… or at least that’s what I’m hoping.
This blog of mine has been ‘in the works’ for over three years and this morning’s aftershock is what finally sent me writing.
And by ‘in the works’ I actually mean ‘in my head’. Off and on.
Let me explain:
Today, I happened upon an article online entitled “The Internet: a Procrastinator’s Best Friend“. By way of procrastination, I opened it, read it and laughed wholeheartedly in agreement with the author who told the story of how he was managing to constantly distract himself from writing his next novel, thanks to the internet.
As I finished reading it, John came over and very patiently asked if I was finally going to start my blog today. Since we met, he’s been encouraging me to write about my adventures; something I’d been meaning to do for the last few years yet always managed to find an excuse not to – no one’s gonna wanna read it, there’s a million and one travel blogs out there, my life is not eat pray love, blah blah etc etc. At some point we all run out of excuses so a few weeks ago I asked him to set up this website so that I could get started. Now having just read this article on procrastination (in order to procrastinate), I had no choice but to respond to his question with an emphatic and resounding YES!
When I began my big world travels in 2010, it was suggested/ assumed/ expected by family and friends (and myself also) that I’d write some sort of online memoir to keep all abreast of what I was up to and at the same time preserve a journal of the adventure. Imagine writing about the gruelling yet rewarding trek along the Camino Inka to Machu Picchu and all its metaphorical allusions (accompanied by some awesome photos of course) so that my loved ones could feel included in my journey despite being far away.
Cut to: first stop, San Francisco and surrounds, reunion with my fun-loving, wine-loving relatives; and then Mexico, land of tequila, mescal and all ’round party people.
Result – blog plans derailed. Hellooo Facebook photo album uploads and letting the pictures speak for themselves! A much easier option when you’re nursing a ‘resaca’ the next day/s.
Of course I eventually got to the more cultural and life changing components of my journey – exploring ancient ruins. visiting world famous sites, hanging with locals at carnaval, some obligatory thrill-seeking:
But by that time, I felt I had too much catching up to do to get the blog started and so I just continued on with posting photos…
“Great! So what are you going to write about?” he asks.
Huh?! Oh… I HAD to blurt something out fast, and as yesterday’s 7.2 magnitude quake was fresh on my mind, the word that rolled off my mouth was ‘Earthquake’. On cue, as soon as I said it (and before I could take it back) a decent sized aftershock occurred (apparently a 5.1) just like in those old horror movies where there’s a dramatic flash of lightning and thunder as the monster’s name is spoken. In my book, an undeniable message from the universe that my days (years?) of procrastinating on this are over.
Or should be.
I won’t list the embarrassingly ridiculous things I did to avoid completing this post over the almost 2 days (yes, 2 days!) that it’s taken me to write these 700 or so words because (A), I’d be plagiarising the format of the above mentioned Tim Stanley article and (B) I’m not yet sure how I feel about disclosing the fact that in one of my bouts of avoidance behaviour, I accidentally created a fruit bowl sculpture out of tin foil wrappers sourced from a packet of chocolate biscuits.
But suffice it to say that these intermittent aftershocks I keep feeling (and apparently will keep feeling for a good time to come) have been a surprisingly good nudge to get me off my proverbial butt, or more precisely, stop me photographing tinfoil fruit or trolling FB or checking to see if anything has magically appeared in the fridge since I last checked 5 minutes ago, and get back to writing a few more words.
So there it is, blog post number 1; only three plus years in the making and having evolved from the subject of travel adventures to, well, who knows what at this stage. I guess we shall see as further posts define it.
This website is a work in progress as am I a work in progress. But it’s a start. With any luck, I won’t need another 7.2 quake or 5.1 aftershock to write blog post number 2.
Well Done! I too am afflicted by the early stages of procrastination and have been meaning to start a blog since the triplets were born on the life of a stay at home dad. I’ll have to get around to it one of these days:-)
Seriously Bea it reads well – keep em coming.
Thanks Michael.
At least you have the excuse of having to take care of triplets! If by some miracle you manage to find the time, go ahead and write that blog. No doubt it won’t be long before some TV production company picks up the option to produce a sitcom based on it 🙂
LOVE!! Great voice, and I know for a fact you have tons of material (and photos!) for future posts. Keep ’em coming!
So far, yours has been the only blog I’ve followed religiously so I meant it when I said THANKS for the inspiration.
writing a travel blog for lifes like ours is more like a biography so is more complicated than what relatives and friends think… it still being a top task on my to do things… so congrats my friend! it only took you 3 years to start!!(hello??!! i’m still waiting for the right time after 7 years travelling!!)
a super fun person like you will only make other people laugh and love it while reading so, please, keep doing it!!
besos!!
Guapa, I hear you.
Muchas gracias y abrazos!
It’s like you’re right beside me… I love it. Besides you’re going to need an excuse not to swim, bike, and run. This seems like the perfect one! Keep riding those creative waves. Looking forward to more posts!
Thanks, pinsan. I love that you feel like I’m right beside you; makes me realise that I’m actually managing to communicate in my own voice.
Awesome Bea , cant wait to read more! Am so seriously living through your experiances, and loving it keep em comming.
Thanks Sammi!
love it Bea ! I look forward to keeping up with you and your adventures on your blog , even though I think truly you should have your own travel channel show : ) Glad that your ok after the 7.2 . Sounds like lots of aftershocks ,hope they stop soon . now I’m gonna stop procrastinating and go take care of business that should have been done a week ago. Lol
<3 Sally
Thank you Sally!
Maybe travel channel show in the future, eh?
It’s perfect. I feel I am reading my excuses verbatim…..soon one day I promise. There is hope!
Glad you could relate Sandra, so yes there’s always hope!
