“Wherever you go, there you are.”
Recently, after a busy period, my family and I left for a short beach vacation. Lying on the beach with a book for a few days was a helpful juxtaposition compared to the focused whirlwind of the previous month.
I spent the vacation trying to detach from as many things as possible. No email, no obligations, no social media… just resting and being together with family.
However, I did notice about halfway through the trip that I was never able to fully disconnect from one thing: myself.
The exact moment I had this realization was one afternoon when I was floating alone in the middle of the ocean. (Well, not technically the middle, but quite a few feet offshore).
The sun was shining, the water was warm, and I was simply being tossed to and fro by the incoming and outgoing waves. I wasn’t moving forward, wasn’t moving backward, I was just floating in relative quietness.
While floating, a work project came to my mind. Something I’ve been thinking about doing for a while but haven’t yet started. That thought led me to another thought about work… which led me to another.
I didn’t really want to be thinking about work, so I tried to push it aside and think about something else. I started to think about my son leaving home and if we’ve done all that we could to prepare him for life on his own. I’m proud of how we’ve raised him, but I can’t help but have some regrets along the way as well.
Some of the mistakes got me thinking about a few of my friends at home who had recently been through a similar life change and how I should probably be asking them for advice on navigating this new season of life.
That thought, somehow, morphed into thinking about a close friend who is about to be married and how they are just starting a new life together and wondering if my wife and I might be able to help in any way. Which then got me thinking about my own marriage and how I’m doing as a husband…
As I floated and my mind considered more and more aspects of my life, an important reality came to mind: No matter where you go, you can never escape yourself.
Wherever you go, however far you travel, regardless of how hard you try to disconnect, you will always be there.
I think, more than anything else, I began to realize the importance of living a life that I can be proud of. Because there is simply no escaping it.
You will always be you. You can travel to the ends of earth, but you always take yourself with you.
The wise decisions we make each day about how to invest our time and money and talents are carried with us every day forward. As are the foolish decisions we make.
The changes that we are making, whether for the positive or the negative, are the changes we will reflect upon for the rest of our lives.
The habits we form, the relationships we foster, the parenting strategies we employ, the work we choose to do, the character and integrity we pursue… all contribute to the person we spend time with in the future.
No matter where you go, you will always be there. Make sure it’s someone you want to spend time with.
Mike says
Talking about floating on the water, and how your thoughts kept coming to you, was the perfect metaphor for how I feel so often.
I reach a point of calm. And then one thought comes to mind, and it seems to start a veritable wave of them. Some times it’s rolling and sometimes it’s crashing!
Either way, I’m glad to see I’m not alone.
Olympia Alvarez says
This post was so profound for me especially since I recently experienced a severe anxiety attack caused by my overthinking. I just somehow got sucked in to this vortex of “what-ifs and I-shoulds”. Thank you for making this point. We must learn to love and nurture ourselves, give ourselves space and grace if we are to live healthy and meaningful lives.
Linda McLachlan says
This was so good. Thank you so much. Being good company for own self is so key. We have so much more to give to others out of that, without giving them the responsibility of making us happy.
I haven’t explored The Minimalist Home but will be looking it up! Thank you!
Gillian says
I love this, especially being newly retired!
Judy says
God and I ??
Sheila Fields says
This is a beautiful post. It’s written so well, I felt like I was on a float there too.
This has sparked my thoughts about myself, my life too.
I love Becoming Minimalist- I have been following this for years. It’s been fantastic for my personal development. I am thankful I discovered it.
I am now putting this lifestyle into practice and preparing for a move to a new house. So it’s the beginning of me BECOMING MINIMALIST. I am excited and so ready for this undertaking. I look forward to how much better the quality of my life becomes. Thank you for this great blog and every post!
Jennifer says
thank you
Jessalynn Jones says
I loved this post Joshua. It’s so simple but so profound. I remember telling a friend who was unhappily single and looking for joy in someone else that they needed to find joy with themselves first.
I think that minimalism focuses us on finding the truth about ourselves so that we can find happiness that we can then give to others.
But your honesty resonated, sometimes I think about work projects when I want to think about my family and my spirituality and I think that might be because, for the first time ever, my work is something I’m passionate about. However it’s still important to be present for my family and my spirituality so I need to learn to minimize and prioritize within this new aspect of my life.
Wendy B says
This is a beautiful posts. Thank you for the gentle reminder. ?
Kalli says
Another Gem Joshua! Also congratulations on another family milestone, being a parent is forever. Daily gratitude gets us through these times and the years, Thankyou for sharing your thoughts.
Kalli from Australia
Lydia West says
I just read your very informative
and wise article in theFeb. 24 – March 2, 2022, issue of The Epoch Times. I reread it with a pen to make it easier to start working on turning off the tv, writing something every day and the 3-item to-do list. Don’t be afraid to remind readers to consult God for daily help, too. In today’s world, your readers need to realize that God is here for us if we ask and truly believe.
H says
Amen!!! We are never alone in our daily walk.