Where am I? Eivissa, better known as Ibiza

I know I haven’t been the best in keeping this blog up-to-date.  I’m trying to make an effort to detach myself from the web and spend more time reading or writing in my journal instead.  I have to tell you, it feels quite liberating to be digitally disconnected. It’s like a mental detox.  I think this is a practice everyone should do once a week… unplug yourself for a whole day (or if at the very least, a few hours) from your computer, blackberries, iphones, etc.  You won’t miss a thing.

So where am I anyhow?  I am in beautiful, majestic Ibiza.  It’s a little hard to believe that I’m actually here.  And surprisingly enough, airfare was rather affordable coming from Barcelona.  I have also been fortunate enough to know a friend who willingly welcomed me to visit.  Love and thanks, beautiful Cassandra.

Ibiza has completely taken me by surprise.  It is not at all what I had imagined.  When I thought of Ibiza, I pictured beaches with crystal blue waters, gorgeous tanned men and women (clothing optional) abundantly strolling around town, clubs at every single street corner, villa and boat parties on the daily… pretty much a European version of Miami, if you will.  And granted, all of this is true but Ibiza is more than that and definitely a lot more than Miami.  Actually, it is far from Miami. The island is a lot more mountainous than I expected, densely covered with tall pine trees providing shade for hidden trails.   Beaches are a given but there are also very special spots with towering cliffs and hidden coves.  The climate is just perfect.  And it goes without saying that it is very much a party island but it is at the same time so very peaceful and serene. There are so many magical places here on the island.

One of these magical places Cassandra took me to is Es Vedra.  There are many myths and urban legends about this mysterious rock formation but it is most especially known for it’s “special magnetic energy.”  Standing at almost 400 meters tall with high concentrations of metals and minerals, this mystical rock is believed to be the third most magnetic spot on the globe.  And it really does have this mysterious magnetic pull.  There is this sudden energy that surrounds you the moment it’s in your presence and I felt it way before anything was mentioned to me.  I have never seen such a mesmerizing sunset with Es Vedra in sight.  This is truly a very special place on the island.  Purely magnetic.  Maybe this is why Ibiza, in general, is so full of energy and so captivating.  I'm taking it all in...

So on that note, I will be back with more updates and hopefully, I’ll get to upload all the photos I’ve taken from Paris and Barcelona. Be back soon…

jump

“Don't be afraid to go where you've never gone and do what you've never done, because both are necessary to have what you've never had and be who you've never been.”
......

Thanks to Mike Dooley (and a former colleague who shared this quote on a typical Monday morning meeting), this quote has given me my introduction to a new chapter in my life.  Of all the inspirational quotes I’ve come across about adventure, life and the sorts, this one in particular speaks to me the most.

Don’t be afraid… surely, those words are not the easiest to utter in whichever context you put it in.  Don’t be afraid to jump off a bridge with nothing but a bungee cord saving your life from shattering into pieces.  Don’t be afraid to drink that milk past its expiration date.  Don’t be afraid to go outside without your make up on.  Don’t be afraid to eat that third donut and then put on your skinny jeans.  Don’t be afraid to drink that umpteenth shot of tequila.  Don’t be afraid of the dark.  Just don’t be afraid...

A lot easier said than done, right?  More often than not, people go about their lives being afraid of something, of someone, of some place.  We let these fears dictate the course of our day or for some, their entire life.  And while some could very well be warranted, most are fears that you could easily overcome if you just snap out of it and believe.  I know I have been guilty of this on many occasions.   Like milkshake, for example.  I’m afraid to have a milkshake, not because it is loaded with calories but because I’m lactose intolerant and the wrath of it is unpleasant.  But there are times when I force myself to get over it, especially with ice cream/gelato, to which I would gladly sacrifice for and say, “it’s just going to be some minor discomfort, maybe spent in the bathroom, but it’ll all be ok.”  It's just worth it.  And while for the most part, I am the adventurous type, willing to do things that would make my mom and dad, for lack of a better word, lose their shit, if they ever knew half of the things I want to try and do.  It’s not easy for a lot of people, to step out of their comfort zone and go to an unfamiliar place and do unfamiliar things.  Because a big part of taking these chances is the fear of failing. 

Failure, I’ll have to admit, is not the easiest to accept.  So you get accustomed to doing things that are comfortable and that are within your immediate reach, without having to face the uncertainty of falling flat on the ground.  The fear of failure is the very thing that holds people back from getting what they want in life.  I know…  This fear hit me, as I was packing up my apartment, to the point where I almost started undoing one of the boxes.  I could feel it in my bones and it shook me, that’s how powerful it was. What was I so afraid of?  And it was that pivotal question, that moment where it came to me and I realized what I knew all along (and thanks to my mom and close friends for reminding me)... that there is nothing, absolutely nothing, to be afraid of. There is nothing holding me back; seize this opportunity now.  I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.  And that’s the damn truth.

It really is.  You have to believe in these simple truths.  You can’t live your life in fear; you will only end up living in regret. No one else is responsible for your happiness.  You have to go for the things you want in life.  Talking about it and wondering what it could be like is pointless and certainly not an accomplishment.  Be passionate about the things that you want and don’t take them for granted.  Just because you've started the process doesn't mean you can stop working on it... you have to put in the effort to make things happen.  So put on your best dress, your best foot forward with open arms and an open mind.  And if at first you don’t succeed, you can always try again.  Or you can try something else.  The point of it is, you’ve tried and you can wake up in the morning knowing that you have.  Learn from it, accept the lessons and move forward.  Simple as that.

So after two years of wondering and wanting, I have chosen to jump on the opportunity.  To take that leap of faith, take my chances and throw fear, job security, money, all caution to the wind.  And just live for the moment and experience all that the Universe has to offer.  There is a big world out there.  So many different people, different cultures and different ways of living.  It only takes one golden opportunity to make other golden opportunities happen.  Just open up your eyes, your heart, yourself, to the possibilities and welcome the adventures that will follow.

There is so much to learn from this experience.  And just because I have taken that step doesn’t mean that I’ve already done what I needed to do.  This is only the beginning and believe, there is more to come.   Soak it all up, enjoy the ride, and never forget to stop and appreciate the beauty, remember your intentions and be grateful for the opportunity, for life.

So, here I jump...

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[Apologies, in advance, to my friend for sharing this photo.  It just goes with the title.]