Living the lifestyle life

“It’s not so much the thing,” Jasmine said, with her hands cupped together, creating an empty space to show me ‘the thing’. 

“It’s the lifestyle, and what it brings.”

I wasn’t sure what she meant. I got it, but not clearly. 

“So, what do you mean?” I asked and stopped to look at her. 

“Like I don’t necessarily mind so much what the thing is, so long as the lifestyle is full of freedom, happiness and health.”

In other words, if you are seeking freedom, there could be several paths to get there and the most important thing is freedom, rather than how you get there. 

She’s right. 

Since my journey into the law of attraction began in 2009, it has turned my head towards living the life of my dreams. Sometimes, getting there isn’t easy but if you keep the North Star in sight, you’re heading the right way. 

Have you ever found you are meandering back and forth along the path towards the North Star?

That has been me. 

I joined the university in 2013, as a distraction from a difficult period in my life, thinking I could work towards becoming a dietitian and write my IVF book during the commute. 

This is a familiar story for many people, I’ve heard it. 

Then, I would get on the train, pull out my phone, begin to answer messages, maybe watch some chemistry YouTube video in preparation for the class ahead, or edit a vlogmas video on my phone. No writing was done. 

The desperation to keep paying the mortgage was a loud fear in my head. The voices chattering away, reminding me to worry. 

Nine years later and I am almost stepping into the writer life. I say almost, as I'm not sure any writers fully step into the life with confidence. There is always a little imposter syndrome, yet, we seem to have no choice but to be a writer. 

What do I mean?

We are thrown curveball after curveball until we finally throw our hands into the air and realise we have no option but to write and be a writer. I will tell you more about my curveballs, but I will keep them brief as they are negative.

My health is the biggest pathway to take me here. I have autoimmune disease and two of those are significant. 

Crohn's disease.

Ankylosing Spondylitis.

I have been trying to ignore them and carry on. But they won't let me. 

A day before I flew to Tunisia, there was another guiding light. It shone as bright as can be as I wept in the drivers seat. I couldn't drive home to pack for over half an hour. And when I did begin the journey, I realised I had some thinking to do.

"Divine timing," I nodded to myself. Having the option to write, vlog, go to Yoga, eat real food and walk in nature, I realised I would have a complete contrasting lifestyle for a few days. 

Could that be the thing?