Tags
ambition, Blogging, letting go, networking, nomadic life, nomads, presence, travel, travel blogging
I now lack ambition.
When we started writing ‘morning pages’, way back in May 2010, which led to the decision to sell our home and become nomadic, one of the things that arose was the idea that we would write a book about our journey, and that it would become a way to create income. I decided that the blog would be a ‘platform’ to get the word out so we would already have a built-in readership for the book. How many times have you heard that story?
The blog began years before we became nomadic as a way to share our travels with friends and family. I simply emailed them whenever I had a new post ready. Then when we became nomadic and I had this grand idea that it would be a launching pad for a future book, it suddenly became this ‘platform’, this ‘project’, this full-time job: what with photography and photo editing, writing, replying to comments, following other bloggers, welcoming new followers, generally being active in the ‘blogosphere’, becoming more active on Facebook, and networking in a small way: suddenly it was all taking up a lot of time. So much so that I stopped enjoying travelling as much – I didn’t have time. I was torn between wanting to go out and do and see things in all the fabulous places we were visiting, and doing what I ‘should’ be doing to stay up to date with the blog and all the networking. So much so that I got completely stressed out and developed a chronic pain in my right hip due to the inner conflict about moving forward into each day’s activities. And so much so that my reason for blogging about our travels in the first place, the pure joy and creativity of it, and the joy of sharing it, had become completely muddied.
When we were in Mexico earlier this year, I realized that I am still young, that I probably have a good twenty or thirty years ahead of me – plenty of time to have a whole new career as a nomad and writer. This fuelled the ‘project’. Then at some point I mentioned to someone that the blog had become a full-time job and his reaction was to laugh, but not in a good way. That prompted me to look at how seriously Don and I were taking this whole project, and that if I didn’t take it seriously, and hold it in the highest regard then why would anyone else? We decided to take it more seriously, to give full respect and recognition to my full-time job. This further fuelled the ‘project’. I have a history of starting big creative projects that were going to lead to fame and, more importantly, fortune, and then eventually giving up on every one of them, self-sabotaging in one way or another. This time I was determined not to do that. This time I was not giving up. No matter what. This recognition of my past behavior and my steely determination not to repeat it also further fuelled the ‘project’.
What I didn’t count on, because I didn’t know about it until I stepped into the blogging world, was how many fabulous blogs are out there, and how many wonderful people there are to meet, and friends to make, and things to be inspired by and learn and laugh and cry about. I wanted to spend time there. I didn’t even know the blogging world existed really until I was nominated for my first award. I was floored! And thrilled and excited of course. What was this? So I went searching for other blogs so I could respond to the award and suddenly, where once I had a tiny toe in the door, the door was now wide open. What a world I had discovered. And more importantly what wonderful people. So often I would be quickly reading through all the new posts on all the blogs I am following and I’d be completely stopped. I was lost to time. I had to read to the end, it was brilliant. You were brilliant. So much interesting insight, talent, and caring, and superb writing. At the same time reconnecting with long lost friends on Facebook was filling me with joy. They still like me!
And always in the background was this stress of time – I don’t have time to be doing this, I should be getting on with . . . . . . . photo editing, joining google+, updating FB, updating my Linkedin profile, searching out more blogs to read and comment on, writing – God it’s already nine days since my last post and we’re going out all day today, and all day tomorrow, and and and . . . . . Thoughts began to arise about not wanting to travel anymore: so I’d have all the time I needed to attend to the blog and all the networking! The mind continually amazes me with the stuff it makes up. Stop being nomadic to spend time developing and promoting a blog about being nomadic! How insane is that? Never mind that it would mean giving up this life I love to sit in front of a computer.
