“Life is an amazing adventure; it was never intended to be lived in gray-scale.”
-C.K. Kochis
I started writing that quote years ago. I’d say at least six or seven years ago (maybe longer than that). It started off as a way to remind myself that the dark days I was experiencing where there to teach me to find the blessing in every situation. I first stated it as a sassy, defiant F-U to the universe for whatever painful, emotional-shredding event I was enduring. The first five words of the quote quickly became my mantra; what comes after the semicolon spewed out of my mouth when I chose to transform my meager existence from stagnate to one of living in forward motion.
Our words have power.
Life is an amazing adventure gifted me the power to alter my perspective and shift any emotional-basket-case shit-show I was experiencing into an adventure. It continues to serves as a reminder that life is good, life is fun, life is however I perceive it. It is a choice, after all.
There is value of keeping travel bucket lists.
Two weeks ago while I was packing the contents of my bedroom, I found a blank, hardcover journal. It’s the perfect notebook to list where in the world I would love to visit and events to witness. I sat down and wrote a checklist that included visiting my sister, Brice Canyon, the east coast where three dear friends live, the hot air balloon festival in New Mexico and so forth.
Yesterday as I scrolled through Facebook in between journal-able thoughts, I found a video on New Zealand. It didn’t take me long to exclaim, “YES! I wanna go there!” I reached over to the folded pile of tatted dresser covers my grandmother made for me to collect my travel bucket list and poof! it was not there. Shoot.
I rolled over to the other side of the bed and rummaged through my nightstand. Nope, not there either. Dang it.
With all the packing, purging and hiding my journals, bills and female personal-care items, I have misplaced my travel bucket list. What the heck? Seriously, Cynthia. Really?
Wa-la! There it is! I found it under the t-shirts. Wait. I don’t remember it having this cover. Must be a touch of brain-strain and mover’s mind (evidently losing items is common with people moving). I opened the book and found my bucket list. On the first line I wrote “2020” behind Ireland (last night I confirmed the dates for our trip to Ireland). It wasn’t until I read the third location on the list that I realized that I don’t have a purple pen and this checklist is written in purple ink. What the heck? I flipped to another page and there, under the “It would be fun to…” header, I found: finish writing Home Shadows. Sweet mother of… Whoa. This is at least seven years old!
This morning I was gifted something very unexpected; confirmation I am on the right track.
Reviewing the old list, the places I wanted to go then are still the destination locations I have a desire to visit. How sweet is that? It’s wild how similar the lists are. Wait. Does this mean I’m one hell of a slow manifester? Or… does it mean that I had to experience what I experienced to truly appreciate and gain the wisdom to experience what it is that I desire to experience. Did I write that right?
So… I’m curious. If you were to sell your home and had no tie-downs, where would go? Again I declare, life is an amazing adventure…
I would go to the beach. A cozy cottage with a view of the waves.
That sounds heavenly, Deb. To sit with feet in the sand, gentle breeze tussling the hair a bit, a good book perched on the arm of the wooden adarac chair and a glass of wine in hand.
Sounds wonderful, Cindy! Sitting on the sand is an almost instant anxiety release for me. Sounds like I’m going to do a virtual trip today (visualization) and set into motion a day trip… baby steps toward the cottage.
I had a very short visit to Sorrento, a few hour long, as a cruise excursion. Would love to go there for a few weeks every year, it is pure magic.
Sorrento? I’m not familiar with that destination point. Thanks for the inspiration, Rachel. I will have to check it out! We can all use a bit more magic in our lives.
It’s awesome that you found your original list! Here’s to your MANY travels. Lots of love to you!
…and lots of love right back to you, Jill. I laughed when I realized the list I was “updating” was the original one.
I want to see Taos and Santa Fe, and hang out in writers’ colonies. Also England.
Hanging out in communities where the writers write inspires inspiration. The region I call home is a writers mecca. It seems that everyone you meet is a writer or dreams of being a writer one day. I believe you would feel right at home in this neck of the woods, Barb. #PenToPaper
Your blog really resonated with me because I love to travel. In fact I have changed countries and continents twice already and will perhaps be doing so again in the short term. Life is an adventure and I love exploring this beautiful planet and all the amazing people and tastes and flavours around. The advantage of technology allows me to work from anywhere, so that’s a plus too. Happy travels.
Yes, technology has its benefits and, when we allow, provides us great freedom. With the closing date of
mythe home fast approaching, I’m turning in my two-weeks notice to my traditional j-0-b-s. My virtual clients are thrilled to “join me on the road” and looking forward to where I land next. Trilby, you’ve reminded me just how much freedom I do have. And for that, I thank you.There are so many places I would like to go…I should start a list too! Thanks for sharing!
#PenToPaper and #WriteOn! Enjoy creating your list, Kris.
I traveled a lot in my younger days and saw places that have added to my knowledge of culture and history. I also made it a point to visit places of interest in the countries where I worked so the travel bug has died down a bit now. 🙂 One place I could not manage was seeing the Fjordes of Norway as I ran out of time while visiting that beautiful country. I might visit it someday but when I think of freedom, it’s the vision of mountains.
Unfamiliar with Fjords of Norway, I Googled it. Oh… Oh my. Oh My Goodness! The mountains, waterways, cliffs, country roads… heavenly. Fjords of Norway is high on my travel bucket list; on the line above Ireland. Thank you, Vatsala. I can see myself hiking, biking, kayaking and exploring ‘life’ in Norway.
Oh this blog post got me all excited…cause I literally want to go everywhere. No place I would not visit. That kind of freedom is mind blowing… 🙂
xoxo, Z~
I can feel the enthusiasm in your words, Zeenat! And yes, this kind of freedom is mind blowing! It feels liberating to state, “Soon, I will not have a “tie down” to hold me to a specific location.” May you have the flexibility to explore the world and fill your heart with new chapters.
“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” – Saint Augustine