe. Needed someone, a friend or a boyfriend to feel confident and good in my own shoes.
The truth is that if we can’t be okay by ourselves we can’t even attempt to be confident and secure in a any relationship. Digging into knowing who you are is the first step. Meditation and present living are the best practices to cultivate this self knowing. Check out the links above to get started now!
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I’ve been thinking about this a lot recently. I’ve been scrambling to find a place to live by the end of the month, and it feels like I have no “home” because my apartment has already been rented out to some stranger.
So I’ve been trying to define my home as my body, and not any building or geographical location. When I go traveling I want to practice feeling ‘home’ wherever I go.
Well said, and congratulations on breaking out of the “doing” mode and floating back into “being.” Enjoy yourself, and the world rejoices! Be peaceful within yourself, and you spread peace throughout the world. Namaste.
@David- I have been there! It’s really weird not having a stable place to call home. But that’s the challenge! To figure out what it takes to feel safe when you have nothing. Getting rid of your material possessions to go travel and moving house give you the opportunity to grow in leaps and bounds. It’s hard and uncomfortable, but that’s when the most growth occurs. Keep me updated on how it goes. I think the more you meditate and live presently the easier you can cope with such massive change. That’s what has worked for me thus far. Best of luck with the move!
@Megan- thanks for your kind words as always. Ahhhh to just be. I love it more than words can say. Feels so good. Life is incredible!
It’s funny, but I’ve never felt more at home than when I visit Manhattan and just walk until I’m lost. The energy of the city is invigorating, and the sheer visual presence of the buildings makes me proud to be part of the species that built them.
But then, I’ve felt the same walking around a small, podunk town in the middle of no where. I think the key for me to feel at home is to feel a little lost. Like there is a new mountain to climb, new friends to meet, new foods to try and new horizons to snap photos of. I’ve lived in LA for over 2 years now, and I don’t feel at home here anymore.
It’s good to hear that you’re getting things in order down South! I’m looking forward to hearing more about your adventures in Aussieland!
@Colin: i agree completely. I feel the most alive when i am out seeing new things as well. As you’ll soon see and hear from fellow travelers, once you settle somewhere for a bit you eventually get an itch to leave. Only problem for most is money. They work for a few months in order to finance more travel. It’s amazing what people are willing to put themselves through in order to soak in more of this incredible world. Truly inspiring! I will be writing about this on my new travel blog. Hopefully up and running today! Podcasts soon as well.
Hey this just inspired me to take a few minutes off and meditate. Thanks for that
So true Amber. Love and grace is best shared with others when we find it for ourselves first. Thanks for sharing this.
Way to gather yourself amber! You mind can sprirl out of control with thoughts if you let it. That’s what makes meditation so powerful. Control your thoughts, Control your life! Your an inspiration to everybody! One day, i’ll be able to share the blissfulness of living the life I was meant to live and not having my boss “borrow my mind” day in and day out
Great post. I just had a conversation yesterday with a friend who recently moved and felt “homeless”. I shared this post and your wisdom with him. Thanks.
@mike- haha screwing the man. Gotta love it!
@Bonnie- so glad you found this helpful
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