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"Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death. And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."
- Anais Nin
I arrived at something like sort of like my nirvana the other day in Sydney when Chris and I stepped inside this very unassuming bookstore to discover an endless abyss of colorful and tattered old books. It was like they kept going forever. The books were stacked floor to ceiling and scattered all over the floor. It was a beautiful chaos. There was so much story living in one room. It was magical. It seemed endless, fantastic and wonderful. I could picture myself sitting there for hours picking up book after book filling my heart and mind with the knowledge, wisdom and possibility found within these dog eared pages. The thought crossed my mind that maybe I could become a sort of 'monk-woman' for a time and hangout in old library's and bookstores much like this one and just read for days at a time, fall asleep with a book in hand and a smile on my face. I seriously considered it for a moment standing in that beautiful mess ;)
I thought about what makes a brilliant story. The blossoming. The transformation. The heartache. The fear. The Love. The giving. The overcoming. These pages were filled with story. In many ways that is where I am in my life....at the bloom, sometimes it is fantastically challenging, but it seems there isn't anything more rewarding than experiencing those beautiful transformative moments when you see parts of yourself you never knew existed and you stand surprised. I have always believed we are far more capable than we ever give ourselves credit, but in order to see those beautiful parts of us we have to experience and invite the transformation process. It's an uncomfortable place to be sometimes, but that is where real, adventurous life is lived.
I picked up a book the other day in Melbourne and on the first page was a quote that struck me, "the end of your comfort zone is the beginning of life." The bloom never happens in comfortable states of mind. It happens in the challenge and the overcoming, the moments of adversity. Our life can be a brilliant story, most times we just need to continue seeking 'the bloom,' or the process of becoming everything we were meant to be...
In other news, I have 5 minutes of free wireless left. I'm parked in a camper lot in a 1966 cute as hell VW camper bus in New Zealand. Chris and I are in heaven here. oh, me, oh my.... I feel like we could bump into a neighborhood of hobbits taken straight from the scene of Lord of the Rings at any moment.... bliss.
Thoughts
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your photos are beautiful. but the heart that you are showing in this post is beautiful as well. i am in a "blooming" process as well. i pray yours turns out positively!
I don't normally comment, just read along :) But this post is so opportune for me right now. It hits the spot of where I am at and to hear it from someone else, no matter how much you know it, is encouraging. Thank you :)
shoot sarah. way to inspire me again! you rock :)
I really needed this. thanks sarah. I miss you guys!
I would love to go into that bookstore and read all those books! Looks like heaven!
okay, this looks like the most amazing place on the planet. i'm in heaven simply looking at the photo.
what an amazing little bookstore! your picture says it all - but it still sounds like something that you have to see for yourself to believe. thanks for sharing!
So true, your writing also reminds me of a quote I found somewhere, but I no longer remember where, "There is no growth in a comfort zone, and no comfort in a growth zone."
I hope that you enjoy your time abroad -- since it isn't technically a vacation.
Where is that?! I think I need to go there... :) You're such a beautiful writer :)