Then something changed. I think there was a moment, but I can’t remember it. In conversation with Don there has been a lot of exploring of what was going on for me. There has been a lot of feeling into the pain in my hip to find out what it was trying to say to me, and a lot of feeling the feelings. There has been a lot of dropping into presence, deeper and deeper, because that is the only way to avoid suffering and connect with the truth. There has been a lot of acceptance of what is, moment by moment, again because that is the only real way to avoid suffering. There has been a letting go more than a giving up. There has been the deep recognition that everything crumbles away. There is the ongoing realization that I will die one day. This will all end. All of it. There is the knowing that I don’t know what I want. In a good way. There is this quiet presence and peace that comes with acceptance that I don’t know what I want, and that I don’t need to know. Because I already have it. There is just being. A complete lack of ambition. A lack of striving – to achieve something, to be someone. A quiet peace. It’s not that I’ve given up. Or that I don’t care any more. It’s more like a quiet acceptance that things will unfold as they unfold, I’ll be inspired to do things moment by moment, or not, and that either way it doesn’t matter. Trust deepens the longer we are on this journey.
I know I’ve written in previous posts about being present, accepting what is, and letting go. This lifestyle demands it. There is no external stability so stability must come from the inside. In my striving to create a business out of the blog, in my stressing to expand my networking (in the blogging world, and all the endless social media outlets – it’s like learning a whole new language!) and in trying to make the blog perfect, to keep it current and interesting (what do I need to improve to be “Freshly Pressed” etc etc), I created suffering for myself and lost my internal stability. It had been replaced by trying, and striving, and craving. In presence and letting go I rediscovered my centre. I no longer have any attachment to outcome. Something popped the balloon. That big puffed up ego balloon that thought I could and/or should “be someone” has been completely deflated. There’s no air left in it any more. What a relief. What peace.
The blog will continue. My connection to other blogs and bloggers will continue. I get so much pleasure and inspiration from reading others’ blogs, and have made some wonderful friends. I continue to be grateful for and humbled by all who choose to follow along on our journey. Probably not much will change externally. What has changed is the energy with which I hold it all. The striving has gone. The need to get somewhere has gone. The ambition has gone. I no longer have any attachment to outcome – just like in the rest of my life. And I can finally fully enjoy myself again.
And to all of you who have chosen to follow our journey – thank you! I honestly wonder why, and it fills me with a kind of surprised delight. I love sharing our journey. I’m thrilled to have people to share it with.
Photo of the day: Argentina’s Mona Lisa. Near Recoleta Cemetery, Buenos Aires.
All words and images by Alison Louise Armstrong unless otherwise noted.
© Alison Louise Armstrong and Adventures in Wonderland – a pilgrimage of the heart, 2010-2015.
Adventures in Wonderland 
It never fails to amaze me how a change in one’s perspective can be so freeing. You vocalized a lot similar feelings I have. I’ve enjoyed your blog and your travels. Maureen
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Thanks Maureen. It’s been so very freeing. There’s now this big space regarding the blog, and I don’t mind how it’s filled. No attachment = peace.
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Yep. Those two go hand in hand! 🙂
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What could possibly be better than the acceptance of living in the unknown we all live in peacefully and with relief? I can think of nothing. Having my path cross with yours has been an inspirational gift. Love, Paulette
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Thanks Paulette. And I say the same to you – it’s been a great gift to get to know you.
xox
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My sentiments exactly, so many incredible blogs, so little time. Stick with what your passionate about, and have as much fun along the way. Be creative, imaginative with your traveling so it won’t be a “job”. I’m glad u’r continuing successfully with the blogging part of your journey and inspiring others with your vision. I look forward to reading your book. Feel better Alison!
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Thank you so much. I am already feeling very much better – much more peaceful, and my hip is slowly improving too though I’m looking forward to some craniosacral sessions when we get to Vancouver in March.
I’ve always known the blog had to come from love and passion. I feel as if I’m actually living that now. Thanks for your support ❤
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I LOVE these thoughts – not to diminish them in any way as your unique thoughts but I have had them myself, so often, and concluded with no good answer but to go on doing what I am doing. Then if you add my painting to the mix it gets very complicated. But such is life. Thanks for your honesty! Wish I could meet you in person some fine day!
