It’s been about a month since I flew the coop. Left San Francisco for who knows how long and embarked on my first nomad adventure in Sydney, Australia. If I could carve my last month into one word it would be “growth.” A radical shift in my understanding of life. As excited as I was to make the leap into mobile living I had no idea what I was in for. In one day the small grasp I had on my life vanished. The tightly woven hour by hour schedule, my steadfast drive for perfection, my control over every aspect of my life, was ripped from me in one foul swoop. As the sun dawned on the other side of the world there I stood naked and exposed to infinite possibility.
A fresh beginning with no understanding of how to start. Big questions started to arise. The little things like setting up a phone, bank account, getting settled in my room with new roommates, were child’s play. It was the gargantuan questions that I was afraid to look at. I flailed for about two weeks. Trying to get my bearings. Good thing Sydney is similar to San Francisco and full of amazing people. Traveling and taking in this new place wasn’t my issue. I absolutely love traveling. Just walking down the street makes me happy.
Discovering stellar restaurants, strolling through cockatoo spotted parks, and bushwalking through blue mountains and hidden beaches was a piece of cake. What really freaked me out was the realization that this wasn’t a vacation…well maybe for a little while…but this was my life! What!!! Amazing in theory, but how the hell do I balance everything. Travel vs. dance vs. writing, vs. getting paid. What direction am I going, what is my plan?
As humans, when we are faced with unlimited possibilities we immediately want to start organizing. Labeling and planning how to navigate the stormy waters of the unknown. We don’t like not knowing. Figuring is our “evolved” mindset, but sometimes I wonder if it’s a hindrance more than an asset. So after all that thinking and worrying I smacked into reality. Slid down it’s lush green wall until I melted into a puddle of acceptance.
This is what I wanted. Why I had torn through the bars of my safe controlled existence in San Francisco and swam to freedom. I longed for this experience, but had to realize in the end that it’s not comfortable. It’s not safe. Comfortable = “Safe” (more like trapped) and that’s not what I had signed up for. I was sick of safe, sick of figuring, sick of knowing. Couldn’t make a decision to save my life! How do I structure my life…create it? Too many possibilities…how do I choose?
So I stopped dead in my tracks. Took a breath. Accepted what was happening. Accepted what is…what’s now. Clarity found me. All I knew and the only reason I had worked so hard in the past was to follow my passion for dance. It had worked for me thus far…pretty damn good considering my current lifestyle. I didn’t know how life would be on the other side. Would I still want to dance, or would I swap dance for the love of travel? What I realized is that what had driven me all along was still at the core of my being. It hadn’t been replaced or swept under the rug thanks to new circumstances. Dance is still what gets me up in the morning with a smile on my face.
So now my journey has a somewhat less ambiguous path. Go where dance is and figure it out. Follow what feels right at the moment. That’s my only plan! A new thing for a planning perfectionist like my old self. And I gotta tell you…it feels damn good.
The best advice I got from my closest friend was this….”just keep doing what you’re doing.” I’d like to think it’s really, “just keep being what you’re being.” The rest falls into place.
My question for you:
If you had to start all over what would you do? What path would you take? Because there will come a day when you decide you are unhappy in your given circumstances and that you want the hell out. If you are daring enough you will make the necessary move, but what then? When you are in charge of shaping your world where do you start?
Your Challenge: To take the plans out of your day. Make one day a week a day for freedom. Step out of your door like you would in a new world and just see where the day leads you. A great experiment.
photo source: Eva Monbert
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I loved this line, in particular, “Accepted what was happening. Accepted what is…what’s now. Clarity found me.” Wonderfully said. Surrender to the moment, and true joy blossoms. Our tiny minds cannot fathom the immense plans the Universe has for us. When we surrender to what is, we invite in eternity.
What is inside the center of sound ?
Very recognisable post, haha.
) gives me. When I work, I focus on work. When I travel, I travel. Sometimes I combine the two.
Here’s what I did/do: I follow my heart, and the signs the universe (or whoever is in charge
The important part for me is: I sort of know where I want to be in the mid-to-long term. However, I don’t make any plans. Location independent life is just too erratic.
Right now, I’m in Costa Rica, healing my foot after I broke it. I know I have a flight back at the beginning of July to Europe. I know I can stay in my current location for at lest 2-3 more weeks. I have some ideas of what I want to do in the mean tie, but I don’t worry about it too much until teh time comes closer and I know what i want to do next. Usually something exciting comes up.