Love your blog Bea … and i hear ya on the procrastination subject sista 🙂 i look forward to hearing more about your adventures in all the exotic and wonderful places you’ve been xx
Thanks Shaybe!
Enhorabuena!
Great JOB!
I remember keeping a journal when I worked for the WTO and got to see all those amazing places and got on those adventures. Back then, it was the quickest and most efficient way of sharing with the familia what all i’d been up to and sharing the pictures. So on a day when you don’t have anything particularly fun to write about, go down through memory lane, and change the dates to reflect when it was. Even to this day, I back date it. I have yet to write about my camping trip last weekend, but when I do write it, it will show as October 11-13. That’s more for me than anyone else.
Look forward to reading more of your adventures and seeing the beautiful world you’ve discovered.
Cool! That’s a good tip there, Gia. Thanks!
Well done Bea on finally starting your blog. I started travelling when I was 16 and I wrote journals the old fashioned way with a pen and paper, no internet in those days. I did this religiously for years and I have tons of bloody notebooks which I never look at and have no idea where they are now. Then all of a sudden I stopped as I too had the same thoughts as you; Who is going to read them? Why would anyone be interested in what I do? Why spend all that time writing in my notebook? I never wrote a word for nearly 10 years and chose to keep it to myself and in my head. But I guess age took over and my memory is not as good as it used to be. I started to forget everything and worse, merging memories from one trip with the other, definitely the early signs of dementia for sure. Which is why I started writing again in 2005 and even went online…no more notebooks for me! So keep going lovely lady and I look forward to reading more. If they are anything like your photos on facebook, people will love your blog. Happy and safe travels always.
You’re so right Sharon. I too find that I’m merging details from separate trips but I have known about my dementia for a while 😉 I can only imagine how necessary the journalling is for you given the amount of traveling YOU do!
Well well well finally… 😉
Well done sista & keep it coming.. It reads well, but I know there’s a lot more in your well of creativity, adventures & fitness diaries so dig deep.
I’m sure you are also in the best surrounding to be inspired & invest the time to work on it so stop opening the fridge and get the 5 minute clock going ( google that comment, if you can’t find it let me know).
Look forward to the next instalment.. Much love & so very proud of you. X
I’m afraid the ‘every 5-minutes fridge visit habit’ will be a tough one to break. You know me and my never-ending desire to eat. Even worse now that I’m constantly “in training” for triathlons… I’ve always got an excuse! 😛
x
Such a great writer you are… and we’ve only just begun!!! MORE please, asap! Love you, miss you…you’re an inspiration beyond measure.
BTW, been meaning to start seriously writing about my parents’ individual journeys to Oz for literally YEARS. Permission to kick me up the proverbial butt to make a serious start, not a half assed one 😉
Little Budsta, you are one of the most motivated people I know. They say that if you want something done, get a busy person to do it… so just add it to your list. You of all people will find that elusive 25th hour in the day to fit it in amongst your plethora of projects. 😉
Well, well, well. Im not the least bit surprised that you had yet ANOTHER genius talent. YOU are a writer Bea. Go on then. Write some more. Im making popcorn. I will sit here and wait. 😉
Loved it, love YOU. Carry on.
I WILL write about you one day, Susan, I will. And if I have managed to entertain you for even one moment then my work here is done! 😉
Bea… I miss you. I had so much fun reading your blog and yearn for more. I heard about your travels, even saw some pictures, and wondered off and on what your were doing. You are a good writer. You also have not changed much since I last saw you… did you find the fountain of youth in your travels? :-))) I will await your next chapter. Love you! Your cuz, Rosa
Gracias, Rosa. Unfortunately, no fountain of youth (believe me, I searched high and low) but perhaps the travel lifestyle agrees with me somehow? Love you also mucho mucho xox
Looooved it!!! I am the same like you!! Hahah …i did start it with all.the pain.i experienced last year..and then i stopped..shud go back. i can almost literally picture you and hear you saying it like “kwento” loooove it!! Hurrry!!!! Write the 2nd one na!!!
Thanks Rocio. You get back into it also na. It’s good therapy. 😉
All these lovely comments and not one mention of the fruit bowl!?!? Que barbaridad!!! Absolutely loved it Bea. Your feedback sums it up. Just another one of your amazing talents so KEEEEEP writing….. What about some deets on your recent Pamilacan visit? Any updates on Junior? Meshiang? Or even Selso…. compare of Junior… 😉
Exactly what I thought, TJ! I was sure someone would offer me money for that fruit bowl or commission me for some other tin foil sculpture. Heck I was even close to auctioning it off on ebay…. Alas, good taste these days is hard to find.
And yes, very good suggestion; Selso, compare of Junior will make it to my writings at some point for sure.
well done, bea. liked it a lot. and completely sympathise with your long way towards the first posting. as most long travelling persons i was confronted with the request of writing a blog too. so far i only blog for work (and in german…) and i keep the private experiences to long emails. maybe i should start mixing it up a little more. life is best in the mix anyway.
though during my next six months on long island, i guess it’s easier to write into old fashioned journals or docs, as stable internet connections haven’t really reached that part of the world. if you ever need a good excuse to take a break from writing, come over to the andamans. but honestly, you don’t need any excuses, keep on running, diving and travelling and share. i read this week that we are on our way to a sharing community. it was referring to property and the spread of exchange circles and sharing groups. but in my understanding experiences and adventures (no matter if into the depth of the soul, beyond the limits of the body, in the ocean of feelings or about the stunning beauties of the world) are among the most precious one could share. therefore thank you for writing.
Nicky, that was beautiful. I wish I could understand the stuff you write in German but I’m afraid that tongue still eludes me.
Since you express yourself so well in English, perhaps a personal blog in that language is in order? 😉
Fun, light and funny! Loved it Bea can’t wait for the next one!