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Thanks Jo Ann. I’m not surprised to hear you, and no doubt many other bloggers, have had the same kind of thoughts about their blog, and blogging. And I agree – no good answer but to go on doing what we’re doing – because we love it apparently. I can’t imagine *not* blogging about our journey. And I’m so happy to be doing it now which a whole lot less tension.
I’d love for us to meet in person. I’d love to have a big blogger friends party! And I’m glad we all get to meet at all, even if it is ‘only’ through cyberspace. What an extraordinary invention the Internet is.
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Make sure you invite me!
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You bet! You’d *have* to be there!
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I’m always happy to see a blog post from you, no matter when it shows up or how often it happens – it’s all good.
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Thanks Fiona. Thanks for your support. Yes – it’s all good, however we get wherever we’re going. It feels good to take the pressure off.
See you in March at Not-at-worlds!
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My answer to “I honestly wonder why” is this. This post. And others like it. I truly enjoy the travel posts, but reading about your internal processes during your adventures, from both of you, means so much more to me.
I entirely understand your transition to the quiet and peace of just being instead of striving. I too have accepted that I have no ambition, although to most people that sounds like a negative statement. I absolutely know that the creative self will prosper as and when it needs and wants to. There’s no longer a need to push it or push at it.
I’m glad you’ve come to an agreement with your blogging self about this. I speak from a couple of decades of experience in “living” and working and being productive here online, and I know it can suck the time away as it puffs itself up with a sense of over-importance and self-imposed expectations. Having thoroughly stepped away from my own online persona’s ambition, I can see its shadow slinking away, see the pressures it has placed on me over the years, along with its demanding neediness, crumble and fall away. What’s left is … um, how can we say “lack of ambition” in a way that sounds more uplifting and freeing?
I’m glad you have arrived at a way of thinking about your blog that works better for you and your dear hip. 😉
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That’s it! – the creative self will prosper when and as it needs and wants to. I don’t know how many times I’ve had to learn there’s no need to ‘push it or push at it’. Sigh.
And that’s the feeling now – let it unfold itself. It will I think require some vigilance on my part to really be listening to what’s wanted in each moment and not fall back in the old pattern of ‘getting it done’. It’s not that I’ve now said no to the plan or the dream or the vision, but rather seen that I must step back and let life unfold itself, without any attachment to the outcome. It feels lovely. And I’m totally happy with it being phrased as having no ambition. Life can be ambitious for me lol I’ll just make sure I listen more attentively to what’s wanted instead of acting from made-up ‘shoulds’.
You’ll be pleased to know work has begun on a nomadic life post from Don who has also been through a major shift.
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A lesson for all of us Alison, and your comments about the blogging community are right on. It has opened up a whole new world of beautiful people I never would have met, including you and Don. I believe life is an adventure and that is how it should be lived. It is fun to share. –Curt
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Thanks Curt. The blogging community is amazing isn’t it?! And I really had no idea until a year or two ago. Yes, *Life* is the adventure! Much better than stressing – about anything.
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🙂
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I had to laugh, Alison!! No ambition? In my view, this nomadic journey you and Don are on is itself highly ambitious. When I read about all the challenges you face as you go from place to place, and all the details you have to handle, I often think “I couldn’t, or wouldn’t want to” do that. Too much work!!
I’m a published author and have made one attempt at a novel. It really is a single-minded focus that is difficult to maintain when you are doing other things – and traveling, reflecting and connecting are other things. I have virtually no desire to do any of my own writing any more because I work with words all the time and when the work is done, I want out of the chains that shackle me to my computer.
So my advice is, travel now – write later, and only if your heart is truly into it. However, your blog is central to the bigger project, if you choose to pursue it. So the bigger project is actually underway already. Myself, I would prefer a hard copy or e-book to the blogging venture you’ve described. I think it would be much easier, and think you may have a shot at getting a publisher because your story has such broad appeal and people from all different walks of life can relate to your reflections and learn from contemplating them. Not to mention, both your writing and your pictures are beautiful.
