Living Out of Two Backpacks
Two weeks ago…
My To-Do List:
1.) 7am- teach advanced Reformer at UCSF
2.) 10am- modern dance class followed by a three hour rehearsal
3.) 3:30pm- walk home, pass out, eat.
4.)6pm- teach two private clients
5.) 9pm- check in with Epicself. Write, twitter, or Facebook with friends and readers
6.) 11pm- sleep
My Current To-Do List:
1.) wake up whenever… usually when a cockatoo screeches somewhere off in the distance.
2.) open my computer and check email, write, set up future website/business goals and get started implementing them.
3.) check the local dance studios calendar of classes and decide which one I want to take that day.
4.) dig through my Lonely Planet book of Australia and chat with my local friends to see what exploring we should do today.
5.) live life…
Monday of last week marked the most significant moment in my life thus far. The launch of a mobile lifestyle. The ability to travel and work around the world. A dream I set in motion about 5 months ago. What began as a simple two month job opportunity in Melbourne, Australia evolved into the realization that if I could do it for a few months what was keeping me from living mobile indefinitely? Only my own fears and self limitations.
The journey to get to this point began in January when I decided working fifteen hours a days wasn’t how I wanted to live my life. Even if it was living and breathing my passions…dancing professionally, teaching Pilates, and writing online. I wanted to travel the world. Epiphanies I put into massive action.
With that goal in mind I set to work in all ways I knew how. Working four jobs at the time already…dancing, teaching Pilates, writing Epicself, and wine bar-tending part time…. I took on extra work. I mean their are 24 hours in a day…haha. My already packed schedule ballooned to include a few 15-18 hour days with one day off a week. Granted I worked the wine bar on the weekends, which after two years of doing so had turned into a huge social scene. I worked my butt off serving, but was able to practice socializing and networking with the locals. An invaluable skill!
I took on more classes and clients at another Pilates studio, which had me waking up at 5:15am in order to catch the shuttle to teach a 7am Reformer class. Insanity I know! Never again will I have to wake up at that god forsaken hour unless it’s my choice.
At the same time I was rehearsing eight hours a week for one of the best modern dance companies in San Francisco. As all dancers will attest, the life of a dancer is not easy! Hours upon hours of dance classes and rehearsals followed by an eight hour shift serving (or ____ second job that makes ends meet) is no cup of tea. Why do it then? Because dance is a passion. Something we can’t live without.
Epicself began as a side project. A way for me to supplement my income beyond my other three jobs. My boyfriend at the time introduced me to the blogosphere and the possibility of making money online. He writes an insanely successful music/celebrity blog called The Rad Report. Without his introduction to the online world of business I might still be scouring the San Francisco Chronicle for cheap commercial rents. A vision of my own dance/Pilates studio grand opening looped my skull on repeat.
I jumped head first into the wellness world online. As a sponge for information and knowledge, I had my own goals for supreme living. If I wanted to live the longest, most vibrant life of all I needed to know my shit. To put it bluntly. Read more about my overall ideas on wellness in my About section. So I learned, wrote, stumbled, failed, and got up again. You don’t know how many times I wanted to let go of Epicself. Let it fall between the cracks because I couldn’t devote more time to it. Now it’s my business. I never imagined two year ago, back when I wrote my first post, that it would one day help me launch a mobile, earth shattering way of life.
I am still pinching myself. About every ten minutes.
I could literally write a book on what I went through over the last few years, months and weeks. Those who have been there by my side especially my family of cheerleaders (props to Mom for the ridiculous amount of emotional support) and my dearest friends around California and mainly in San Francisco have seen it all. They listened to my struggles. The ups and downs of uncertainty as I embarked on something most people can’t fathom. Getting rid of most of my worldly possessions, working like a dog to save money living in one of the most expensive cities in the world, and holding my head up when being questioned by the naysayers of the universe. They were there to make me laugh, and teach me what life is really about. The connections and relationships we make with other people and the planet at large.
Sophia, my dear friend from Switzerland, opened my eyes and expanded my view of the world. She told me life from her world experienced eyes and pushed me to do the same. To go or suffer the regret of never taking the chance. Something she regrets to this day. The more I talked about my plans the more people world travelers I drew to me. The last four months in San Francisco felt like the universe was lining up in my favor. I kept plugging away and things fell into place. My plan was working! I kept telling myself that a short time of working hard was a small price to pay for a life of freedom. And boy was it ever worth it.
Books like Tim Ferris’s 4 Hour Work Week, and Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert landed in my path at some point which egged me onward. Their ideas and stories shattered my grasp of reality. It just takes utilizing this information. Seeing the opportunity, learning, and jumping off the cliff into the unknown.
Blogs like The Art Of Non Conformity, ThrillingHeroics, Almost Fearless, Seth’s Blog, Illuminated Mind, and Zen Habits shared advice and ideas that helped me shape the life of my dreams. Lifestyle design, online business and self improvement at it’s best. I will make a list soon of my online mentors so you too can read what I have read. They will have you wondering why you ever thought a life worth leading is the status quo. We must dare to be ourselves.
As I stepped out of my apartment with my life in two backpacks I stood still and took a breath. This is freedom. My mind whirled with questions…”WTF am I doing? This is insanity Amber!”….then my friend Josh rolled to the curb to pick me up. I asked him, “What am I doing Josh, this is crazy!” And he said, “you’re living the dream, SOAK IT IN!!!”
My last night in San Francisco was beyond the most surreal experience. I had already said goodbyes to my family who I wouldn’t see for probably a year or more, kissed my kitties goodbye into the arms of loving friends, and now all that was left was to say farewell to my SF friends and my life in the states. A moment I had no clue how to deal with. All day my emotions were off the charts. One minute extreme happiness the next tears of sadness rained down my jacket. It was all emotions at once…a state of true happiness I suppose.
Over the last few months I literally had to turn off my brain from thinking about what was to come. Had to focus more than ever on the now. On experiencing San Francisco and my life in the states to the fullest. Much like I am doing now, half way around the globe. Being the most mindful and present as can be. The most extreme example was the moment I was standing with my biggest supporters outside the restaurant on the night of my take off. We were all trying not to look at the clock. Swearing I would be back isn’t enough to calm the flood of emotions. That doesn’t quite settle the nerves! I promised to stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, and Skype. Up to this point I have done as much as I can to stay connected in the last few days since landing in Sydney.
I told them all how much they meant to me, how much they had changed my life forever. They all will be traveling with me at some point!
Stepping on the plane was liberation. The feeling that nothing can stand in your way. That you have complete control over you life and your experience in the world. Indescribable.
So here I sit on a bed, in a room, in Sydney Australia. Glancing at my backpacks on the floor, a bag of almonds by my side, and my computer on my lap. The world at my fingertips, the possibilities endless. Too much to wrap my brain around. I am in a constant state of awe and wonderment. This is my life, and I made it happen.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that you can too.
I will be launching three new websites in the months to come and beginning a weekly video podcast. Stay tuned because now I have all the time in the world to deliver the best information to you. You can create your most epic self and I’ll teach you how.
Cheers from Sydney!
Sending much peace and love your way,
Amber
