“Please don’t go; six months is a long time.” said my youngest brother while staring up at me with his puppy dog eyes. There was major fireworks going off in my mind as my heart sank. Knowing that I had saved up enough money to travel through Europe for a little over 6 months, sold and gave almost everything away that I owned, self-employed to do as I pleased, with the knowledge of almost every book written by Rick Steves on traveling, and ready to live a minimalistic life out of a backpack, without a simple care in the world except where I wanted to go next. “Okay, I will stay,” I said. At first I felt off, as if I was missing out on a golden opportunity to explore and gain more knowledge, a chance of true freedom to go wherever I pleased. Literally not a single anchor to weigh me down, I was a free spirit with a thirst for adventure. Those genuine moments changed my life forever, a direct hit to my heart. If it was not for these words, and the fourteen year old boy looking up at me, I would have gone…
Back at my almost empty apartment; I decided to think about what just happened, reassuring myself how everything was going to be okay, and that I will travel soon enough. Even though my life at that point in time didn’t go as planned; it’s as if I was in a totally new place, with a new outlook towards life. Simplicity hit me hard knocking whatever extreme materialistic ways I had left out of me. Minimalism broke many ego driven desires in half, and I felt weightless— freedom was found through simplicity. A changed man at the age of 23 in search of simplicity was now the goal. As time passed, I became more and more minimal, hacking away anything that was not necessary for the health and growth of my being. My perception towards life engraved itself, and I feel that these experiences allowed my creative mind the freedom to soar. (I used my traveling funds towards my musical career)
I believe that everything happened at the correct moment in time, and for a reason. Yes I might have done everything I did, at another point in life, but this is how it naturally unfolded, as I went with the flow of what I felt in my heart. I am grateful that my youngest brother spoke from his heart, because mine listened, and I acted from the root of the strongest emotion. I like to think that I learned minimalism, gained clarity, and the freedom to create; for the soul purpose to find the music within myself. I give thanks to my youngest brother for speaking freely, because I probably would be on a different journey. I am living life through the act of love with hopes to see the rest of the world, while teaching people how to live simply, stress free, and from the heart as I travel with my music.
I hope that everyone reading this is living life loving.
Have a Happy New Year,
Edward