I agree that it’s all good – enjoy when you post and whatever you post about. The itinerary really doesn’t matter. When I gave up journalism it was because I had no life. It was a summer spent largely indoors at the computer (word processor, back then). I’d look out the window those beautiful summer evenings and see young couples holding hands as they walked down the street, perhaps with a baby stroller, and folks walking their dogs.
Life won over art in that round of the struggle.
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Gayle: Very deep insightful comments that lead to sound advice.
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I agree Yves.
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Oh Gayle I love when you give these long thoughtful comments and share some more of your life with me! I never knew you were a journalist, though it does not surprise me to hear it.
Life winning over art – that’s kind of what this is about really – me listening to what’s really wanted instead of doing the blog and networking because of some made-up ‘should’. Letting go of that ambition to make it *be* something and just letting it unfold. I do so very much agree that I should only do it if my heart is into it, and that was the problem really – the ambition was getting in the way of me feeling what the heart wanted. For now I certainly want to continue with the blog, and I do still certainly hold the vision of a book being birthed from it one day. It’s the trying and striving I’ve let go of. So much more relaxing and joyous to just be in the moment with it and let it unfold as it wants to, and if the book never comes, and if one day I even stop blogging, so be it.
And yes I certainly hear you, through hard experience over the past year or so, that the book will take single-minded focus, and will be done in a time of its own. Or not. But certainly not while we’re still travelling. It’s encouraging to hear you think we have a shot at getting a publisher.
One final thought – our journey doesn’t feel ambitious though I can see why you would think it is. But that’s not how we hold it internally. It’s more like an idea arose, life gave us an opportunity, and we said yes, and we wander on from day to day just living our lives, albeit it’s somewhat out of the ordinary.
Thanks for your comment, encouragement and support.
xoxox
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I am glad to hear you are de-stresseing regarding the blog – you seemed stressed about it while you were here. And while I understand the stress, I do it too, it doesn’t seem worth it. Big Hugs.
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I agree Sarah, it’s not worth it. It’s never worth it. Happy to say I’m much less stressed now. Hope you are too 🙂
Big hugs to you too, any everyone else in your house.
S told me about C’s new placemat and her calling the monsters Ali and Don. Too funny!
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Bless your little cotton socks. I really needed to read what you wrote today. Happy trails.
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Thank you so much, I’m so glad it was what you needed to read. That happens to me so very often – reading another blog and finding it’s exactly what needed. Glad to be part of the circle.
Happy trails to you too.
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Another great article Alison. Thank you for affirming many of my own thoughts and doubts with this process, as well as many others, as above. Some days I wonder why I do it, a make-work project, I say to myself, and the next time, I am thoroughly enjoying it and satisfied by it. So what if I don’t write a post on schedule – no one will die. I do it for only one reason – because I enjoy writing. I’ve come to the conclusion that sometimes in life you have to just let things happen, and say,”It is what it is.”
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Thanks Shirley. I suspect this could resonate with quite a few bloggers. It’s not the project itself, it’s all about how we hold it, and I’m glad to say, like you, I’ve moved more into the “it is what it is” place. If I don’t do it from joy and inspiration and from a clarity about what’s wanted in each moment, then I’m better off not doing it at all. As I let it, it will all unfold itself, and if I’m really presence I can both do it, and watch it, unfold at the same time.
