Living the dream?

Never in my lifetime would I have thought to end up in the embrace of the Great Barrier Reef. But there I was - strolling through an arch way of palm trees on Hamilton Island, absorbed in the magic and wonder of the world around me. It was some kind of paradise! I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming!

It was part of the college plan - to accrue 8 months of hospitality work experience in an internship position. Hamilton Island just happened to be one of the destinations on the list of choices, and I was intrigued by its mystique and beauty. The pictures on google were enough to charm me, and looking at them was like tasting maple syrup – I was being seduced. When I think about it, it's quite a peculiar ticket that I was offered. But I didn't question it, and within only 2 months of making the decision, I was already on the plane descending into this turquoise wonderland.

I started working in a crowded pizzeria on the marina, and sailed smoothly into a very interesting lifestyle on the island. For the first few weeks, it was actually hard to make sense of. My friend just introduced to me Todd Terje's 'It's Album Time' (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnRD0fb2kBg), and I spent my first week strolling around the island having my mind absolutely blown to smithereens. I couldn't deny that this place was pretty damn cool. Golden beaches, sunburst cocktails, dancing palm trees, golf buggies, cheeky cockatoos. It was both the most exotic and the most random place I had ever been to in my life.

About two months into the experience, I spent my first full day in the wild Australian bush which inhabits the main body of the island. Amidst the intense Queensland humidity, I journeyed to all the points of interest, and was enthralled by how raw the island really was. It was claimed by such rugged greenery - entangled and looming over rocky undergrowth. It felt ancient - almost sacred. Hamilton Island is cocooned in Great Barrier Reef after all – the worlds largest living ecosystem and one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. I sensed that this area had a much deeper undercurrent – an essence.

After being enraptured by nature, I strolled back into the main resort area, and it was sparkling like a newly cleaned window. It looked a little bit different – as if I had been wearing goggles before and now they were off. The first thing I noticed was two men on a crane trimming the palm trees, and it struck me as something I would see in a cartoon. It looked like they were giving the island a haircut. I gazed around at the bean-shaped pools, the romantic seaside bungalows, the cute golf buggies - something seemed oddly fishy about all of this. It was pristine like a polished jewel – ‘perfection’. It was almost as if we had come up to greet a wise old being who was sitting in meditation, and put make up on his face. I started to wonder about all of this – because this place was what so many people were calling “the dream”. 

I started talking more with the people I was putting pizza and souvlakis in front of – inquiring into the mapping out of their adventure to Hamilton Island. I was shocked. Some families were telling me they had spent four years saving up through their tiring jobs just to spend two short weeks in paradise. My mind was boggled. They kept telling me that I was “living the dream” as if ‘the dream’ was not something that they themselves could attain - like a child who could only get to sit on the window sill and gaze out and the lush pastures, but never get to taste them and frolic about. I felt compassionate to these people and wished them a most relaxing holiday – I couldn’t even imagine how much grinding and stress they struggled through just to finally arrive at their dream destination. 

Yet I was living there, still confused as to what "the dream" was really all about.

Things were starting to get strange by month four; twisted like red liquorice. My job was getting stale, and I was running out of places to explore on the island. I found myself turning to my saturated thoughts and imagination as if they were drugs, and I started to lead myself astray. I marooned myself in unrequited love, and was experiencing very turbulent emotions and thoughts. At one stage, I felt hollow and drained of all my zest for life. What kind of dream was this? It felt like I was going the opposite direction to my ultimate bliss! 

I learned that 'the dream' is not something external to us, but is actually derived from within, and cultivated. It's a connection to Life that is so beautiful and profound that every day can become the dream.

In my case, I had work to do! Inner work - work on the self and all of it's turbulent emotions. Work on my skills and true capabilities. So I planted seeds - habits like daily meditation, studying of important concepts regarding self actualisation and spirituality, and a thorough investigation into my heart. 


So, I encourage you to discover the real dream - that life you've always wanted to live, which is embellished with all the things you love to do - and go in that direction! Don't just spend a bunch of money just to get handed a picture of the jungle - bring the jungle to your very adobe. Plant the seeds, and watch as the vines of a truly rich and inspiring life curl around everything that you do, empowering them.

Here's one of my favourite tunes by legendary jazz artist Chick Corea, on his album 'Return to Forever'. Please, I invite you to enjoy 'What Game should we play today' - a heart touching song that beautifully sums up this post.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi5Y485bp6E

"There's a way you can find it
It's within you, can't you see
Find the truth, it's not impossible all together
What game shall we play today??"

-Neville Potter and Chick Corea