Changing Directions

Image by: me! at Chimney Rock, NC

Blog Update

Hello! It’s been a while since I’ve written. This is partly because I’ve been focusing on other things and also because I’ve brainwashed myself into thinking that I have to write long, thought provoking posts on personal growth and travel and just haven’t felt inspired to write those kinds of posts lately.

When I started this blog, I had a goal in mind for where it would go. Now, my goals have changed and I have decided to keep this as a more personal blog. Granted, I’m a pretty private person so it won’t be that personal, but it will be a little more spontaneous, and less censored. Writing has never been something I long to do, yet I always discover something new about myself  and whatever I’m writing about in the process. But in order to enjoy writing, I must take some of the pressure off to write something that’s perfect and just go with my flow. :)

Of course, Fresh New Life will still focus largely on travel but also on movement, of any kind, through life. Whether that be through a life changing trip or through an unusually rich life experience. That’s the stuff that inspires me.

Personal Update

In general, I tend to be more of a thinker than a doer. This can be a good thing, but it can also lead to too much thinking and not enough living. I’m making an effort these days to just do, try, and learn through experience. Boy, I can over analyze with the best of them. If I’m curious about something, I’ll immediately Google it or make a beeline to Barnes and Noble for the book. I love diving in and learning, it’s part of who I am, but I have to be careful not to mistake understanding something from a reader’s perspective to actually living that experience and truly understanding.

Happy in Honduras after I just ‘did it’. (Quit my job to travel)

So my new mission is, (and spring arriving is helping immensely) to do things. Not just look at them, analyze them, think about all the pros and cons but to just try. It’s something that’s always challenging to me yet I always gain so much from just diving into something other than the book. For example, I used to take tango lessons. It was challenging the first few months trying to stumble through the steps, but I finally got to a point where it just seemed to flow. I wasn’t worried about which foot to turn next or if I’m pivoting correctly. And the feeling you get when you can really tango, and really be in the dance with your partner is amazing. It was a high that I sometimes still long for. But, without practice, it’s lost.

I’m considering taking lessons again. But over thinking the reasons why I shouldn’t. ‘I’m always taller than my partner, the instructor is very touchy/flirty and sometimes makes me feel uncomfortable, I hate dancing with really bad dancers, I’ll feel nervous for the first several weeks’, etc. But in the end, I really love tango dancing and what it does to me, my body and my spirit… if I just stop the mind chatter, relax a little and dive in.

What are you diving into right now? Would love to hear from you in the comments!

Leigh

Related posts:

1. Top Ten Reasons Why You Should Try House Sitting
2. Becoming Location Independent
3. 16 Unique Gifts for the Traveler at Heart
4. How to Re-ignite Your Wanderlust
5. Central American Revelations