“…how can you not explore the full depth and dimension of who you are?”-Sadhguru
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I haven’t slept in my own bed in almost two years now. That is hard to believe. But this almost two year time period, combined with the nearly two years prior, was my introduction into a new way to experience life, and it was vital to begin exploring my full depth.
I slept in beds in half of the United States. I slept in beds in multiple foreign countries. I slept on couches. I slept in tents and under the open sky. I slept in numerous beds in North Carolina. I slept in numerous beds in Mississippi. Just not my own.
Since abk’s inception nearly four years ago, my life has become something that not even the wildest imagination could imagine. This is by design, of course, and it happened purposefully by my following three basic mantras along the way:
1. Be completely open to life
2. Constantly work on understanding and bettering myself
3. Pay attention to everything
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It’s the great juxtaposition of living. On the one hand, my whole life became completely uncertain. I didn’t know my ass from my elbow there for a little while. But I learned very quickly to accept and embrace this. I now thrive on it. (Routine can be a slow, slow drain…).
On the other hand, the one thing I must have complete control over in this life, myself, needed to be more fully explored.
Understanding myself as an adult, in depth, fully conscious, without outside influence, was necessary to embrace the wonderful uncertainties of life and the infinite possibilities the world had to offer.
It’s amazing how many outside influences infiltrate our lives and the decisions we make, sometimes without our even knowing it. Blatant crap and subtle nonsense. Along the journey, it’s been incredibly important for me to eliminate these, outside of the ones of my conscious choosing.
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I wanted to experience life in a way that transcended traditional categories and that challenged everything I had ever seen or heard. Someone else made up all of these things, likely in their self-interest. I’m sure some of these roadmaps were paved with good intentions, but they can be so confining, so restrictive, and that’s not what’s best for fully experiencing life.
You must remember, I knew essentially nothing about coastal Mississippi, so it was the perfect blank slate. I asked a lot of questions, but I predominately chose to just pay attention to everything around me. You see, what people say and what I observe are often two very different things.
It’s one of the reasons I don’t like being told much of anything. Not to mention, whatever is said is immediately biased based on the person who is saying it. I like exploring, discovering, and creating for myself. It’s what life means to me. It’s how I interact with the world.
For example, I had no idea Ocean Springs, Mississippi, even existed. I had no idea it had breathtaking sunsets, a world class art vibe, and James Beard award winning chefs. I had no idea that it would be voted one of the coolest towns to visit in America this coming year.
It’s an ideal environment for anyone who craves freedom, and it’s a perfect home base for anyone who wants to cultivate life and its endless possibilities.
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But let’s be clear about one thing. To the first time reader or untrained eye, it may appear that my life changed because I quit my job, moved to Mississippi, travelled a ton, began the golf journey, etc. I can assure you this is not the case.
I changed my life by actively practicing the above mantras over and over. Embracing life as a whole and looking inward. Daily. Sometimes hourly. For almost four years now.
Nothing fancy. Just a full commitment to living. I’ll be back in my own bed soon enough.
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Have a great week.-Benj
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