Rebel with a cause

A major life decision has been made. Plans are afoot to break free of cubicle nation and go where the heart desires (the list is long!). As a friend aptly put it, “There is a premium on your youth, don’t piss it away”. Of course, some might say aimless wandering is precisely pissing it away, but I think not.

And what do I purport to gain from said rebellion? Perspective – that much bandied about (by me) term but I value it. Hark, I have spoken about this in the past!

It is time to put dreams and thoughts into action. What experiences shall I partake of, what beauty shall I seek? It feels like the world is a smorgasbord and I am the lone diner. Should I sample various fares, or should I satiate myself with really digging into a small number of dishes. I think I’ll pick the latter for now. Pick two or three experiences that I think will help me grow, and dive right in.

I have applied to be a volunteer in Tanzania or Ghana. Post that I intend to live on a farm in New Zealand. Next I’d like to learn Spanish, so probably some time in a Spanish speaking country – again the choices are many – Argentina is top of the charts right now! So much to do, so little time.

Thankfully, this is one smorgasbord where the food outlasts you!

To be or not to be a bee.

Dear diary!

I have been following Chris Guillebeau’s blog – ‘The art of non conformity’ – for a while now.

Here is a guy who quit his business and decided to travel the world and write about his experiences while doing it. Just another backpacker you might think, but wait – Chris makes almost 50,000$ a year! By his own admission, he spends 90% of his time doing things that he wants to do and 10% of his time doing things to make money.  My kind of life!

I am increasingly convinced that I must be self-employed. 9 to 6 is not going to cut it for me. There is too much to see, learn and experience in this world to spend half my day at a cubicle.

I am going to spend the next few months actively contemplating this question. I am not going to wait for the next big idea, instead I am going to focus on doing small things that teach me what I am capable of doing. The big idea is (hopefully!) just a small idea that makes it big!

There is no utopia, no paradise, just a desire to wander. As a wise old man once said:

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.