Monthly Archives: April 2017

Celebrate Life

Whether we’re on top of the world, or in the depths of fear and despair, LIFE is the one thing that connects us all.  Even when everything is falling apart, it is impossible to deny on a logical level that life is an amazing miracle.

We may not feel like celebrating when we are in the midst of sadness or anger, but the truth of existence remains.  The material world springs from the void in all of its complexity, and our emotion is a direct experience of this.

Whether we are aged 2, 22 or 202, we have reason to celebrate.  Life is the one thing that connects us all.  Whether we are full of love and joy, or feeling disconnected and isolated, getting back to basics and acknowledging the extraordinary experience we are sharing can only enrich our lives.

Ayutthaya, Thailand

When I was younger, this desire to celebrate came incredibly naturally.  To be dancing with other souls on this sacred journey was the best feeling in the world.  All I wanted to do was soak up every precious moment.  It was completely unconscious though.  I was just a young person enjoying the party.

Fast forward a few years, I’d had several premature mid life crises, and lost my passion for such festivities.  Somewhere along the way, I’d forgotten why I was celebrating.  I experienced the other side of life, at times lost in deep sadness and isolation.  However, avoiding parties and festivals definitely didn’t help.  At least not at first.

I didn’t know what made me happy any more, so I took the time to explore my creativity and do some serious soul searching.  I discovered my values and reasons for living, and now I truly understand the importance of celebrating our existence together.

Dressing up as a badger is the best way to celebrate any occasion!

In our society, there is a tendency as we get older to let this celebratory side of us fall asleep, in favour of a quieter peace and contentment (or bitterness, anger and resentment!).  But having experienced the full spectrum of emotions, we have the chance to bring a depth to our celebration that we were previously unaware of.

Every experience feeds our soul in some way.  The more life we have lived, the more our creativity can bloom.  It is our duty to one another to share our magic.

Handmade gemstone necklaces pictured available in my shop www.etsy.com/shop/tessheaven.

Belief in various gods or a higher power unites people in other cultures, giving festivals a deeper meaning, and a reason to set aside individual egos.  However, our lack of a shared belief system shouldn’t prevent us from joining forces, and worshipping almighty LIFE together.

I think this is something we forget in our country sometimes, in favour of hedonism and obliteration.  There is definitely a place for reckless abandon, but maybe there would be less need to escape reality if we were more focused on celebrating the one thing that unites us all.  Being ALIVE!

 

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A Letter To My Fellow Solo Adventurers

This post was inspired by a good friend of mine who is moving back to Bristol soon after spending many months living alone in Cornwall, one of the most wild and beautiful parts of our country.  I recently went to visit her, and she showed me some awesome places, but also told me how she’d been struggling with loneliness.

Beach near Porthtowan, Cornwall, UK

This is an all too familiar story to me, having recently cut short my travels in Costa Rica to be with friends and family for Christmas.  Obviously I’m delighted my friend is coming home, as having loved ones around you is one of the most precious things in the world.  But I know that people like us will always crave new experiences and adventures, and sometimes this means having no one to share them with.

This letter is to myself, my friend, and the thousands of other brave souls out there living unconventional lives.

Dear Adventurer,

I know you feel like you are alone right now, but you are wrong.  I am thinking of you when you feel sad because you think the difficult path you have chosen was a mistake.  I am with you when you are admiring a breathtaking view with a feeling of melancholy because there is nobody to share the special moment.

Even when your adventures don’t feel as enjoyable as they should, know that you are still inspiring me.  I can see you with the wind in your hair out there living life, when I am wrapped up in my blanket at home planning my next escape.

When you’re worrying about your next move or trip, know that I’m here doing the same.  Planning, scheming, getting excited, and thinking ‘what the hell am I doing with my life?!’.  There are so many of us, we shouldn’t feel alone.

Monteverde, Costa Rica

I’m with you when you are gazing longingly at photos of faraway places, wondering if it is worth leaving the supportive embrace of home to take on a new challenge.  There will be struggles whether you stay or go, and know that you are not alone in this.

We are separated by time and space, but we are always together.  Next time you are at the top of a mountain, swimming in a river, or walking on a deserted beach with sand between your toes, say a quiet hello to me.

Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

Sometimes we will get to experience adventures together, and these will be all the more amazing.  Our brave solo adventures have strengthened our adventurous spirits, and when we are together it is magical.

Thank you for choosing the road less travelled.  Soak up every unique detail because I want to hear about it all.  The world through your eyes is such a beautiful place, and although I will never be able to fully share your experience, the glimpses I get bring me so much joy.

Next time you are out exploring alone, remember you’re not just doing it for yourself.  Your courage helps keep the spirit of adventure alive in all of us.  Whether you’re travelling the world, or simply out surfing for the afternoon, your actions have an inspiring ripple effect, spreading an empowering message to so many others.