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Wow, Alison. Seems to me that you are awakening. I love the end of ambition in the love of the present. I love the acceptance of everything ‘AS IS’. I love that we are having the same thoughts and sharing them over the internet. I love the detachment from outcome. I love your blog and you. {{{Hugs}}} Kozo
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Thank you Kozo, you’re so wonderful! Awakening? Oh I suppose so. Or not. Adya once described the difference between awakening and enlightenment. The awakening part is when the recognition arises that all really is One, and that there is no separate self and never has been, that there’s no-one home, it all just is. I admit I have experienced that recognition many times. It’s the embodiment of it that is enlightenment, and the sticker. The full embodiment and living of the truth of being no-one. Oh I have plenty of buttons that can still be pushed lol. And spend most of my time living in the belief of a separate me. The great teachers are so far beyond that – Adya, Eckhart, Byron Katie, Gangaji (to name some current ones) are all empty. So empty of any “me”ness, though each of them is capable of playing at it, and does. One day I hope to be there but not yet obviously. Just trusting that that grace will arise when it’s ready.
I’m getting much better at accepting everything as is. And I love the end of ambition with the blog. As I said to Maureen no attachment = peace.
I too love that we are having the same thoughts and sharing them over the Internet. And I too love your blog and you ❤
Hugs
Alison.
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I love that distinction of enlightenment and awakening, Alison. Isn’t Adya great? Thank you so much for pointing me in his direction. I want to return the favor by dropping the name Richard Rohr. I just finished his book, Falling Upwards. He distinguishes what he calls the First Half of Life from the Second Half of Life. Check it out.
I, too, have had what Adya calls “foretastes” of awakening, but not full embodiment. Yesterday, I had a day when I did not react noticeably to anything, yet it was a day full of joy, love, and appreciation. I’m hoping to go for 2 days in a row, but today is Thanksgiving which means family, step father, ego, judgment. Haha, I guess I’ve corrupted the meaning of Thanksgiving.
Maybe we can have a 12 steps to awakening group. “Hello, my name is Kozo, and I am a sleep walker of life. I have been awake for the past 2 days. My last bout of drowsiness was on Tuesday when my son got me so upset I hit him upside the head. My sponsor, Alison, advised me to have self-compassion and start again.”
Happy Thanksgiving, my friend. Thanks for being my sponsor. Love, Kozo
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Someone else on another forum recommended Richard Rohr’s book to me yesterday – twice in one day. I’d better take a look at it.
Hope Thanksgiving went oaky for you all ((((hugs))))
Love the 12 steps lol. Don and I both laughed at your little speech. I’m assuming Jett is fine and that you apologized and took care of him afterwards. I know it’s really hard to break the patterns learnt in childhood and the model of parenting that was conditioned into your brain as a child was obviously painful and frightening. My mother was fierce and she arises in me from time to time – I would have been an awful parent – angry and controlling. I think you and Jett go way back, beyond just this life. This life you’ll work it out.
Sponsor? Lol too funny! Still makes me giggle, but thanks for the compliment 🙂
But it is true – on your own latest post I just advised you (from Adya) to have self-compassion!
(((((hugs)))))
Alison
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I love your blog, Alison, and I am fascinated and awed your travels and your nomadic spirit. I love being attached to this computer, but I love that you don’t– and I’m glad you won’t let this blog (fabulous though it is) even take a smidge away from your enjoyment of the loves that truly make you shine. 🙂 This was beautifully thoughtful… I’m glad you’re at peace. *hugs*
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Thanks Rara, thank you for being you. Thank you for your support. I’m hopeful now that I’m finding the right balance between blogging and travel. I love blogging (all aspects of it) but the stress of trying to make the blog *be* something was getting painful. It seems things have to get painful before I’ll pay attention lol. My love of travelling gets to shine through again. We’re off to Chile soon and then very very high up in the world in Bolivia – can’t wait! More pink flamingos! They fill me with joy and make me smile 🙂
hugs xoxox
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Oh Alison! The thing that I love about your blog is the truth in the words, the honesty you share with your readers, and the vulnerability you pose in doing so.
This post brought tears to my eyes, I could really feel you. I could relate to your words with such a depth that it was like reading something I might have written myself.
I so appreciate your openness.
This openness you share about your journey.
