My Brand New Life

Waking up in a cavernous, cold hostel with 10 strangers all getting ready for their day, I couldn't help but get an instant flash of anxiety, wondering where my life has led me and what exactly I was supposed to do from here on out. It's a very bizarre feeling knowing that you will be away from your friends and family for the next year or so and in the moment it's really hard to imagine ever connecting with a human being again. I go over to my pack to discover that my hemp oil soap has opened and emptied in the front pocket, providing me with a cleaning project for the next couple of days. The first few days were certainly lonely and yes, fear and doubt were not absent among the majestically spiritual vibes of the Old City Jerusalem, but these feels are very special to me now. Leading up to this trip, the planning and decisions I made were done through such positive and easy intentions, I knew what I wanted and focused my thought and actions on getting it. Now that I am at the brink of having what I want, I'm experiencing that magical need to evolve and fight to continue moving towards my goal; adaptation and necessity have official combined. As I travel onward, I'm sure to be constantly tested and these feelings will continue to come into play, but the opportunity to be so-outside-of-your-comfort-zone-that-it-hurts, is truly amazing and I am so grateful that I've already got to experience a taste of it. With the fear and uncertain that comes with travel, even in this short time there have been incredible experiences. In my first week in Israel I have hiked in the northern countryside, lived in several Kibbutz', witnessed Jerusalem; the religious center of the world, made about 50 close new friends, slept in a Bedouin tent in the Negev desert, rode a camel, swam in the dead sea and encountered people of all types.

I'm now in Tel Aviv, Israel in a hostel full of intrepid travelers all loving life and the beautiful Mediterranean coast. A Norwegian, who for the past 2 months has walked the length of Israel from Eilat to the Sea of Gallelle, shows off his painfully blistered feet and war stories from the trail. Other young travelers, who insist on bringing me out to Tel Aviv's bustling night-life, all rave about the city and how I will never want to leave. So as I sit on the boardwalk, looking out into the rolling Mediterranean Sea, I'm starting to get that feeling of wellbeing back, and I can already feel the adventures beginning to flow. Tomorrow morning I leave Tel Aviv for Tzfat, Israel which is the birthplace of Kabbahlic mysticism and an incredibly spiritual place. There I will be going on a week-long spiritual retreat and hopeful learn as much about myself that I have in the past couple of weeks.