I went to Mexico recently. I was there for several days and really had no schedule. So, I didn’t make one. Schedules are these horrible things that suck the life right out of a person… I know they’re necessary sometimes, but really, when you have the chance, go without!
Considering I had no schedule, I really managed to get a lot in. I ate in a smoky kitchen where tortillas were being pressed by hand and cooked over the coals. I surfed. Twice. Caught some great waves and got maytaged by others. Spotted a big sea turtle 32 meters under water. Never really knew that they swam that deep… Taught two different people a little bit about swimming in big waves, where the undertows are, how riptides work etc. Helped a guy reach his deepest freedive ever. Swam from shore out around an island and back. Had dinner with strangers several times. Took a Spanish lesson. Taught some English to some kids at a hot spring in the middle of nowhere. Got on a bus headed out of town with no particular destination in mind. Not one of these things was planned. Basically I just let the wind blow and drifted with it. If an idea came into my head I went for it. I could very easily get spoiled living like this…
Seriously though, while I was there I watched busy tourists bustling around trying to make it from one place to another on time. Trying mightily to stay on the onerous schedule that they’d made for themselves, arguing about how best to accomplish all that they had decided to do. I really wonder how much, if at all, their vacation differed from normal life. I really love getting up in the morning without any idea of how a day will turn out! I love all the variables that pop up and I love being flexible enough to not let the variables worry me. The day I took the bus out of town I made a mistake with the time and almost missed my bus home. When I thought I had missed it I got a little thrill! Where would I spend the night? Would I even bother going back in the morning, or just stay the next day as well? Or better yet get on another bus to somewhere else?!! Yet another night I was with some new friends and didn’t realize that the last bus back had left hours earlier. As we pondered what to do about it I managed to spot a taxi. Everything always worked out in the end!
Schedules can help you stay organized for sure, but when you want to really feel free, try abandoning the schedule for a while. That is, if you can manage it!! I’m sure you won’t lack for things to do… Just let your imagination drift on the breeze.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
About this blog
What an age we live in... I really think I'm lucky (or fortunate if you prefer!) to be alive right now. While it's true that this planet is in serious decline, it's still a great place in many ways. And with transportation and information so readily available, we, of this time, are more able than anyone ever has been to see exactly what this world has to offer.
It occurred to me one day, as I looked out an airplane window high above Iceland, that if I had 100 lifetimes to live it wouldn't be nearly as much time as I would need to do and see all that I'd like to do and see. That leads me directly to the name of this blog, No time to waste. The site address is tiempo-es-precioso which just means that time is precious.
I lead an exceptionally fortunate life. If you're a fortunate person, then you really should recognize the fact and be thankful for it! I do thank God for the opportunities I've had. This blog is just meant to share a few of these experiences with those that are interested.
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