The Origin

I have a friend, who has on numerous occasions, become befuddled at the idea of not being able to shut down the thoughts in your brain. She has actually said to me that it is not that difficult. That she can sit and NOT THINK, no problem.

NO PROBLEM?!

Somehow I find this disconcerting. How can you just NOT think? I've tried, God, I've tried. In yoga, one tries to quiet the mind and body. I don't know how many times I've heard within practice to "recognize your thoughts, and then let them move on and away."

Let me tell you. The line is long. If I were to do the math, the recognition of every thought I have and the time it takes to do so, then let it float away....I'd be meditating forever. Needless to say, I'm working on it.

The times where those pesky thoughts (good, bad, mundane, inconsequential, epic) ease into the troughs are those spent indulging my wanderlust.

It's interesting how I came to recognize my little vice. I read the book "Eat, Pray, Love" with a book club a few years ago. In the book the author tries to find "her word." Our book club touched on the obvious internal question, "So, what do you think YOUR word is?"

"That is an absolutely unfair question," was my first thought. Who can resist, though? I mean, human beings, any living thing really, is a complicated design. One word? One English word?! How confining! But, an interesting challenge all the same...

What is my word?

I don't know if it is so much a definition as it is a comfort to find a word. Maybe it is in the wearing of the word that makes me feel protected by definition.

In any case, since I have thought of the word WANDERLUST, I have rather liked it more and more with each wearing.  Clicking on the link, you'll see the romantics clashing with psychology. It is not only the most gorgeous freedom, but also the reason for absolute mental chaos.

"Hmmmm, self development or self deprecation? I just can't choose...."

In any case, whether it's selfish with a dash of running away from people places and things or it's pure freedom and openness: Wanderlust is my word. It gets me into trouble and it gets me on top of mountains. It gets me sour looks and it gets me to experience new things. It loses me friends and gains me others. It's like that little sibling that you just don't get along with while simultaneously loving them your entire life.

And I'm in need of a little indulgence. I need to go somewhere. My thoughts are going wild...

While I travel out into geography any chance I get, I suppose I could wander through my mind as well. A deep mapless trek through the wild!


Stay tuned for the nonsensical flow of thought that will assuredly ensue...