Baldi Hot Springs, Costa Rica

When you’re lost in the wilderness, or lost in a maze of confusion in your own mind, know that you are never ever alone.  We share the same dreams, and every step you take towards yours brings me closer to my own.  Let’s create a world where we celebrate our individual paths, enjoying the moments where we intersect, and giving each other the strength to walk sections alone.

All my love,

Tess ❤

 

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How To Turn Life Into A Magical Adventure

After many years of experimenting with different jobs, and travelling all over the world, I have discovered that location and life circumstances have very little to do with how magical my experience is.  You don’t necessarily need to make drastic changes to get back to the adventurous free spirit you were born to be.

Me being Tarzan in the Venezuelan jungle!

Taking a massive trip across the globe or starting a fresh chapter in your life may bring you a new perspective, but what I’ve found to be even more empowering is learning how to change my mindset.  External changes may occur, but they come much more naturally when I see life as the magical adventure it truly is.

Stourhead gardens, UK

To change my mindset (which I have to do on a regular basis), I follow this simple process:

1.  Get in touch with your inspiring vision.

Take some time to clear your mind.  Take a bath, or go for a relaxing walk.  Watch some utter nonsense on TV.  Go to the gym.  Do whatever it is YOU need to do to unwind.

Some people find using their imagination comes easily, but it was something that took a lot of practice for me.  Thankfully, I am now able to visualize and FEEL my magical dreams within a few seconds of focussing, but to begin with I had to dedicate a lot of time to getting in touch with the things that inspired me.

Take some time to dream.

The best way I have found to create an inspiring dream, is to let go of all limitations.  This is a DREAM.  It isn’t supposed to be realistic.  Of course it can still be something practical if that’s what inspires you.  There are no limits.  (For more on this idea, check out my post You Are Infinite.)

Your vision should ignite the spark of adventure inside of you.  I follow some amazing dancers and yogis on Instagram, and even though I’m not yet able to move so gracefully, this freedom of movement inspires my dreamscape.  I am also inspired by so many beautiful places I have travelled to, and seen on Pinterest when searching for inspiration.

Ta Prohm, Cambodia

I am inspired by sunsets and the stillness of the night.  I love wild windy days and dramatic scenery, and I love the tranquility of a beautiful garden.  Listening to music can take me on a journey deep within my soul, allowing me to experience long forgotten emotions.  All of these things, and so many more, merge to form a paradise within me that is constantly changing.

With practice, I have learned to tune into this inner landscape when I need inspiration.  This alone can improve my mood and give me more energy, but I find it to be more effective when combined with the next step.

2.  Take any action which brings you closer to the feeling of your vision.

I will use some examples from my own life to illustrate this point.  Recently, the aspect of my vision which was inspiring me the most was the vitality it evoked in me.  I saw myself moving freely with an abundance of energy, and simply imagining this made me feel more animated.  However, to really bring this quality into my life, I knew I needed to take action.

In that moment I made a commitment to being more active.  I already do a lot of yoga, but lately I’ve been focussing more on slow movements and relaxing postures.  I decided to add some fun exercise into my life to keep me feeling enlivened and joyful.  I went to a trapeze class with a friend, and have a trampolining session, roller disco and inflatable run booked over the next few weeks.

Often my inspiring vision includes scenes of spectacular natural beauty.  I will always travel to far away lands and explore amazing places, but I want to feel that connection with nature more often than my travels will allow.  Writing about my adventures and sharing photos is a great way for me to do this.  An even better way is going on mini adventures closer to home, and immersing myself in wild and wonderful natural environments.

Godrevy, Cornwall, UK

At other times I dream of the warm loving glow of a sunset.  To bring this into my life, I find ways to express my love.  This has included volunteering at a homeless shelter, becoming a massage therapist, and simple things like cooking special meals.

The action you take doesn’t need to look like the image in your mind, but the feeling should match.

3.  Overcome your obstacles.

This is the stage where we often get stuck.  If the action we have decided to take involves stepping outside our comfort zones, it can be easy to forget why we wanted to do it in the first place!  However, if we are able to trust our original vision (even if it has now changed) and follow through with our actions, we will be greatly rewarded.

If you are wavering over whether something is still a good idea, acknowledge that your vision has now changed, and you have new dreams.  You can still act on these dreams, but first honor the validity of your original vision and take action as planned.

If you are really struggling, by all means act on your new dream instead.  You will probably find your previous vision returns at a later date, asking to be brought to life.  At some point you will need to overcome the feelings of tiredness, apathy, or whatever inner struggles are preventing you from moving in the direction you want to go.

Handmade gemstone necklace and bracelets pictured available in my shop www.etsy.com/shop/tessheaven.

Overcoming obstacles is something I’m very much still in the middle of, and perhaps always will be.  However, the clearer my vision becomes, and the more I practise acting on it even when I don’t feel like it, the easier it is to work through the obstacles.

When you repeat this process over and over again, you will find that so many new possibilities open up, and your life begins to feel more like the grand adventure it really is.

What adventures do you dream of?  If anything were possible, what would life be like?  I would love to hear about your dreams and visions in the comments below.

 

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