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| Old and new - reflection of Old City Hall clock tower |
Reflection of Old City Hall, Minneapolis, Minnesota
I.
I read this somewhere and wrote it down.
"Ask yourself, what life would you have if fear wasn’t an issue?
What would you do? Where would you go?"
Fear is inevitable, has been built into us biologically for our own protection. But it is exhilarating to contemplate what we would do if it wasn't an ISSUE, a complete roadblock. What if we evaluated the risks, took the precautions we could, and then proceeded anyway? Realizing the vast majority of what we worry about never happens, where would you go, what would I do?
People ask if I'm not afraid to do the things I do alone, travel alone, bike alone, hike alone. Yes. Yes, I sometimes am. But I absolutely refuse to let that fear rob me of my life. I will be careful, I will take sensible precautions, but ultimately, I have decided -- I will go.
II.
When I came back from England (almost two weeks ago now!), I had a hard time getting back into my life here in Minnesota. I compared it to living my life in color and then coming home to black and white. I appreciated the comments on my blog, including a couple pointing out to me that we can't really appreciate the novel without the routine times of life.
I began to think about what it really is about the feeling of travel that I want to hang on to and experience all the time. I think the answer is here:
"If we are always arriving and departing, it is also true that we are eternally anchored.
One's destination is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things."
- Henry Miller
And that can be achieved anywhere.
III.
"There are four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and chocolate truffles," (Anonymous)
(I could live without the white category which tastes nothing like chocolate to me!)
Posted with Blogsy
The comment, There a re four basic food groups really made me smile...I too could do without the white chocolate.
ReplyDeleteInteresting reflections, in your photo and your words.
ReplyDeleteI agree entirely with your thoughts. Walking alone in the Lake District last week has its risks (no phone signal, risk of an accident etc) but then you have a greater sense of achievement when you conquer those fears.
ReplyDeleteCynthia, it very interesting and so wise post. I love travelling I know sometimes it is risky. My Travelling is a source of energy for me and the risk is part of our life and it necessary. The world is the same but we think that different continent is better but it is the same but travelling is necessary because we live only once and the death is part of our life it doesn't matter for me where I can lose my like. I love living full life..
ReplyDeleteCynthia, very thoughtful post. I used to be a big fan of milk chocolate, but I've gone to dark chocolate instead. Traveling is very rewarding, some of the best part is seeing on TV somewhere you have already been.....been there, done that! I believe that it necessary to always be pushing yourself to go outside the lines.
ReplyDeleteCynthia - great photo at the top of the reflection.
ReplyDeleteFear???? It is just a normal thing to overcome. Anyhow if you were too scared you wouldn't do it.
Like walking down a dark alley in a dangerous area of a city, I think that would constitute stupidity, eh?
Anyhow from my recent events, as you well are aware of, trying to find your way around a hospital
"rabbit warren" following coloured lines, is starting to become a fear or hazard for me - ha ha!
However "bravely" I have been slogging it out, just as well I am not colour blind, now that would
cause untold problems for my destination.
White chocolate!!! The two words together don't even make sense - I don't like it at all.
The darker the chocolate the more I like it.
Anyone of you commenters of this blog seen any sight of "Hughie"? If so please point him
in the direction of Australia. We urgently need him to do his duty.
Cheers
Aussie Col
Traveling is a need for many people to break out the daily routine and opens your mind to see different places and cultures. I never travel alone but have been in so many places and continents and sometimes wonder that I have seen so much of the world. I think it must be in the genes, my father was a teacher and a tour leader during his summer hollidays. My daughter has the same genes and went on her own to Nepal when she was 18 years old. Everybody thought I was mad to let her go, but I trusted her. She is now 39 and still travelling always on her own and is now in Greece.
ReplyDeleteI like the reflection in the photo.
ReplyDeleteNever be fearful if possible not to be.
I love the picture. It is breathtaking! I also enjoyed reading what you wrote about fear. Oh my, I let fear keep me from doing lots of things. I want to walk, but am too afraid that a dog might run out barking. I have thought about you out biking alone and wondered if you were ever afraid. The trees in your last post are so so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHooray I love your spirit of adventure and 'I'm going to do what I'm going to do' approach to life, I love the eternally anchored quote because I have always said if I thought I was going to be here (Australia) for the rest of my life, I would feel sad. However, if I ended up staying here for the rest of my life it wouldn't be that bad!! I suspect I thought I was looking for a life that is grounded, but not necessarily anchored, but now I know I can come and go, and still be anchored well that's a whole new way of looking at things! Loved this post it made me think. Love the reflections in those buildings too!
ReplyDeleteWren x
Dear Cynthia, like you, I have come to believe that home is really a state of mind. It's a little like the Wordsworth poem--"to see the world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wildflower/to hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour." Peace.
ReplyDeleteI love your architectural reflection photo showing old and new. The question you pose has gotten me thinking. I also go many places such as wilderness areas by myself. My family tends to worry, but I cannot easily give up this freedom. I can't bear to be a couch sitter!
ReplyDeleteI know you are happy traveling...so go for it! Fear is something we all have to live with one way or another. If I had no fears (Snakes) I would winter in Texas or Arizona or Florida and maybe travel to The AMAZON:)
ReplyDeleteLove that comment about the food groups! lol. My DH and I travelled overseas for 7 weeks earlier this year and when we came home, I had so many commitments (fun stuff) I didn't get the let-down feeling I used to get when I was still working and had been away for a long break...the older I got, the harder it was to go back to work and be settled :-(
ReplyDelete