Very well written. Love the Harry Potter reference. It is, indeed, hard in this world to live without a plan. I have found the key to living "in the moment," for lack of a better term, is to live more simply--to realize the good life is not more, but less. People don't see, by no fault of their own (it's what the world teaches us to believe), that they don't need all these things. A big house, a nice car, expensive clothes, and so forth . . . I'm not saying we've gotta be homeless (although I do plan for the next 5+ years to live the "van life"), but that our desire for more thrusts into our minds these worries that undermine our inner peace and ability to live a good life. In your 20s and 30s, your job is not to "build a career" and make a bunch of money but instead to get to know yourself and figure out what exactly it is you love to do. The money will come in due time.
This comment made me smile, thank you. Those last lines especially hit home because I get lost in the realm of chasing career more often than I’d like to admit. It’s amazing that you’re choosing to live with such self sufficiency in a van! What made you decide/convinced you that this is something you definitely wanted to do? The older I get the more I understand that inner peace is one of the greatest forms of wealth. I have met extremely wealthy individuals that do not possess it. It can’t be bought. And yet it is the ultimate exhale, feeling of relaxation and satisfaction, safety and joy. Thanks for sharing this, Ryan 🙏🏼
I'm glad to hear that, my friend! And don't we all. I suppose the van life is something I've always wanted to do. I want to be able to be wherever whenever, to work cool random jobs (ski resorts, ranches, etc.), to be able to see my family while simultaneously seeing the world, and really just to not half-ass life. It's interesting because we're all taught from a very young age about the road less traveled, and yet, very few people actually take it. And you are right about inner peace. I think people have formed a misconstrued concept of value these days. We've become so visual and quantitative that we overlook the most valuable, or invaluable, parts of life. It's good to hear (although I guess I wish inner peace for those individuals) that inner peace doesn't need a billion dollars in the bank. In fact, I like to think we're born with it, then torn away by the world's superficial demands. I say, "To progress is to return." Great writing, your piece really hit the nail on its head, and I look forward to reading more!
That’s awesome, I wish I could do the same! Perhaps I could but my job requires some kind of stability of location, or maybe that’s just what I’m telling myself haha. Either way it sounds like an incredibly free way to live, although not without challenge as well. I love the idea of to progress is to return, you’re right in that it’s unlearning what society teaches us and returning to what always was/is. Appreciate you, Ryan — thank you !
Haha good point. I've enjoyed a version of it thus far, but there are, as you point out, challenges. Convenience is definitely one of them, relationships another, and generating income a third. But it's all a good time. All the best!
Another astute piecce, Ilan. The Harry Potter example was a really good one. I think you're talking about a really fine balance here - ultimately we do need some focus for life, otherwise it ends up too amorphous and ungrounded. But you're absolutely right that the magic is in remaining quite flexible and open. Even in creative projects, I've found that going in with very specific plans that broke down chapters to the most minute detail ended up stunting the magic of the art. My best art has often come through a mixture of intention snd giving the piece the room to speak. Thanks for writing this! ✨️🙏🏿
“Giving the piece room to speak” is a great way of putting it, and yes you’re right in that it remains a balance. The smoke screens of life make things hazy yet it always comes back to balance. It’s perhaps one of the hardest things to master because to really embody equilibrium you need to experience the extremes of both sides. Great to hear you’ve been leaning into intention with your novel though, excited to read the chapter as and when the time comes! Appreciate the comment bro 💫
Thanks for reminding us to open our heart filled with intention and we will be rewarded
Beautiful way to put it, thank you :)
Very well written. Love the Harry Potter reference. It is, indeed, hard in this world to live without a plan. I have found the key to living "in the moment," for lack of a better term, is to live more simply--to realize the good life is not more, but less. People don't see, by no fault of their own (it's what the world teaches us to believe), that they don't need all these things. A big house, a nice car, expensive clothes, and so forth . . . I'm not saying we've gotta be homeless (although I do plan for the next 5+ years to live the "van life"), but that our desire for more thrusts into our minds these worries that undermine our inner peace and ability to live a good life. In your 20s and 30s, your job is not to "build a career" and make a bunch of money but instead to get to know yourself and figure out what exactly it is you love to do. The money will come in due time.
This comment made me smile, thank you. Those last lines especially hit home because I get lost in the realm of chasing career more often than I’d like to admit. It’s amazing that you’re choosing to live with such self sufficiency in a van! What made you decide/convinced you that this is something you definitely wanted to do? The older I get the more I understand that inner peace is one of the greatest forms of wealth. I have met extremely wealthy individuals that do not possess it. It can’t be bought. And yet it is the ultimate exhale, feeling of relaxation and satisfaction, safety and joy. Thanks for sharing this, Ryan 🙏🏼
I'm glad to hear that, my friend! And don't we all. I suppose the van life is something I've always wanted to do. I want to be able to be wherever whenever, to work cool random jobs (ski resorts, ranches, etc.), to be able to see my family while simultaneously seeing the world, and really just to not half-ass life. It's interesting because we're all taught from a very young age about the road less traveled, and yet, very few people actually take it. And you are right about inner peace. I think people have formed a misconstrued concept of value these days. We've become so visual and quantitative that we overlook the most valuable, or invaluable, parts of life. It's good to hear (although I guess I wish inner peace for those individuals) that inner peace doesn't need a billion dollars in the bank. In fact, I like to think we're born with it, then torn away by the world's superficial demands. I say, "To progress is to return." Great writing, your piece really hit the nail on its head, and I look forward to reading more!
That’s awesome, I wish I could do the same! Perhaps I could but my job requires some kind of stability of location, or maybe that’s just what I’m telling myself haha. Either way it sounds like an incredibly free way to live, although not without challenge as well. I love the idea of to progress is to return, you’re right in that it’s unlearning what society teaches us and returning to what always was/is. Appreciate you, Ryan — thank you !
Haha good point. I've enjoyed a version of it thus far, but there are, as you point out, challenges. Convenience is definitely one of them, relationships another, and generating income a third. But it's all a good time. All the best!
Another astute piecce, Ilan. The Harry Potter example was a really good one. I think you're talking about a really fine balance here - ultimately we do need some focus for life, otherwise it ends up too amorphous and ungrounded. But you're absolutely right that the magic is in remaining quite flexible and open. Even in creative projects, I've found that going in with very specific plans that broke down chapters to the most minute detail ended up stunting the magic of the art. My best art has often come through a mixture of intention snd giving the piece the room to speak. Thanks for writing this! ✨️🙏🏿
“Giving the piece room to speak” is a great way of putting it, and yes you’re right in that it remains a balance. The smoke screens of life make things hazy yet it always comes back to balance. It’s perhaps one of the hardest things to master because to really embody equilibrium you need to experience the extremes of both sides. Great to hear you’ve been leaning into intention with your novel though, excited to read the chapter as and when the time comes! Appreciate the comment bro 💫
Laylaaa 🙏🏼 thx !!