So, just pick some points in the next months where you know where you need to or want to be, and then let life fill in all the details. Works for me!
Good luck with your next life-phase. You’re in for quite a ride!
Wow, that is a great experiment! It’ll take me awhile to sort it all out, so I’m going to have to get back to you, but thanks for encouraging me to think differently. I think it’s always important to think about life from a different angle. I agree that possibilities can be both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it’s wonderful to be free, to do whatever you please, but it’s also overwhelming when you’re not used to living that way.
how deeply profound… just yesterday i was chatting with a friend of mine after a an easy catering event, contemplating what i would do with my life where i to get a chance to start over, or where i to become independently wealthy… the answer was absolutely clear to me – i would still cook, still be a chef!(besides traveling the world, of course) i wake up every morning, excited thinking about what i might be able to create today.. love the fact that my job gives me a chance to make people happy, brighten their day, bring a smile to their face! i consider myself lucky to have found my passion – so many people struggle to get here! and that is after i was going to go to law school and become a lawyer. thanks for a wonderful piece, Amber!
Found you through #LIP on Twitter.
Wonder about the phrasing of the question: “Because there will come a day when you decide you are unhappy in your given circumstances and that you want the hell out.”
Some people don’t want out of where they are; they were born into a place that suits them, and have a life/people around them that they wouldn’t think of leaving.
Then there are people like you & me. Change excites us even more than it scares us; the alternative is stagnation. So we plug our noses and jump. I’ve lived in a half-dozen countries, and still haven’t stopped. Each of them has honed my art and skills, and I wouldn’t have things any other way.
Different kinds of people make the world the wonderful place that it is: both the restless and the complacent have roles to play.
I agree there are some happy with what they are doing, some that want to change, but are too scared and some that make change in their lives. I on the other hand had change happen to me with my house burning down and losing my job. it enabled me to see he chance to travel as an option so off I set on a round the world trip. It was the best thing that could have happened to me. I love travel and after only being back three weeks I set off on a roadtrip across America. Sometimes you have to find the good out of the bad to see the opportunities in life. Happy travels Amber and enjoying your blog
Living in the moment. That is the only *real* way to live. Daily routines make living in the moment almost dull — we already know, for the most part anyway, what the next moment, and the next hour, and even the next day will bring.
All of us can benefit by striving to live in the moment — to be conscious of each and every second as it goes by. Your new lifestyle makes it easier for you to really live each and every moment; I can only imagine what a freeing experience that must be. That’s such an incredible way to live!
What would I do if I started over? My dream has always been to live a mobile lifestyle and simply explore, discover, and learn from the world. I would spend 3 – 6 months at a time living in a place, getting to know the people, picking up the language, and making friends. I would work various odd jobs (maybe just in return for food/shelter) and learn, understand, and live the various lifestyles. I would write about my experiences on a blog and post photos.
It will happen. And I can feel the time nearing — it’s just not quite here yet. Your blog posts and twitter messages are like a little person in my head prodding me along, constantly reminding me what’s possible.
Thank you.
@ Megan- well said! I couldn’t agree more. Surrender is def the right word. It’s so hard to let go of our thoughts sometimes.
@ great question. Your guess is as good as mine. We’ll never know everything. That’s the beauty of it all.
@ Walter- thanks so much for the advice. It has been quite an adjustment living on the go. I am loving every minute of it. And like you mentioned setting some places you want to see and goals gives you some frame work, but then letting everything evolve from that is the fun part.
@ positively present- can’t wait to hear how it goes. Let me know what your experience is like!
@ Polina- that fact that you know what you want is invaluable. That’s the first step in making it happen. If you never define your dream life you’ll never be able to take the first steps in that direction. keep at it and keep me posted.
@ Elizabeth- i agree. My phrasing is too general here. I didn’t mean that everyone will want to do what we do. Some people don’t want to travel the world, but for those who do there is a way. I hope to inspire those who do want to live this life style. I think a lot of people just settle because it’s all they know. I want people to know that they can do whatever they dream. Thanks for your opinion!
@Rich- yes! Taking the positive out of every situation. It’s from the hard times in life that we decide to make massive change in a positive direction. Your story was a blessing in disguise for sure!
@ Rev- I am so glad my updates keep you inspired. Be sure to update me on your progress. i hope to see you out in the world soon
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