by GBP | Apr 26, 2015 | Givebackpackers
November 2014 A year of release. I began this year letting go of a man I loved and simultaneously losing my health. Facing these challenges, my mind and body ached for control of a life that had almost overnight spiraled out of my grasp. Now here I stood in a field near a whispering stream, 11 months later, lighting the wick of my lantern. It had been a dream of mine to be present in Chiang Mai for their annual Lantern Ceremony. Thousands of souls gathering to Thailand from around the world to float their intentions into the heavens. Holding tightly to the base I feel my lantern billow and ever so slightly pull as it slowly fills up with air–begging to be released into the twinkling night. For me it was a glowing vessel, ready to carry away my deepest emotions across a sea like sky. I breathe in the warm Thai paradise surrounding me while my mind quietly shuffles through the difficult year that lays behind me like broken glass. Why is it so hard to just let go? Maybe if we didn’t hold on we’d never have to let go. The lantern’s tug increases and I begin to feel that it is almost time to open my palms and let it rise to the stars. What if I fearlessly lived my life with open hands & an open heart? Letting every experience and person drift in & out of my life like a wave. To be free of expectations. To just be. A year of release. A year of growth. A year of gain. I do believe everything...
by GBP | Apr 25, 2015 | Uncategorized
Sea of Seven Colors – San Andres Unwinding to the rhythmic sounds of aqua waves and the tropical taste of Limonada de Coco, a favorite drink among Colombians, San Andres is a lush paradise escape. Lindsay, Sy and I are posted up on Bugry Beach at a hidden bungalow nestled in-between balmy palms with a rainbow painted dock stretching out into the “Sea of Seven Colors”. Que Bonita! Unfortunately, there is a hefty weight that rests on Linz and my shoulders. We fear that sharing photos of this beautiful island serenity portrays us inaccurately and the fun displayed on our social media possibly diminishes all of our hard work. Does posting photos of paradise give the appearance we are on some touristy vacation rather than vigorously pursuing our givebackpackers mission? Our wandering may often walk a fine line between productivity and play but we like it that way! Our work is our play. Shedding light on some of the darker difficulties we face is not always in sync with our inspirational style. Being the Co-founders of an ambitious start-up demands that we wear all the hats and that means we often times sacrifice our basic needs like sleep, proper nutrition and personal finances in order to get givebackpackers off the ground. Building a conscious brand that truly resonates with our values requires diligence, ground research and an endless investment of our time. I rarely know what day it is because there is no such thing as weekends off. We are learning to accept that it is virtually impossible to complete a to-do list that continually grows with each passing...
Recent Comments