These thoughts are so valuable. The world needs more honesty, more feeling the feelings; reading this made me realize that I have drifted from this in myself lately and need to recenter, to allow, to let go, to just deflate that big old ego balloon.
I’m excited to discover this feeling – thank you for this.
I relate, I hear you; wishing you never ending peace and love.
~Andrea<3
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Thank you so much Andrea. You’ve no idea how very much I used to hide about myself hoping the world wouldn’t see how awful I was. Don and I have been together for 15 years and at the outset of our relationship we committed to being completely self-revealing with each other, no matter how difficult it was. Always tell the truth, always take responsibility for your feelings, and never blame. So we’ve had 15 years practicing being self-revealing with each other, and over the years it got safer and safer, and easier and easier. Now with the blog (and in RL) we both get to practice this same openness and honesty with the world. It’s not always easy, but it is always heart-opening.
I’m so very glad this post resonated for you and that it helped you too to recenter. Wishing you never ending peace and love also.
Alison ❤
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Hello 🙂 Came by from Rara’s FB page. Liked this post a lot because you’ve described what I and I think a lot of people feel. This idea of being …of letting go is wonderful when we experience it, but it’s not something that we can strive for…though sometimes we think it is, sometimes we think we are being…when it’s our ego tricking us 😉 Your post illustrates that and how it will feel when one realises it! So thank you for sharing
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Hi Shree, nice to meet you. I’ve been looking around your lovely blog. Thanks for putting this in your ‘good reads’ list. I was so thrilled to see it there like an early Christmas present 🙂
Thanks for your encouraging comment. Ah yes, the letting go is so sweet, and definitely not something that we can strive for. When it comes it comes as a grace, not something we can do, but can only be willing to receive. I feel so much more at peace. Wishing you peace too.
Blessings
Alison
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Soul sister! Every word could have been mine. Yet reading it from you, having it come from in and fill every one of my cells – every fear, every dream, every ounce of drive to be full-on me – was so precious. Your paragraph that started with “Then something changed” was my favorite. Sigh. And sigh again.
I sit here, just soaking in your lovely words and the lovelier truths beneath them, and tears are filling my eyes. You have blessed me with your reminder to honor what I am most passionate about, to go within and reconnect, and trust what is. That is so scary for me as I am now a stay at home mom, yet quickly headed toward needing to find employment. Yet where do I find that “perfect” career after 19 years of not working? Many, many fears compounded by issues I can’t put into the blogosphere.
But, again, you have reminded me to go within, follow my heart. And trust.
Thank you and much love.
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Thank you Kelly. I’m so glad this resonated for you, and helped you reconnect with your centre. It is all about trust. Trust that the Universe knows what you need and is taking care of you. When the time is right the perfect work situation will be there for you. Or not. That’s the thing. You can only choose what you would want, and then let go. There’s no controlling it, or as Kate said, no need to ‘push it, or push at it’. Easy to say I know, but if you stay in your heart you will know. And I know you know all this just as well as I do. It didn’t stop me ‘pushing at it’, until I did. Just keep giving thanks for what is, and the rest will take care of itself. And I know you know this too. Big hugs and much love to you too.
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It’s a bit paradoxical, isn’t it, that this article about letting go of the need of documenting and sharing everything through writing and photos is precisely what resonates with so many readers, including me. If you had been so at peace that you hadn’t needed to share it as a blog, we would not have jumped up and declared, “Wow I feel exactly the same way. Thank you for putting it into words.”
I know exactly what you mean about this conflict of wanting to stop your travel to write about the travel. When I am writing (not about travel but other stuff), I wonder if I should actually be living, but when I’m not writing I wonder if I should be writing down the thoughts and feelings, not only to share with others but also to hold onto a bit of proof that I have lived. It occurred to me that my urge to “write it down” is in part about holding onto the time and my life that is past, an unwillingness to let what’s gone go, a fear that the past is lost. Sometimes this urge to document my life overwhelms the need to live. This fear I have makes it difficult for me to accept what’s passed is past, and to embrace that I am still here, documented or not.
