In July 2005, I traveled to the great land Down Under officially named Australia. As many of you know this changed my life forever. I have not been the same person since and it has all been for the better as my life changed forever.
Two things happened recently that made me remember the moment that my life changed so much. The first was the following jubilant video and subsequent article posted by a great blogging buddy by the name of Sean Ogle who changed his own path forever. Below is the video of his journey to FREEDOM and that which led him to believe you can change if you choose too. Please watch Sean’s video and then read his article through the link below:
Improve Your Life in Just One Easy Step
The second thing that happened came when I was packing for my move to Phoenix. I found one of my journals from that “Ah-Ha” trip back in 2005. I quickly realized I was a much more prophetic writer while in college and that what I am doing now, blogging, is now my outlet for journalism.
I want to share one of the most profound moments in my life. The first writing in my journal in July 2005 is an early reflection on my life and really identifies the moment I became who I am today. The following is unedited, word for word from the first time I wrote it. I hope all of you enjoy….
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July 2005-
What really matters? That is the question that should be of greater relevance than…What do others think
As I sit here in the back country of Tasmania, the farmers have such a deeper understanding of what really matters. For those who normally reside in the society’s I come from, the meaning of actions is lost in the glitz & glamor of misunderstood happenings. In front of me lies rolling hills, grazing cattle, and farmland thatclearly do not represent a fallacy of comparison to anything else. I think of the items I own back home thathave little if any significance to an overall happiness in life. It seems as though true happiness resides in completely foreign land where the sheep out number the people ten-fold. But then I think of the numerous ways life can be significant back home. One can take the aspects of life from this back country and developa life of the “DESIRABLE” SOCIETY. The norms are not the only thing holding back the development of a meaningful life. People in the “city” not only follow norms but they try to develop individually by being something they are not in hopes of being accepted. So for the first thing of RELEVANCE – One should not try to be accepted by others: Rather enjoy those that accept for true individuality and not “societal acceptance” individuality.
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This may not have been completely profound, but it was a turning point for me. I began to think differently than how society forced me to think. This was the moment I became more of an individual and was able to find an inner peace with my life.
I hope all of you have this moment like Sean Ogle and myself. I think they truly are what will define our lives.
Well wishes…
David Damron
LifeExcursion
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Hey Dave,
Just recently found your blog, and I too had quite a life changing experience during a trip to Australia. It was a quick 72 hour jaunt in and around Sydney in September 2009, but that short amount of time proved to be a real eye-opener. I’m excited about the changes soon to come in my life as a result, and looking forward to hearing about more of your “profound moments.”
It is a really profound thought. One of those thoughts we all think we know because we’ve heard the words so many times, but it takes a real experience of other people living that way to make the thought a possible way of life.
Awesome thoughts Dave. It’s great to see people have big thoughts and realize big visions! Experiences really drive us to do greater and greater things! You helped me remember to see the big picture here, my mind is always drawn to the details and the ideas behind the life changing vision.
It’s no co-incidence that people find these moments on trips when they are out of their comfort zone, and keenly aware of what’s going on around them…always refresh your awareness. I am constantly doing that with life to stay engaged in big thoughts and not the nitty gritty of each day.
Thanks for linking to Sean’s blog–it’s now on my daily read list. Funny he should mention emailing bloggers, I was actually just about to do that…
This is really interesting stuff, Dave. I love to hear about moment like this when people have major revelations. In fact, I had many similar moment like this during my 2006 trip to Kenya, Africa.
I am inspired to make a post about those travels soon. Thanks!
-Dena
Some great points made in your entry!
We all need to ask ourselves ‘what really matters?’
Great post! Thanks for embedding the video to. I have to agree with him on starting a blog. I know that it helped me a ton. Not just by making new connections in the niche that I’m in but just for motivation. It really helps kick you in the butt to get moving!
Adam Mayfield
VagabondGuide
Hey Dave -
I too had experiences in foreign cultures that impacted me in profound ways.
Journeys to Japan, Costa Rica, and Argentina all gave me different yet powerful insights into the fact that there are other ways to experience life than the way we live in North America, and some of these ways and attitudes are damn good!
Now my family and I are on the road more than we are “home”. We now unschool the kids and we have bonded in a way that I really didn’t think was possible before.
All of this is radically different than the life we lived only a few years ago.
In my blog I try to reach families, because I believe that most families think that they have few options when it comes to living a more meaningful life.
I hope that I am able to make a difference somewhere.
Hey – great blog and great post! I’m glad I found you!
All the best,
Hugh
Great post David!
I also loved the video Sean did! Very Inspiring! He is so right about the starting a blog thing. I have built more friendships blogging than by doing anything else in my life.
I too just quit my job to pursue my dreams. Now I need to visit beautiful Thailand!!