The little things

Last year I messaged a good friend a yogi sister in such confusion and anger at myself , that I couldn’t find my flow on my yoga mat .

I thought this is it , I can’t teach anymore

...

my head wasn’t in it my heart wasn’t there and any yogis out there knows If your not feeling the mood for it it’s very hard to fake it .

I had focused so much on the gym work that I thought that’s what’s going on I strived so much to fit that “gym goer “ category that I lost my grounding side . My ego took over . While that yes is slightly true ... I’ve came to the realisation lately that that wasn’t the case .

I’ve just finished recording my last class of the week , 3 -4 classes 7 days a week I’ve done and I’m so pumped with gratitude and energy . Like I can’t wait for tomorrow to come to be back on that magical mat .

Anyway , 2020 took away one of my greatest passions (as many of you) . To travel , to experience different paths on my feet , sand between my toes and mix with a group of complete strangers who are all striving for the same thing . Experience.

To that moment where im heading off to get my bags to leave a country and catch a flight back home . You sit there looking at the sunset the waves rolling in with a lightness on my face of complete gratitude a deep feeling I’m my chest that this may be the last time I ever see this view .

There is where I realised why I was unhappy , why I couldn’t find my practice . Because I was caught up in the idea I needed a job other than yoga , (and I still do to tie over sometimes ) , but stuck in a 9-6 job or tbh actually 8am -10pm job . Of course not being in there that length of time . But if you start a 8am your there for the day , if you start half way through the day you put your life on hold to be there for work on time . Your tired coming home from work .

Chatting to so many elder people who have travelled before they settled. One thing they would say . “Travelling the best years of my life , do it “ find me someone who has not given that answer .. il wait .

But what I’m getting at here is I don’t want to be that elder that is asked that question and my reply “oh im going to wait til I’m older out of work to visit the long haul places , I just went to Spain every year “ , because I need a holiday leave .

That’s not me .

That’s not what I strive for . I want to learn culture , I want to not put my life on hold . Because if there’s one thing that this year taught any of us is we don’t know what is going to happen on earth at any given moment .

If you look back years ago there was little money but when i ask my grandparents people were happier . There was a lower suicide rate . That’s because people worked to live .

Today we live to work .

That job you have where you commute to Dublin each day you leave when your kids are in bed and you come home when your kids are in bed . Your exhausted on the weekend , Where’s the joy? I remember my dad working in Dublin we’d barely get to see him to now where he has his own business and is home more . Sure you might have made more money but at the end of the day he’s happier now where he is .

How many of you now are working from home and your creating such a bonding time your kids . So why can’t we continue that ? If you do the work right ?? ..

Same goes for people who want to travel James Smith said in his book why can’t companies allow you to relocate and work from there . Better for your mental health and allowing you to experience life whilst still getting your sh*t done .

2019 when I packed up and went to Bocas del toro Panama , on my own it was a terrifying ( not going to lie ) , but when I got on to that night bus . I looked around and it was filled with people from all different countries backpacks on looking shattered .

2 guys sat down beside me , around the same age from England and to this day we still have a great friend ship .

You learn stories , most of people who were working in big companies packed up and left one day to take a year to travel most out done their year and were 2 years in .

I’ve met families where there kids were babies upto 4/5 and they’ve just travelled before they have to go to school .

I’ve had the privilege of this too , Not one year has gone by since I was 1 years old where I wasn’t in a different country . For many I know that hasn’t been the case but make it a priority for when you grow up and make your own money that you get to experience the world .

My passion for travelling was greatly given to me by my parents they always made sure we got some where every year . Truly grateful for that .

Then going to Dubai in January I met a guy wearing a suit sat in front of me on the plane we got chatting he was going over to visit friends brought all his laptops with him and said he would be able to enjoy an hour in the morning and then finish work at 9pm (Dubai time ) , comparing that to where I was going , I was going to enjoy my time exploring all the new places , meet new people , chill out and try new food . Weigh the two circumstances up .

I did ask him after a week through Instagram how his week has been he said I quote “shit , haven’t got to see anything , slept when I wasn’t working , “

Me I had a great time .

So many of us wait for retirement to enjoy the simple pleasures of life to travel places we’ve never been , what if retirement dosent come ? I’ve lost many friends along the way that obviously haven’t made retirement never will , but also won’t get to see those plans they’ve put on their bucket list .

Life needs to be lived ... why put it on hold and spend another euro on the same holiday you’ve been going to . Memories are far more fulfilling than money will ever be .

Detaching myself away from that feeling of “aw god it’s Monday again “ has mentally given me a boost for life but also taught me the lesson that I’m not programmed to work that kind of life .

Like I mentioned earlier , I can’t wait for tomorrow’s class which is a Sunday and I don’t feel the need to take it off .

Use the time we have wisely , slow it down & enjoy every day . Smile at the simple things .