There is never a right answer, to live or to write it down, or how much time and energy one should allocate to each. Doubts will never go away, and we never stop discovering something new about life and ourselves, through suffering, through joy, through sharing, through thinking. That in itself is lovely and entirely worthwhile.
Isn’t it funny and amazing how apt it is — “Life is a journey”? You are literally on a journey, yet everyone figuratively is too. Therefore we sometimes share similar anxiety and discovery. I am so grateful for the thoughts and reflections you have put out here, even though it takes time away from your traveling. It’s a gift. It’s your gift to us who read it. Thank you.
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Thanks Jun. I’m glad there was something in this piece for you. *My* gift is having so many people like you who resonate with what I write. I feel so blessed by that.
I don’t feel as if the blog takes time from travelling. I do love to write and do the blog. The stress was more about the marketing, and trying to make the blog be something that would help sell the book that will arise from it. That was the part that was getting painful.
Oh I do love your spotting of the paradox!
You are still here – documented or not! You can always check this for yourself 🙂
At the same time, like you, both Don and I love the process of talking, writing and sharing as a means to inner discovery, as a means to discovering what’s real.
And yes, we are all on a journey, whether we realize it or not, all travelling the human road from beginning to end – that’s the ultimate gift!
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. I love the depth and sensitivity and honesty in what you write. Thank you.
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By the way, if you publish a book based on these blog, Alison, I will definitely buy it. 🙂
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:cheer: We’ve sold the first one!
Thank you!
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It’s so strange the baggage that we tote along on our travels even as we shed ourselves of material possessions! Fear of new places and people, craving new things to own and even the longing to “be someone” or ambition as we jump off the career paths that used to be so much of our old identities. Your message was so honest and heartfelt and put into words things that I hadn’t even realized I’d been thinking about and carrying along! Anita
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It’s so strange the baggage that we tote along on our travels even as we shed ourselves of material possessions! Fear of new places and people, craving new things to own and even the longing to “be someone” or ambition as we jump off the career paths that used to be so much of our old identities. Your message was so honest and heartfelt and put into words things that I hadn’t even realized I’d been thinking about and carrying along… Anita
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Hi Anita
Your comment is so nice I got it twice!
Ah yes – the baggage we tote along – and the longer we roam the more, bit by bit, it presents itself to be examined. I never have the craving for new things to own but yes, the fear of new people and places is there even after all these years. The latest is a little questioning of whether or not we’ll be able to handle the Andean high altiplano as we head for Bolivia. What if we get altitude sickness?!! etc. And wandering a new city – are we in a safe part of town? How do we know? etc. But we continue to do it anyway, as do you. The recognition of what this new ambition was doing to me took a long time to surface with enough clarity that I could finally let go of it. Thank goodness I finally did! Things will be as they will be.
Thanks for your kind words. I’m glad to hear it was helpful for you.
Happy (continued) travels
Alison
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Alison,
Thank you so much for sharing such a crazy close peek into the way the mind works for all of us during our “journeys”! So ironic and painful the paradoxical pull of documentation and connection and the desire to just experience – for real – in the throws of it ! I love where you find yourself and how well you are able to convey this tectonic shift. Trust is so much a part of relaxing into the flow of whatever is next without agenda. How beautiful to share in your journey with you, however it is shared – I know that we walk along with you and Don even without words and pictures! Wonderful, you! xmarga
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Thank you so much marga for your kind words, and for seeing so clearly what I am saying. It does feel like a tectonic shift, and yet at the same time I suspect I will have to remind myself from time to time that it’s all okay to let go, and that I don’t need an agenda. Many days we have one of course – to go on one adventure or another, and after several we are both craving a day with absolutely no agenda. There’s listening required for that too. And of course finding the balance between the blogging world and real life.
