Aeroplane

I compare it to an old WWII-era prop plane. I've seemingly been making a grand ascent in this plane, climbing and reaching upwards in life with all the power I have at my disposal. Truthfully, it's been a fallacy. The ascent has been in my head and I've really been flying in circles. There are things I want, things I must do, and I've convinced myself I've been doing what it takes to make them happen. Honestly, it's been a flight training simulation all along.

See, now that I realize this, however, I can clearly see that I've stalled at the peak of ascent. As I slow to a stop midair mentally, physically and spiritually, I am frozen. There is peace, there is understanding, if only briefly. Then comes the glorious dive; the much awaited rapid movement in an entirely different direction. This dive, however, is a controlled dive. It's purposeful, and as you no longer wish to fly in circles going nowhere, you can now go anywhere you'd like. You don't spiral out-of-control into the ground, but instead keep your nose up and gun it into the open skies!

No more simulations, this is the real deal, and you must take flight!

What Is Your Definition?

“He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much; who has enjoyed the trust of pure women, the respect of intelligent men and the love of little children, who has filled his niche and accomplished his task, who has left the world better than he found it, whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul; who has never lacked appreciation of earth’s beauty or failed to express it, who has always looked for the best in others and has given them the best he had, whose life was an inspiration, whose memory a benediction.”

–Bessie Anderson Stanley, Brown Book Magazine, 1904.

Thoughts?

World Wide Opportunities for... Labor?

Ever heard of WWOOF? No? I hadn't either until I recently read an article about the organization called Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms. It is basically an option for those of you who love travel, or would like to visit another country, and takes away the reason of having no money for a trip. It's definitely not the first-class way to travel, but it is travel nonetheless. Throughout Europe and around the world, WWOOF provides free room and board to travelers while simultaneously providing free labor to local farms. That's right! You gotta give back, it's not just a free couch surfing program.


According to a traveler who had taken part in the program before, those who go for it "have to earn their keep, whether by mending stone fences, tending goats, or as I did, growing vegetables. For as little as a week or as long as three months, you get to develop new skills (I learned to transplant baby lettuces) and perfect old ones (carpentry is always in demand)". The trade-off would at this point begin to seem more than beneficial to all parties involved, but wait! It gets better. It's not all back-breaking work and endless toiling while in the country of your choice, but in fact quite the opposite. Not only would the experience put you into a full immersion circumstance with the hosts, and not only would you partake in their way of life (preparing produce for local markets, enjoying life in the Tuscan, French or English countryside), but once your minimum hours are put in each day, the rest is yours to do what you will. Take a train into town, ride horses, and just explore the land. Imagine herding llamas in the Andes for a couple weeks! At some point taking hikes through the beautiful terrain and stumbling upon ancient ruins...
Anyroad, thought I'd let you guys know!

Read More http://www.wwoof.org/.