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- Burn the shipsš„ā
Hey friends,
A short one this weekš.
This week, while reading a newsletter I personally love - Ali Abdaalās newsletter - I came across the term āBurn the Shipsā on Aliās latest newsletter issue. In it, he talks of how he switched his initial idea of a digital nomad journey, to a new idea of not going back to base (his London home) after every trip.
Iāll explain, by quoting:
Initially, my plan for the travelling stuff was to continue to rent an apartment in Central London, and use that as a home base for travelling. Iād spend a month, or two, in each city, and then head back to London for a few weeks. Rinse and repeat.
But after listening to the interview with Bill, my perspective shifted. I realized that the act of continuing to have a place in London would hold me back from living a true life of adventure for a year. The temptation would always be there to just go back to London as a way of settling down, or to spend a few days there in between other destinations. Not to mention, the cost of the place would make me always think āIām paying a lot for a place that I never use in Central Londonā. I realized that I should burn the ships.
By not continuing to have a home base in London, that would be like me burning the ships. Sort of. I could always come back and stay with my mum or my brother. But by not having a place of my own, Iām less likely to succumb to the temptation to cut my travels short, and more likely to actually commit to the intention Iāve set. So, I made the decision to let go of my apartment in London. Instead, the plan is embrace a completely nomadic lifestyle during this year of travel. No more home base, no more returning to familiar surroundings. I want to commit sincerely to the experience of being a digital nomad, and to fully immerse myself in it.
A little background
The metaphor āburn the shipsā comes from HernĆ”n CortĆ©s, the Spanish conquistador, who upon arriving in the New World, ordered his men to burn their ships. By doing so, CortĆ©s eliminated any possibility of retreat and forced his soldiers to fully commit to their mission.
Google describes the term as cutting off all avenues to the old ways of doing things.
In lifeās context, it means taking ourselves into unknown and potentially hazardous new territories like CortĆ©s did. And to ensure that we understand that there is no turning back, we burn our ships.
My take
Iāve been thinking about this concept for a harmfully long period this week. Iāve had a lot of things in my life that I said Iād not go back to, but the allure of comfort always made me go back to them. And not to my satisfaction, I would say.
In the past, Iāve failingly committed to not doing lots of things; like scrolling aimlessly on my phone, or going back home at the first chance I get, or racing to my room immediately the lecture ends, or avoiding any form of interactions due to my foolish insecurities, and would rather be at the solitude of my room than have a meaningful interaction with friends.
Such things, and more, Iāve now determined to let go and embrace my ānew worldā, by facing my fears and insecurities head on, and whatever kills me kills me. What doesnāt, well, Kelly Clarkson would help me sing my heart out when they make me stronger.
So, everyday this week (and for days to come) Iāve been writing down lists in my journal of where in my life I need to burn my ships and fully commit to my quests. Where specifically I would like to leave my comfort zone and embrace the unknown.
Now, I take on my āNew Worldā with a determined will like that of conquistador HernĆ”n CortĆ©s. No retreat to the comfort zone. Never back down, never what? Who said we couldnāt take lessons from ābadā people, eh?š
If you think of anything that changes the way you might approach your own life, do please hit <reply> and let me know - Iād love to hear from you :)
ā¤ļøMy favorite things this week.
š„Videos - this week I watched a wonderful video from one of my favorite channels, the School of Life. A video of the Yoruba people of Western Africa (Nigeria, Togo and Benin) and their culture of Itutu. This is a term used to denote a stress-free, cultured person. Someone that nothing in nature nor in man can make them loose their temper and act in a barbaric or uncultured manner. In other words, a calm person. And this, makes them even more beautiful physically, and emotionally. A very wonderful video.šš¼
šš±New beginnings - this week, as I stated in my last issue, which you can read here, was opening day in my campus. Other than that, on Monday I started a new course in another institution. So it was a double opening chapters for me. The institutions are set in different environments and cultures and so definitely new atmospheres. And as I write this on a Friday night, the new chapters were splendid! The prospects appear well bright on my end. Donāt know what the gods have in store on the other end.
š„ā¶Videos - another video I watched by the School of Life was āIn Praise of the Quiet lifeā. The opening line alone, snatched me!
āA quiet life sounds like an option that only the defeated would ever be inclined to praiseā
And that is definitely something I had to watch, arenāt you intrigued by it too? And it was well over worth it. It talks of the few people in the world who seek not the lavish lifestyle of celebrities, or want to be the headlines of every trending news, or attend every weekend parties etc.
But a people who enjoy the simplest of life; like a quiet afternoon under the trees reading a book, or knitting a new sweater for their grandma, taking a photograph of a bird perched on a delicate branch, or one of my favorite, try baking a new recipe.
This is definitely a life I wanna live, and Iām gonna live.
Iāll leave you with a wonderful poem from one Tao Yuan Ming, quoted in the video:
On Drinking Wine.
Plucking chrysanthemums from the eastern hedge,
I gaze into the distance at the southern mountain.
The mountain air is refreshing at sunset,
As the flocking birds are returning home.
In such things we find true meaning,
But when I try to explain, I canāt find the words.
Have a wonderful week ahead!
Reagan.