Thanks for being on this journey with us. We love having you along ❤
Alison
xox
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🙂 however you go about your wonderful path in life, i believe will always come from a passionate heart. you and Don are truly inspirational and i’m so happy to be connected with your blog. you both are living an amazing way of life – thank you for sharing your journey.
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Thanks Sun ❤ for your support and nice words. It is wonderful to have you along with us on the journey.
I also haven't been commenting but I want to let you know how much I've enjoyed your Tan Renga series. (I didn't just hit 'like' for nothing)!
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🙂 Have a great week you two!!
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Alison, thanks for stopping by my blog. You caught me as I was reading more of your posts. You’ve given me some inspiration. The Excessive Gardner is just play time and I wanted more so I have another blog where I try to express myself on a more enlightened level. As I said, you have inspired me and I thank you for that. Safe journey. Lucy
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Thanks Lucy, glad the post resonated for you.
Safe travels to you too whatever form they take.
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Congratulations, your blog has been nominated for NEPALIAUSTRALIAN’s Blog Award 2013. Please click the link for more details.
http://nepaliaustralian.com/2013/12/02/nepaliaustralians-blog-award-2013-nominations-announced/
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Wow! I am so honoured. Thank you. Thank you to whoever nominated our blog. I will follow-through on this in the next couple of days.
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Alison,
We all gone into that period, a big ambition on blogging, thinking that this is an easy job, you can just sit behind the computer and start day dreaming, traveling, and earning money… 🙂
Well that’s sound wonderful, but once you start setting your goal and ambition, things turn harder and not that wonderful anymore. I think I learned my lessons after blogging for almost 8 years that I could not set my ambition too high, just take it easy and let my creativity take me to wherever it takes me, as travel blogging means you also has to add those pictures you took along the way, was also time consuming. Yet we still need to enjoy this life, and that could be just do nothing…. 🙂
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Well I think you said it exactly as it is. And I knew that this post would be a very familiar story for many bloggers, but maybe especially for travel bloggers. I’m very glad to be able to still hold the vision but be out from under the spell of ambition. So much more peaceful.
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Alison:
I really enjoyed this post and all of the discussion. At this point in my life I’ve had to let go of ambition too, and just be a stay-at-home Dad for a while. It’s not easy to do, letting go!
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Thanks, Bill. I agree, it’s not easy letting go – we have all these wonderful ideas of how it should be, or could be, and life has other ideas of what it wants, and then we either suffer trying to hold on, or we let go. It’s never easy in the beginning, but eventually it gets so much harder to hold on that something just collapses. That’s when we can begin to be at peace.
I wish you well on your journey.
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I’m so glad your blogging will continue 🙂 it has been a delight finding and enjoying your wonderful blog Alison ~ Lakshmi xx
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Thanks Lakshmi, and a delight for me finding and enjoying your wonderful blog.
xox
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What a lovely post, Alison! It is such a pleasure to follow your adventures. I get very far behind in my blogging and blog reading, depending upon guests and travels, but I always catch up sooner or later, and I am really enjoying the chance to catch up with yours.
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Thank you Naomi, I’m so glad to have you visiting and reading, and that you’re enjoying our adventures. I too get behind, and sometimes catch up with reading and sometimes know I never will so just let it go. We’re off to the Amazon for 9 days and Galapagos for 8 – with no Internet I know I’ll get way behind, and catch up when/if I can. Thanks for visiting!
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I am going to have to go back to Galapagos. We decided to make that the focus of the next trip. I am eager to see your photos and hear those stories. Have fun!
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Beautiful words, thoughts and beautiful woman in the picture.
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Thank you so much ❤
Alison
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I have just found your blog. I like it! I recognise your feelings about why you do it. I too, often feel double about it. But most of the time I really enjoy it. I will watch out for your travels and stories. Thank you.
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Thanks so much Tracy. I’m glad to say I’m much more relaxed about it now than I was then. Not 100%, but mostly I do just let it unfold, and I’m enjoying photography more than ever so my desire and joy in sharing my photographs spurs me on.
Alison
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