Today Is Perfect

  

Bikini: O'Neill Womens | Jewelry: Lotus + Lime

Today Is Perfect . . . even if I'm not.

I arrived today to a sun drenched, breezy, aromatic fall day in Byron Bay, Australia with a mind half racing in flustered thought. My day-to-day schedule over the last year has been unpredictable and even chaotic at times, as goes the life of a traveler. With no place to live and no real plan (beyond the idealistic goals of my dreamy visualizations), I couldn't help but arrive to my beautiful new surroundings with an overwhelming sense of instability. 

Travel and adventure appear glamorous through the lens, but all fruitful tales of voyage stem first from a seedling of struggle. It is a beautiful struggle, and for every moment of this whirlwind experience I have immense gratitude. But a life of "perfection" is subjective and its truth lies in the eye of the beholder. On this journey around the world and of my own self discovery, like the capricious nature of my escapades, I have been far from "perfect." Regarding planning, organization and connecting with the people in my life, there have been times when I have been flakey, careless, and just all over the place. As someone who has spent most of her life worrying about the approval and well-being of others, I am a complete novice at putting my needs first (which is essential when traveling alone) and my lack of skill in this area has left me in precarious situations and most unfortunately, affected the people I love in the process. Although I always have the best of intentions, I seem to bounce from one extreme to another, and continue to search for the balance that exists within the realm of self love and interpersonal care taking. I will not rest until I find it and am determined to mend the fraying edges of my tapestry constructed lifestyle. 

But the key to seeing the "perfection" in every scenario is the ability to love and embrace that which does not meet our expectations, especially within ourselves. My friend Joe recently reminded me of the meaning behind the Japanese term, "wabi-sabi," a sentiment I adore. "Paired down to its barest essence, wabi-sabi is the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection and profundity in nature, of accepting the natural cycle of growth, decay, and death. It's simple, slow, and uncluttered, and it reveres authenticity above all. It reminds us that we are all but transient beings on this planet - that our bodies as well as the material world around us are in the process of returning to the dust from which we came."

With this in my mind, I opened my eyes to what the present held for me: my car - the one but pertinent piece of security in my new environment - my bikini, my journal, and an absolutely gorgeous day in a place I can only imagine is dubbed God's favorite of his/her creations. I spent the day playing in the sun and the water, reading, writing and meditating. I put out an intention of healing and love toward the people and situations that were weighing my heart, and celebrated the bliss of all that is - perfect and imperfect. It was then that I was reminded that security, stability, and "perfection" come from within, not from external circumstance. It is the power of perception that allows us to view our lives, exactly as they are, as our overwhelming first choice. 

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This is why I am so excited to share with you a beautiful initiative from O'Neill Womens,  #TodayIsPerfect. How is it that you overcome the obstacles of everyday life to find the silver lining? At this very moment you are experiencing abundance. Where do you see it? What gives you an attitude of gratitude? The crew at O'Neill wants to know and are giving one lucky winner the chance to have their ideal, perfect day become a reality to the tune of $5,000! There's still one week left before the contest closes so get creative and get on it! Here's how to enter: