I’m sitting at the airport in Athens, thinking about what to write in this month’s article. My thoughts take me to my completely “abnormal” life. Whenever I meet someone new, I often hear the question: “Where is your home?” I usually answer that my home is wherever I happen to be.
When I sold my apartment and left my “normal” life in Prague, I often asked myself where my home was. But as the years passed and the number of places I visited—and even lived in—grew, I realized that my home truly is wherever I feel good. It doesn’t have to be my house, and not even the bed has to be “mine.” That’s simply not what it’s about.
It’s been almost six years since I started this adventurous ride and stepped out of my very comfortable zone, and I continue to surprise myself with how I’m transforming, evolving, and changing my perspectives on both myself and the world around me.
One step taken differently six years ago, and my whole life could have gone in a completely different direction. But now I’m here at the airport in Athens, in a noisy and not really comfortable environment, and I’m once again reminded of how much I love my life.
This feeling, which comes up more and more frequently, is priceless. It’s a wave of warmth, love, gratitude, and peace, even in this hectic environment.
Leaving the comfort zone isn’t easy; sometimes, it’s very painful… it’s a lot of work… and without any guaranteed outcome.
BUT, if you surrender to it and let go of the tons of certainties and learned patterns or your dependence on being “normal”…
You’ll feel the change…
You’ll feel the relief…
…from accepting that you don’t have control over anything
…from accepting that everything is constantly changing
…from accepting that everything is as it is, and the only thing you can do about it is to look inside yourself…
And you’ll start enjoying the simple act of breathing, the song of birds, and the simple, beautiful perfection of life and nature.
This is my personal experience. But nowadays, there are studies about stepping out of the comfort zone, which show that we learn the most when surrounded by uncertainty.
… and when we are able to admit this uncertainty to ourselves.
I love it, and I love my life, the chaos, and at the same time, the beautiful calmness.
My current home is the Greek island of Lesbos, where I live, where I feel good, and where I’ve discovered that dreams do come true.
I continue to face many challenges, big and small, but deep in my heart, I feel that I am exactly where I am meant to be, and that always recharges me with energy.
If you’re at a crossroads and unsure, try doing the very thing others discourage you from, try jumping even if you don’t know where you’ll land, try going against the “crowd” and finding your own path—your unique and original one—and your reward will be a life full of adventure, with a warm sense of satisfaction and peace.
When I rewrite this article into the computer, I’m already sitting in my garden on Lesbos, looking out over the olive trees to the blue sky and an even bluer sea.
Sometimes, I can’t even find the words to express the immense gratitude I feel for not doing things differently six years ago.
Sources:
https://news.yale.edu/2018/07/19/arent-sure-brain-primed-learning?fbclid=IwY2xjawF1zZFleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHVTjPXkNzga6kjvx8575KlNZL1QU5753hbV2c3CfToSJEOy7zlWIFLLU7A_aem_fFTvuVYaRpyqQg_xV1zPrg
