Summary
The board is standing. The pawns are next to each other. In front of the rook, the knight and bishop are strong together. There is no checkmate. Let's just enjoy the game.
A common topic in my conversations is the question of everyday life.
I have many answers to this, because there is always something happening even on quiet weekdays.
This is going to be a post that asks questions like “why is it good for me to live a minimalist life”, “tell me something interesting” and “if that room was good, why the hell did you move?”
At the end, of course, I’ll tell you why it’s good for me to move.
The novelty factor
When I was a kid… Well, much later, I had the habit of counting the corners of the room when I slept somewhere for the first time.
This habit has passed, but the feeling remains: in a new room, a new tent, a new forest, the joy of its new charm always appears among my feelings.
On my current trip, it has become so easy. I put down my backpack, open it and put the few things inside wherever the opportunity allows. I can take possession of a new room in minutes.
There is nothing that can keep me away from this experience. Since I left, I have slept in 8 different rooms.
That’s 64 corners. A I could make a chessboard out of it.
I can see more
I don’t have to change countries to see the world differently. I don’t even have to go to another city.
If I walk two districts away, I get to know a completely different face, even of the same city.
I love the feeling that on the second walk, familiar corners, shops, and even faces look back at me. Soon I have my favorite restaurant, the friendliest shop assistant, the most beautiful statue, and the quietest bench.
But if I go a few kilometers away, I can discover the same things again.
Nothing special happens. I just move the rook forward on the board.
Dozens of connections, lots of stories
Everywhere other people gift me with their present, their stories. I drink the knowledge that feeds on their experiences when they offer me a place.
The owner of one of the rooms unexpectedly brings me chips. The current housewife came home from a retreat today and brought me a book about meditation as a gift. The other day the neighbor told me a few interesting things. Gilin, a kayak rental guy, told me about his life.
Balin, an Indian man, told me with sparkling eyes about the guru whose teachings he believes. Samuin…
If I wanted to, I couldn’t even list how many and how many people I received teachings from, a kind word, temptation, recognition, respect, or simply the most important thing. A smile.
With every move, every move, every encounter, my bag fills up. I receive and give. I have been living on “Ash-baked cakes” for months.
I’m on foot in the front row and it’s nice to know that the other seven are on foot with me.
Lack breeds humor
I wrote earlier about how it was to try to cut a melon in half with a tube of sunscreen. I’ve been smiling about that story ever since.
I wanted to buy toothpicks in Bali. I couldn’t find them in any store. So I put away all three that were put in front of me at the next meal. Let’s just say I haven’t needed them since, but now I have them.
The less warm and the damn cold shower water write the story for me. I just have to smile because every shower I’ve seen is a pleasant memory.
If I don’t have a kitchen and a refrigerator for six weeks, I can be happy that the store is close. Where I am now, I have both, but the store is far away. If I share a bowl with the dog, I already have a story.
Where I live now, there is a sink, but there is no dishwashing liquid and no hot water in the kitchen. But there is soap ready. I have two choices. I wash in cold water or in cold soapy water. The soap smells very nice, which is not the only reason I chose the second option. But it is easy to imagine that I smile every time I wash dishes.
If I have everything in my room, then the only thing missing is a bottle opener. So I can only open the soda bottle with the balcony railing. If the cap falls on the street, then I can play cap finder on my next walk.
For some reason, every lack makes me smile. Because each one shows how many unnecessary things I was surrounded by in the past.
Everyone wants the queen because she can move in all directions. However, if there is another knight, a bishop and a rook, the game is just as strong.
Why is it good for me to move?
I love challenges.
With this life, every day brings me adventures, gently and playfully.
It’s not a rock-hard survival tour, but every single day teaches me that there is a solution to everything, whether I have help or not. Every solution is good.
No one checks anyone. Let’s enjoy the game. My life and I.
Buy me a coffee?
If you enjoyed this story, you can buy me a coffee. You don’t have to – but it means a lot and I always turn it into a new adventure.
Buy a coffee for Steve
Linktree
Short introduction