Hey Hey and a Big G'Day toya,

When are you coming home?
Why do you like living in China so much?
Isn’t it about time you came home and got a real life and job?

Over the years I have noticed a trend when it comes to the 'coming home’ questions and they seem to pop up every two or so years which seems to be right about now. Sometimes it feels like friends who have no way of knowing each other have banded together and organised a few weeks of interrogation into my life in China and the one I’m not living back home in Australia. Most of the time it is from friends that are honestly worried about my long term future and who miss me and genuinely want to see me. But there is always one that comes from a friend/person who is simply jealous of the life I have created when they compare it to the one they are unhappily living.

The same person who sits home and complains about everything around them.
The same one who remains stagnant and won’t go about making change.
It’s ok, at least you’re still alive enough to think and ask questions.
Maybe though, it would be best if you direct it towards yourself

Three Simple Days in the Life of Me – Day 1 (Saturday, 16th April)
Three Simple Days In The Life of Me – Day 2 (Sunday, 17th April)
Three Simple Days In The Life of Me – Day 3 (Monday, 18th April)

So as to why I choose to stay living in China and not go home to get a so called ‘real job and life’, I decided to answer the above questions by randomly choosing three consecutive days on the calendar that weren’t part of any travelling term break, blog them and see if they are enough of an answer.

I also offer the following (lose sight of the shore) that a friend found on the net and emailed to me some time ago and as to my interpretation of what a real life and job is…..

To me a real life and job is one that makes you fulfilled, whole and happy without question. That which has you bounding out of bed without thoughts of dread and boredom about the working day ahead and one that had you up late the previous evening happily creating a working day filled with as much fun filled learning as possible. Many people I know are actually happy with their life and have found a pathway that fulfils them. On the other hand I also know many who had/have dreams yet remain too frightened, chained and enclosed to simply let go to find a way to make their dreams reality.

So for the friend who questioned my life and job…
Yesterday is now a memory and tomorrow is still a dream.
Today is an amazing gift and that's why they call it the present.

Do You Have The Courage To Lose Sight Of The Shore?

Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.

Look at your life.
Today I want to ask you a question.
Do you have the courage to lose sight of the shore?
Maybe you have lived your life in certainty, in predictability, in routine and/or in safety.

Maybe you have traded the adventure of your life for the four walls of your own knowledge. Why have you done this? Why do you have a predictable job that you mainly dislike and complain about? Why do you avoid speaking up when you know you can thoughtfully disagree? Why do you lose yourself vicariously through romance novels, travel magazines and Hollywood movies?

Why have you settled for this when you were created for TRANSCENDENCE?
Do You Want to Know the Real Reason Why?

You are constantly looking back toward the shore, and when the shore gets a little too far away for comfort, you turn back. You like giving yourself the semblance of adventure. After all, you put on a bathing suit. You got in the boat. You put on the life preserver.

But the reality is that you must have courage to turn AWAY from the familiar and TOWARDS the unfamiliar to go on an adventure. So why not have the courage to turn away from the shore and towards the wide open sea. You are not guaranteed another year of your life nor are you guaranteed another day.

Later never comes nor does Someday, all you have is right now.
So if you have a dream, live it as this is your time!

THE FIRST SIMPLE DAY IN THE LIFE OF ME THAT KEEPS ME AWAY:
WAS SPENT AT WUYI MOUNTAIN….Yes….Again!

A few weeks ago the weather changed from cold and rainy to warm and sunny pretty much overnight so after each fun filled week with my students and peddles, Friday afternoon has found my pack and I on a bus bound for the far northwest corner of Fujian Province to Wuyishan (one of my favourite mountains in China) for the weekend.

Last weekend I introduced Wuyi’s charms to English Lisa.
After a five hour walk and beer & BBQ, she was charmed!

Wuyishan offers some of the most spectacular unspoilt scenery in the province and is filled with rivers, small waterfalls and freaky tea tree lined mountains. As I’ve been there so many times I’ve put together several of the ‘offered’ and ‘not so offered’ walks that when combined offer a wonderfully silent day that includes happy ‘Hellows’ from the tea pickers, several tranquil tea stops one of which is in an ancient temple with a silent Monk and to end the day, amazing views from above.

After a few hours rest ones soul is then drawn towards Beer & BBQ Street!
Here one raises ones cold bottle and thanks Lord Noodle for such a wonderful life!
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The soundtrack to this entry was by the Happy Mondays
The album was ‘The Best of Everything’.
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