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a feel good travel blog

How a Conversion with a Hippie in the Lagos Changed My Life

10/17/2015

1 Comment

 
Picture
Nimbin Business Hours Sign - Photo Courtesy of Google
Oh the Lagos. The ocean, the rocks, the beach – the energy is impeccable. I took a stroll along the coastline trail and stood atop of the towering rocks that empowered my spirit and being. I stood alone, inches away from the edge looking and watched the seagulls soar above and stand atop of the pillars.
 
I felt as free as a bird and opened my arms to the possibilities of life. For years, I’ve worked my ass off to become a writer – working full time – writing part time – all I knew was work. “Oh my god, I release a book tomorrow,” I thought. I have a plan, but I don’t have a plan. Being on the road constantly gets in the way of any detailed marketing strategies or business planning.
 
I ran into the two Germans who shared the same guesthouse and we walked the trails overlooking the Cliffside. I had to head back into town early as I scheduled a massage. I got into town with no problems and meandered through the Old Town streets in search of In Light yoga studio.
 
I walked past an open door and glittering crystals and stones caught my eye. Like any other hippie, I stopped, took two steps backwards and walked into the store.
 
I saw a barefoot hippie man, dressed in Bohemian pants sit on a ledge and his arms hugged his legs. I said, “Hello. What time do you close?”
 
The man looked perplexed as if I asked him the cure to cancer.
 
He replied, “Well. I’m not sure. I’ve had these postcards sitting in my office for a week now and I really need to go to the post office today, so I may close in the afternoon.”
 
“Ok no problem. So are you open everyday?” I asked.
 
Still confused he slanted his head to the side and squinted his eyes. I said, “So…kind of everyday?”
 
He replied, “Yeah. Yeah kind of everyday. You know if the door is open that means I’m open and if the door is closed that means I’m not here.”
 
In my head I think, “naturlich.” He continued, “Usually, I open around 10:30am and close for lunch. Your best bet is to come in the morning as the stones are best looked at in the morning.”
 
He looked lost yet complete at the same time. He did not have a nagging boss behind his head telling him he needs to promote his store better. He seemed content and flowed with the waves of life. It somewhat blistered my mind as the German methods of clarity have affected me deeper than I realized. When you know what to expect, unpredictability rocks the boat of defined operation methods.
 
I flashed back to the first time I visited Nimbin, Australia. An eclectic town ran by hippies and potheads, one could never get a defined answer on business hours. As seen in the picture above, these free-spirited individuals chose life before work and success. One of the greatest lessons I learned while living in Australia twice (study and then work) is that life must be balanced. There must be equal parts of leisure mixed with work in order to stay sane in an ever-evolving work-orientated culture.
 
There’s something that I envy about that mentality. In a way I am like that and in a way I am not like that. When people are removed from success they are free and detached from any labels or promotions. But the greatest challenge is planning for such things as retirement and savings.
 
I thought about this as I walked to the massage studio. My mind battles the dual worlds between being a free-spirited hippie and a put-together businesswoman. The next day, I would release my book, Finding Om, and I had a plan, but I also had no plan. What should I do? Should I be worried? I felt like I’m flying by the seat of my own pants, but then I thought of the hippies and Nimbin and thought, “Everything is going to be okay.”
1 Comment
AK loco on my MOTO
8/12/2017 03:12:40 pm

You've just inspired me to go to Lagos and sleep on the beach !!!

Everything will be ok , if it's not. It's not the end yet ! (As an old friend said)

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    Elizabeth Rae Kovar is a Fitness Trainer, Author of Finding Om, Presenter, Yogi, Vegan & lover of the World. View her portfolio at www.elizabethkovar.comor health-based blog at mindbodysoul-food.com

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