Traveller Still...

It's interesting
How the metaphors that come

Or the words spoken

That resonate

Become something that carries

Way further than we could have ever imagined

How did I come upon the ideas of 

Traveller and 

Sojourner

for me, for my journey

Oh yeah, sure

"Life is a journey"

"We're all on a pilgrimage"

And my life

Living half-way around the world

From where I was born

Where my roots first took hold

Perhaps led me to identify even more

But that's just the physical

Today I'm realizing again

I'm still on such a journey

The land is still so new

I thought I'd started out
   to new places
   before

I thought I'd 'landed'

But then came the need

To start out again

I've almost found a place to rest,

   I think

Though I'm not quite sure...

I know where it is
   that is 'most' comfortable now

Compared to all the other places
   that are definitely not

And yet I know

It may not be the place I stay

There is more to explore

And so

Today

Once again

I remember

I embrace again

My identity

As Traveller, Sojourner

I'm thankful that I'm "enjoying" it again.

I'm thankful that it actually feels pleasant

(Sometimes the journey has been just hard

sometimes terrifying!
Sometimes I've doubted
if there was a journey,
a road,
or if I was just mired in muck.) 

I am a traveller, a sojourner,

All my life I will be

And on this journey

Again and still

I am so thankful
for journey companions

Others exploring similar terrain

Others not content to stay where they are

When they discover 

the land where they have been 

has become 

   hostile

   a place of slavery

   and injustice

And this defines the kind of traveller I am

And the kind of travellers 

   that become my journey companions

We're not constantly moving, constantly leaving

Just out of wanderlust

Or a simply frivolous and 

   never-ending need 

   to see new places

(Though seeing new places is good

Maybe that's a part of discovering 

   the problems 

   with the place you are)

No, more we are compelled by 

   an awakening

   a discontent

   realizing where we have been

   is wrong

We cannot stay

A traveller, a learner

May I always be

And always "at home"
   with those who also seek

You Will Always Struggle... (Notes for the Journey #1)

You will always struggle to figure out how to live a healthy life.

Do not be surprised at this!

Your dreams are huge. New people and ideas keep coming. New projects start. You are changing. Your life is changing. Your body is changing. Those you work with are changing. All along the way you will discover new things about yourself, your energy levels, what inspires, what drains. There will be a continuing need to re-examine and then adjust, based on the new understanding that you have.  

Do not be discouraged at this need for continual discovery and change. Do not give in to the misplaced idea that because you have not yet "figured it out," somehow you have failed. 

What will work for you, will not work for someone else. What works for them, probably wouldn't work for you. YES! Learn from others. YES! Adopt and adapt time-tested principles. YES! Take on their wisdom and use it in your own life. But you are not "them" (whoever "they" are), and "they" are not you. 

Lay down this idea that "getting it right" or finally "figuring it out" should somehow be your goal, or that it is even possible. Drop the all-or-nothing thinking that leads you to either focus on "figuring it out" or giving up via the many ways you can run. 

Just live.

Live.

Breathe.

Relax.

Know that you are loved, you are valuable, what you do matters, and this all while you are so NOT "figured out."

Learn to live each day in hope. Learn to live each day, each moment, making the wise choice for that time. Yes, keep setting aside those times to stop and evaluate and strategize to make the adjustments needed based on what you see now. But do not expect it to be perfect. Don't even hope for that. Realize and embrace the reality that even the new (better) plan will need to flex, change, and someday it may be scrapped altogether. It will serve your journey for the time it was needed, and that is enough.

Again, take a deep breath.

Life is good.

Live it exuberantly.

Live it well.

In all your glorious, imperfect messiness.