My world has been turned upside down. I’ve realized what it really takes to be free…
As of two months ago I was sitting pretty with a killer studio in downtown San Francisco, enough work for four people, and living the high life in the swanky night club scene. Four years in a city full of opportunity had delivered in every way. All those fifteen hour work days seemed to be finally paying off. The stress of making rent no longer hovered over my head. I had everything I would ever need… a 3G iphone, iMac, iBook, Kindle, iPod, big TV, view of downtown, and a closet bursting with clothes. Pretty damn good for a 23 years old (pat on the back). I was safe in my bubble of stuff. Worked to the bone, but safe. One day off a week, but safe. The perfect life… or so it seemed.
Today I sit in my half empty apartment, writing my one month’s notice to the landlord. A hot pink Razr in all of it’s scratched glory vibrates beside me. A handful of hangers support whats left of my wardrobe. And the pitter-patter of soft kitty feet is missing (don’t worry my cats are with my parents in CO). Money in the bank, passport and visa in hand… I am officially 5 weeks away from leaving for a two year trip around the world. Free like a bird.
Four months ago when I began planning my escape…my freedom from a life of too much work and not nearly enough living…I never thought it would be this hard to get rid of stuff. Stripping down the life I had worked so hard to build seemed so backwards. What was I doing? Was I seriously willing to give up my comfortable existence in beautiful San Francisco, leave friends and family, and give up my iPhone(!) to throw myself into the world with my life in a backpack? My short answer…HELL YES!
In theory trading in all your stuff for a life of travel and world experiences seems like a no-brainer. But as I realized when my couch and book selves started walking away, it’s not that simple. I was seriously amazed at how attached I was to my stuff! I almost cried when I had to handover the iPhone. NO JOKE. For the one hour that I didn’t have a phone my thoughts started to scramble…”what if someone is trying to call? how do I set up my new phone when I don’t have one!? This Razr is soooo archaic! I’m so lonely now….” This is true insanity. Life does not stop when the blackberry is gone, when you can’t search the web, when you can’t spend an hour digging through clothes you never wear to find the perfect outfit. Instead life blossoms!
Life becomes simple again. You start to notice what’s around you…the now. Time with friends, a walk down the street.. it all becomes more colorful and vivid when you aren’t worried about checking your email or updating twitter. Now is the experience..it’s all that life is. Now is what I have found. What I want to experience more than anything…where true happiness resides. And if stripping down my material possessions is going to help me do that then that’s a “sacrifice” I am more then willing to make.
With this thought in mind and it being the first day of Spring and all (yeah for sunny weather!) I suggest you challenge yourself to delve into Spring cleaning. Make space for new experiences in life by clearing away the excess. It takes courage in a society fueled by consumerism and you’ve got it.
The big question is…would you give it all up for a chance to be free?
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m excited for you, Amber! I spend 7 months in London back in ’99. It was a life changing experience. I hope the best in your travels.
Yeah, I always find it amazing how we as humans always strive for a certain level of ‘success’ and then once reached we either check it off our list and say ‘what next?’ or we realize it’s not all that fulfilling and look for another ladder to climb.
It sounds like you’ve got a solid grasp on this concept and I know you’ll get rid of all those things that no longer provide you with real value.
Thanks for sharing!
Eric
Hmm that’s quite inspiring, I keep *thinking about* reducing the stuff around me even more than already and I do love having space!
Way to go Amber! I spent 4 months traveling South East Asia and I got rid of tons of my stuff too! I used to be a DVD collectioner, and I had tons of books, and of course clothes. I sold, and gave most of this stuff away. I don’t even miss any of it!
I don’t have a cellphone anymore. People ask me how I can do it, but I just feel more free without one.
Best of luck in your journey! It’s going to be amazing.
@ Eric- London sounds amazing. Def hoping to see it in the next yr. Yes real value…thanks for the support
@ Puerhan- i love space too. There’s nothing more stressful then coming home to a house full of clutter.
@ Nathalie- Congrats on the no cellphone! Freedom is amazing..thanks for reading
Amber
Good for you! What an adventure you’re about to embark on. Feel free to let me know when you’re in London.
Good luck x x x
Congratulations and have FUN in a way only freedom can provide. I recently gave away my TV after returning from a weekend vipassana meditation retreat, and two months ago quit my high-paying cushy corporate job to write for a living. I’ve never been happier (and never had less stuff). Amen to your decisions!
“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
@ Megan- Fantastic!!! I love it. It seems like the times are definitely changing. No longer will people sit in a cubicle. There is a better way! We have to live our lives…thanks for reading Megan
Have an amazing journey Amber,
I lost everything in the California wildires of 2007 and then my job in Jan 2008. Decided it was best to go travel the world for a year to help as part of the healing process. Best decision I ever made. It changed my outlook a lot. Less is the new more and I realize I don’t need all those excesses of stuff anymore. Feels so good to be free.