"From endless ocean view to endless canal views"
Learning to live in the present has been one of the most beneficial things to date, for my personal development and holistic health and well-being.
Still, acknowledging the changes that I have experienced in my life over the last 365 days is phenomenal, and personally satisfying. Things have not been perfect, but I like to think that they are, just the way they were meant to be.
My second opportunity of living close to nature
To date; I had gone from living on the seafront in the tropical paradise islands of the Philippines to living on the canals of the UK in a boat, facing constant weather changes.
I have spent countless hours reflecting on my life and my purpose at both places, and if I were to compare the benefits I have gained from being situated close to these two contrasting types of nature, I would say:
The ocean opened my eyes to the vast possibilities of the world, and kept me in tune with the reality that I am just a smidgen of the vast universe. Days by the ocean instilled in me the importance of striving to be and doing the things that make me truly happy, over the expectations of anyone else.
Whereas,
The canals have made me slow down my thought process. Overthinking and worrying have become a thing of the past, and I have become more mindful, and I fully engage myself in each moment. Canal life has improved my ability to compartmentalise and focus on the things that are truly important to my life.
Two aspects of my personality that have changed, are: (1)My Openness has improved, and (2) my levels of Neuroticism has been lowered.
Openness - I am more willing to try new things and creative ways to make things work, and I find it easier to maintain abstract thoughts and concepts over idealistic concrete thoughts.
Now, I am better able to let go of preconceived beliefs, and I have made better headspace for dealing with situational variables as they come.
My Neuroticism Levels - these have lowered, thank goodness! I am more emotionally stable and try not to let external factors influence my state of mind and my moods. I worry less and practice mindfulness which helps me to relax better. My increased relaxation levels help to trigger happy hormones that make me feel less stressed.
I feel like my mind is more bullet-proof.
These little tweaks have improved my mental health and my spirituality positively, and they have become second-nature to my approach to life to overcoming adversity.
I have a better understanding of the ripple effects that external influences can have on my well-being from the way I react to situations.
My life on the canals takes me away from the larger society and gives me time to introspect and live my life decisively on what is needed from within (no external influences), and this has felt good.
When I speak of living in the present, it doesn't mean that I have no aspirations or preparation for the future.
This state of living encapsulates me making the best of my resources and current state of health and abilities, by doing things to personally develop myself, now when I am able.
Hive Blockchain has become an integral part of my life.
I have always regarded Hive as a place for me to gain, and offer inspiration, record memories, share parts of my life that I probably never would, and a place to challenge myself to spill my thoughts in writing, as I am not a person of many words face-to-face, and tend to share deep thoughts selectively.
"Make hay while the sun shines"
I believe in these wise words, and I do so even after sunsets.
365 days have flown!
My mindset remains that real-life experiences are the best teachings one could have. Still, I am constantly elevating my personal development through gaining knowledge on practical courses such as fitness and well-being, counselling and psychology, hobbies, and craft, all to be better equipped at facing challenges and blows as they come.
I have gone through days of uncertainty and questioning about my current life. Questions of where I would stand if I should find myself having to leave this beautiful life on the canals, to go back to living in mainstream society.
Knowing that I am growing mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and physically gives me confidence that I would be able to re-invent myself, and conform to go with the natural flow of wherever my life leads me to.
I am filled with gratitude for having achieved this life that I had dreamed of for a long time.
About the future?
I am embracing the ambiguity of the future with optimism moving forward. My emphasis will always be on doing the things that I can do now, as I continue to live life in the present.
Many thanks for being part of my journey.🙏
All images are mine
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