Inspiration

“To live a life of reckless abandon.” – Elisabeth Elliot

There have been moments throughout history where an individual has brought forth an idea so revolutionary that it will undoubtedly cause a paradigm shift in the minds of society. Copernicus, Pythagoras, Galileo. Names that dared to blaze a trail to challenge the status quo of their era, regardless of any repercussions it may be associated with. Among this prestigious list is the scientist Charles Darwin, who famously penned the Theory of Evolution after he visited the islands of the Galapagos. A place where I was fortunate enough to explore. I can see how Darwin would have been fascinated by the vast array of flora and fauna that the islands have on full display. Seeing these things through his scientific lens must have elevated his scientific research onto a whole different level. There is just a quality so ethereal, even magical, about the islands that I believe served as a catalyst for him to develop a world changing concept. Although a birthplace of an idea naturally comes from within, a spark must inevitably serve as a catalyst to initiate the creative process. Originating from a small mental seed in his mind’s eye that would slowly be transcribed onto pen and paper. The continuous observation and analysis of the data he collected to further provide support, which would eventually lead to the formation of his theory. It all started with the aura that the islands exude. I can attest to that feeling. I too felt energized just being surrounded by such an environment. A spark of inspiration flowed through me evidenced by the amount of writing that I was able to do throughout my stay. Prior to my visit, my writing has been on an indefinite hiatus. The root cause is still unknown to me why I no longer worked on my craft. Lack of inspiration. Difficulty allocating time. Regardless of the many reasons I justified as I look onto the blank pages of my journal, they would all come to be excuses. As time progressed, it would prove to be harder for me to get out of this mental bog. I was looking for a spark to lift me out of this mental miasma. The islands provided that. Sunrise writing sessions seemed effortless as thoughts and ideas flowed freely from pen to pad. A reinvigoration of the soul. That’s the power of placing oneself into an environment that fosters the type of energy that one seeks. A creative surge was the outcome of my experience, but anyone reading this can find the spark that they too are looking for. Although I journeyed to a location that was far from home, one doesn’t need to go to such distances to experience the same thing. Taking the time to listen to your inner thoughts and following the guiding light of where to go next is what’s most important. It’s far too easy in today’s society to have that voice drowned out by all the noise and chaos of the everyday. Don’t let it. The world needs more people that are inspired more than ever. The possibility of their life’s work to provide a positive impact for generations to come. My writing is of far less magnitude than the Theory of Evolution, but I believe it might provide that spark for someone to pursue their dreams; to live a life of reckless abandon. Whenever the call for adventure beckons to our soul, it is up to us to answer the call just like Darwin did all those years ago.

Course Well Trodden

The pleasure we derive from journeys is perhaps dependent more on the mindset with which we travel than on the destination we travel to. - Alain de Botton

In a very general sense, there are two types of travellers. Ones that blaze their own path and ones that follow the trail set by others. The focus of this entry will be on the latter. Suggestions, solicited or otherwise, inevitably come your way once you announce a trip. “You must go here!” “This is definitely a must see.” “Make sure you eat this while you’re there.” This can come from family and friends that have visited these places before and are wanting to impart their knowledge and wisdom unto you. It can also come from doing your own research, whether it be online material on travel blogs or forums and any of the countless travel books available. Regardless of what medium or source this material came from, it all originally came from a genuine human experience. It came from the heart. In the end, it is only natural for an individual to not completely agree with all the things suggested by another. A friend may have recommended a “nice hike up a mountain” while, in reality, it was actually a couple loose rocks away from certain death. A blogger that suggested that this hostel will have all the makings of complete paradise will seem banal and unoriginal after even just spending one day at the place. Travel guides nominating a certain activity as “the most authentic aspect of this country” may seem overly commercialized. Everyone has their own preferences coupled with different definitions of what adventure means to them. Now for a thought experiment that I have come to occasionally ponder about. While taking a moment to reflect and approach this concept from a different perspective, sometimes you can see the subtle nuances hidden in between the lines. An insight of what they went out in search for and what they were intrinsically seeking. You see into the priorities they had; what they wanted their focus to be. You can catch a glimpse of the lens they were seeing the world through at that point in time. Their recommendations were more than just words of cordial conversation. It was a personal narrative for their recipe to happiness. The ingredients needed will unfold as you travel. It is up to you to make it your own. Maybe one day you can pass along that recipe to someone else looking for their own slice of happiness.

Kintsugi

When you travel you experience, in a very practical way, the act of rebirth. - Rolf Potts

The practice of Kintsugi is a Japanese technique used to repair broken pottery through the process of mixing precious metals such as silver and gold with lacquer. The amalgamation of these components serves to not only restore the utilitarian function of the piece, but also to elevate it to a higher aesthetic. What used to be cracks of that once broken object are now scars of beauty for the world to see. It provides character and meaning to the history behind that object. On a philosophical level, people can also be like those broken pieces of pottery. Travel can serve as a catalyst for such a change. It is not uncommon to find backpackers searching within themselves for a cure of their maladies and internal struggles. This search inward has almost become a stereotypical trope associated with backpacking culture. Of course, not everyone that travels falls within this situation. Only the individual knows if he or she is on this path. Some of the great novelists write that travel for them can sometimes serve as a rebirth for the soul. Whether or not they were seeking to heal something deep within, they no doubt return home a different person. Tragic, though, is when the individual fails to notice the changes within themselves or the perception that any personal growth obtained on the trip was only temporary. That once they return home, a regression back to how things were will inevitably occur. The return back to the void in which they were seeking to escape; a reopening of figurative wounds. What is important to note is that regressing back to this state of mind, this mental construct, is not an immutable law of nature. It can be fought against; rebelled against. The same energy and courage utilized in taking that journey of self-healing can also be harnessed towards future forward progression. A profound change has already occurred. Evolution has taken place. The metaphorical gold and lacquer lining the scars of the soul have set, transmuting with it beauty and strength.