I've lived in a number of places in the last decade. And with that comes all manner of readjustments. It has to be said, that if I had the means ( i.e. the money) to do so, I'd rather be semi-nomadic and only stay in the UK during the summer and stay anywhere else that's not so cold and wet for the rest of the year.
There's a restlessness in me that even after years of yoga, hasn't quite abated. I'm glad it's there, cause it's what drives me to achieve and learn more , as well as try newer things. It's all about flow, momentum and change, which is also better known as 'growing'.That in itself is essential to living a fuller life, in my opinion.
Our environments are changing, too. In their own way, they also evolve and grow outwards. Which is why the following makes sense :-
Watch As The World's Biggest Cities Explode In Size Over The Last 200 Years
Overcrowding has become a problem in the bigger cities, and I've noticed this in London many a time, as well as in New York ( or more specifically, Manhattan), and San Francisco ( or SFC Bay Area). The prices have followed suit and yet I know a lot of people who want to live in all the aforementioned places. I've lived and stayed at all of them, and naturally concur. But there does need to be something put in place to redress thre ever increasing cost of living in these places, and the gap it creates for the rest of the surrounding areas.
Socio-economic tension isn't something you really see at a glance, but more or less 'feel' via the incumbent populace and the emotional tonality of a place . It's a combination of the increased pace of life, which is driven by the need to meet extra costs, and all the knock on effects it brings with it. For example, people can become emotionally colder, or at the other extreme, more anxiety ridden and stress prone, as a result of living in that environment within a certain period of time.
Of course, some acclimatize better to certain environments ( e.g. a big city dweller moving to a similar metropolis style environment will feel less jolted and disconnected). It's swings and roundabouts and you do have to be pretty 'street smart' to survive ( and thrive) in 'the big smoke', which is what all big cities are.
On the other hand, there is a real sense of pulse and a living, breathing, almost fizzy energy in these places, that you can just pick up on. That's not an unhealthy tension, but is more of a 'let's get on with it!' vibe, coupled with 'why not try this?'. In my experience, people tend to take more risks and are more willing to work harder in a more driven environment, than anywhere else. It requires a strong nervous system over the long run and you have to find your own rythym and pace to suit you.
But it's good to be there if you want to be where it's all happening beyond the confines of a drawing board or endless hopeful conversations in a bar or local pub. You can always chill out or de-stress via methods such as yoga and meditation, if you're so inclined. Speaking of which :-
Sam Harris on the Paradox of Meditation and How to Stretch Our Capacity for Everyday Self-Transcendence
The form of yoga I do daily, is in effect a meditation. It's silent and there's no chanting or difficult postures involved. And over the last three years, I have felt gradual, shifting changes in the way I view the world, how I deal with things, what I say and do and so on. I'm more mindful of things, but without having to think about it. That's a paradox in itself, but it's like any habitual practice. As the saying goes, you become what you do the most. So if you're chilled out or at peace more often than not, then that's your preferred state of being.
I'll also add that, at least for me, I've not reneged on alcohol and switched to a vegetarian diet as a result, and I don't sit there thinking or dwelling about that either. In effect, the one thing I have learned, is that if it works for you at some level, then there must be something in it. And that's what it's all about for me. Life should be about learning and more importantly, about experiencing and feeling a wide spectrum of things, both good and bad.
There is a lot more that can be discussed on this, but that's for another time. For now, there are plenty of websites, both for local events and more generalised information on the internet, if you want to delve further.
Speaking of experiences and feelings, here are some great nuggets of wisdom from a lady I have a soft spot for. She's brilliant. She's also beautiful, articulate, sensitive and intelligent :-
5 career secrets from Amy Poehler’s new memoir
And on that note, I'm off to find some apples to eat. No, I'm not going to go scrumping, I'll just buy a batch. And then open the bag, wash a few under the tap, dry them..
Time out.
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