I recently read over
a quote by one of my inspirations and muses – Christopher McAndless. It read -
“So many people live within unhappy
circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation
because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity and conservatism,
all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is
more dangerous to the adventurous spirit within a person than a secure future. The
very basic core of one’s living spirit is the passion for adventure. The joy of
life comes from encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater
joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and
different sun.” – Christopher McAndless.
On this particular
day and in that particular moment those words ignited a light within me. For those
who are not familiar with Christopher McAndless he was a young man from a well
to do family who in 1992 hitchhiked to Alaska alone in the wilderness. He left
all of his money to charity and abandoned all of his possessions without saying
a word to anyone. He was inventing a new life for himself, leaving the conventional
ways of life knowing that there is something more. This time he would live by
nature’s rules. Why he leaves and the experiences of his journey I will
leave for you to discover. This is a story of one man’s life situation that we
can all learn from.
He learnt many lessons
along the way and documented the entire journey in his journal. If there was
one story to depict living in the moment, this would be it! The absolute
courage and ability to let go and follow his path is incredibly inspiring
because honestly, how many of us would? Although there are some parts of this
story that may not be applicable to everyone most parts will conjure up
thoughts and reflections upon life and human existence. I read his quotes quite
regularly throughout yoga and meditation classes that I teach and I almost always
have a student ask me about the quote and how it made them feel. There is both
a book titled “into the wild” by Jon Krakauer and an amazing film
interpretation of the book directed by Sean Penn.
I was on my way back
from an around the world trip when I personally saw the movie on the plane to
what I thought was pure chance. After I watched it I felt different. I arrived
home with a new beginning. After that moment my life started to change. I quit
my job and then embarked on what would now be my life path of yoga and
meditation. My partner and I parted ways after 6 years together and I was on my
own for the first time since I was 18. My friends grew, my experiences expanded
and opportunities did coming knocking on my door. I was living for the first
time without a plan and now I am here in a moment in my life where I am at
peace with all that is with full acceptance and understanding of the essence of
who I am. I have had ups and downs since the start of this journey and it’s a
lot to dedicate to the story of Christopher McAndless but into the wild is
something that awakened those thoughts I had behind my layers of fear and
confusion. I continue to watch the movie 3 years later and read the book and
draw inspiration every time.
It’s always
beautiful to observe the writings of souls who have been before you and the
wisdom they have shared. May it inspire you as it has inspired me!
Ourania
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