*This blog was written 6 weeks ago but never posted. Here it is now… better late than never!
When do you feel those moments of nothingness, where you’re forced through your environment to do blissfully nothing? What comes to mind?
For me, it’s on long ferry journeys, where for twenty-four hours or more time stands still. There is no Internet, little to do and nowhere to be. The focus if you allow it, is exclusively in the present moment.
Sitting on a hard plastic chair, I squirm and allow my body to settle into a semi comfortable position. Day dreaming out of the window to the expanse of ocean before me, an enormous turquoise blanket softly sways from the boat to the horizon.
The atmosphere is mixed. Moroccan men mutter prayers and smoke shishas behind me, whilst Europeans lie on the deck basking in the warm rays of the afternoon sun.
My belly expands as I take a deep breath, and as the air squeezes out of my lips, a freshly gained understanding arises that each country brings an altered pace and routine, with new challenges. As we sail closer to a new land, we lay ourselves bare to the lessons that will come.
When we disembark, we’ll walk towards Tuscany welcoming the atmosphere, energy, sounds, smells and tastes of what is to us, an unexplored country. There is a high vibration of excitement within the camp!
Reflecting on our experience so far, my heart is warm with happiness, contentment and gratitude. The journey is going well, and with each passing week, we settle more and more into this unique lifestyle choice.
With the prospect of entering our fourth country, we continue to place our trust in the universe with first hand experience that she always delivers. This brings a calm relaxed poise wherever I meander, which apparently is becoming obvious to others.
A few weeks ago, walking along a boardwalk, an intrigued observer pulls up alongside us on her bicycle and inquires “What are you doing?!”
I shared our journey and philosophy to which she responded, ”I saw you yesterday, walking, looking around smiling, and you looked so free”. I exclaimed that that was a perfect word because it really encapsulates how we feel throughout this experience.
She shared that she was happy and very fortunate in her position…but that she didn’t feel ‘free’.
My response was one of honesty and encouragement. That being free is possible, but not necessarily easy. “To get to where we are, there have been a lot of sacrifices; it’s been a long process of letting go with a shift in perspectives and priorities”. “YES!” she blurted out and pointed directly at me with full understanding and appreciation of what I meant.
She cycled away inspired after what had been a mutually enjoyable chat.
I have a deep gratitude for our journey and embrace the freedom that we currently enjoy. However, I also understand that this is time-bound. The budget isn’t infinite and there will be a shift where we need to create an income stream, which brings responsibilities that may reduce freedom somewhat.
However as the saying goes…
“Better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all”.
This experience with all it’s freedom is something that will stay with us forever, and it will most certainly direct our future choices to preserve as much of this luxury as possible.
Thanks for staying tuned.
Love Laura x
Love this – the power of freedom, gratitude for freedom and the gift that is freedom. Long may you stay free and true xx
Perhaps something that is perceived as ‘earned’, through a lifetime of toil and striving. However, the reality is we can all carve our own level of freedom through carefully crafted choices. xxx
Funny that ‘free’ is the word I used for you also when looking at your photos. It’s shining right through to us all. I am not sure I’ve experienced being totally free, with nothing that can be done or has to be done, and no access to any phone/device. Apart from being at a retreat where you can totally switch off from daily life and choose to partake in something that brings you peace and joy. I am sure you have inspired more people than you know along your way, but I love hearing that locals approach you, ask questions and show interest in your journey. The family with the 2 beautiful children with white hair! Quite unique in some Countries! Here’s to the next instalment and the 1000 km! Good luck xx
With the natural ebbs and flows of life, I’m sure that freedom is like anything, it fluctuates with time. But by understanding what freedom means to us all on an individual basis, we can be open to it’s accessibility and experience moments of it.