Life Down Under: Week 13

​When do you feel connected, flowing, at peace? When do you feel constricted? These days, pressures to do more and be more can throw you off balance. Happiness can seem a revolutionary art. That’s when it’s time to take a moment. To ditch struggle and get back in touch with your fundamental self – believing in your perfect worth. That often involves refining your sensitivity and sense of connection – through such life style choices as yoga and meditation and time spent in nature. It is ultimately about getting in touch with what’s real. And nurturing yourself. Your patient caring for yourself – and for other living things – now becomes your gift. – Taken from an Aveda excerpt

I’ve been reflecting on the last few months and how much change and progress has been made in such a short time both on a personal and professional level. I often find myself getting wrapped up in what others want me to do and I forget to do the things that I love! Coming to Australia has, once again, given me peace in the decisions I’ve made in terms of my relationships with others as well as my career change. The hard work that I’ve put into my business while I’ve been here has taken me from an idea to almost ready to launch within a matter of months, it’s so exciting! It really is true that when you’re doing what you love, it doesn’t feel like work at all!
Even more importantly, I’ve really pushed myself on a personal level. For those of you who know me, I am quite shy at first, and while I love new experiences, doing them alone or with people I don’t know makes me really nervous. I made a pact with myself upon arriving to say “yes” to new experiences as often as possible, even if it made me nervous and I’m so glad I did! My biggest feat this time around was abseiling down waterfalls. Even though I can swim, I’m not a huge fan of water and I am not a heights person nor a climber! Combine these 3 elements and you have abseiling. I asked Shane if I’d have to climb at all and he nonchalantly said “No, we’re just going down remember?” WRONG. What goes down must get back up to the car somehow.
Putting myself over the edge of a cliff willingly was the most mentally draining thing I’ve ever done. I was pretty much hanging off the side when I froze and looked at Shane in terror saying “I’m going to die, aren’t I!” Poor guy had to haul me back up so I could regroup! Anyways, the whole way down I was self-talking “You can do this.. omg why are you doing this.. okay you can do this just keep going.. omg I’m never doing this again! *sputter sputter sputter*” To add to that, between each of the 3 waterfalls, we had to hike down the river climbing rocks with no path and at the end we had to scramble all the way back up the canyon, again with not much of a path, to get to the car – did I mention I’m not a climber? Literally the entire way up, I was cursing life and questioning if I was able to even do it, I was so tired! Ultimately, the abseiling got easier with each waterfall and I was so proud of myself at the end for what I’d accomplished. The physical part of the day was difficult but it was the mental portion that I really reflected on afterwards.
That picture at the top of this blog post sums up my entire trip. There have been quite a few times in the last couple months where I’ve found myself saying “I can’t do this anymore”, but that wasn’t true. My body could get up and down those waterfalls, it was my mind that needed to be convinced. I can travel the world alone, even if it’s lonely at times, as long as I tell myself I can. I can run a business by myself, though it has been extremely difficult and disheartening at times, but I CAN do it. You can literally do almost anything you set your mind to. Except fly or grow gills or something.
Before I left Canada, I was starting to feel very constricted and run down, just like that Aveda quote up top talks about. Being here, living in nature where the birds wake me up in the morning, taking hikes to amazing waterfalls and breathing in that clean, forest air, sitting at the beach soaking in the heat of the sun and listening to the waves – I have found my centre again. And with that, my confidence.
I can’t wait to share my gift with you, my passion for natural health and beauty, for educating people about the benefits of taking care of themselves and the earth! Are you doing what you love? Pushing yourself? Taking time out of your day to do the things that make you happy, getting out into nature to remain connected? Something to think about. Have a great week!
Love, Ash XO