Apr 21
Around the new year and after my pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, I decided to take my life in a different direction. I decided to be more aware of what was happening around me and what was hapening to myself. I felt changed, literally transformed from the experience and I knew that by beginning Knowmads, where their motto is “we educate change-makers,” I had to be prepared to flow with the necessary changes to better myself, and in turn better the world around me.
I wanted to make it fun for myself.
I called it the Pilgrim Project and I encouraged anyone who read to follow my adventure. Maybe someone out there was inspired by this personal quest, I don’t know. What was more important for me was doing something I needed to do for myself and by posting it for the world to see, knowing that I was being held accountable. I had three rules for this year of planting seeds and some inspirational and concentrational words I really wanted to focus on.
1) I do only what I love or can give openness and willingness to love.
2) I do everything with contentment and completion.
3) I do not allow any obstacle to stand in my way.
2) I do everything with contentment and completion.
3) I do not allow any obstacle to stand in my way.
I didn’t get where I am today worrying about what others think. And I mean that for the better and the worse, but it’s all better in the end, anyway. So don’t worry about what the curious conformist may tell you. Instead, re-conform with him!
If you begin to wonder whether being extraordinary is even worth it at all, then you may not be ready to take life by the horns, yet. Remember, it’s hard, doing only what you want may not always be the best-paying job, but it should always be of the best value. Luckily, everything you need to get started is right inside of you. Furthermore, life is far more afraid of your fearlessness than you should be of the world.
Now that I am about one month into the Knowmads experience, the honeymoon period has sort of worn off, although every day is a new experience, I also feel like it’s time to take back that feeling and really place it in the context of my self and personal life, habits, and question my choices. I entered my twenties in a psychedelic state with a spiritual experience that I will never forget. It was the perfect end to what I believe was the best weekend of my life. Crawling over sand dunes, following the light of the moon towards a dream-like sea scene. I had finally taken my pilgrimage to the water.
I explored some principals I want to live by. Live by, being the key words.
My word is my law.
Demonstrate Inquisitiveness
Honor self and life as sacred.
What you don’t experience, you cannot know. Don’t judge the experience initially, simply experience it, observe it, and share with complete honesty and openness toward it.
I found it necessary to move out of my house for a week and move in with my two friends who hosted my birthday weekend shindig shenanigans. It is a squatted house about 30 minutes outside of Amsterdam. We have been waking up at 5 a.m. to watch the sun rise, do morning writing, read some affirmations, meditate, and sometimes go for a little walk. In general, I couldn’t find a better education that the action learning and leadership training that Knowmads provides. Ranging from interactions with remarkable people, unique opportunities, and self-motivated entrepreneurial behavior, every day brings something fresh and transformational. Whether brainstorming ideas for KLM, Royal Dutch Airline’s new frequent business flier lounges, learning new business models from the author of the best co-creation compilation in future business design, or am facilitating a workshop on development, I find the experience of existing absolutely exhilarating these days.
Every day brings a completely new opportunity which is exactly what I’ve been looking for. It’s simply a miracle! And I’m always looking for those sorts of opportunities! I’ve found the most important tool in accepting, even embracing the flow of change in your life is by making life, but especially time, sacred. Make the time you spend both alone and with family, friends, and at work, sacred time. Ritualize it if you will.
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