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My last words from my Father were “Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life…” the newness of the past few days has felt exactly like that.
The time in LA, Southampton and London was the appropriate transition out (well maybe not London). Spent time with some of those closest to me there and enjoyed those goodbyes some down time as I prepared for literally the unknown. Things were so busy since my return from Africa that I spent no time reading about Spain, only minimal time researching the Camino – every moment was devoted to wrapping up things in Miami in a proper fashion and getting logistically ready for this next adventure. As we all know, quality time is hard to come by so enjoyed one of my longest trips in 14 years with my parents which was one of the highlights.
London – Aaaah. Not for me. I don’t do grey cities!! So spent two days not wanting to even be outside and finally on the last day did one “great” London night with my friend Ciro (recall World Cup) and his crew, highlight of which was Mickey Rourke – one of our familiar faces from South Beach at Ciro’s restaurant Pizza Pom – “the” place to be on Sundays. Live Indian singer – was in heaven. One of those little underground places where you have to have a table, everyone is stacked on each other and when inspired people jump up and dance. My kind of place. So left city with a good impression was ready to get to Spain.
Spain so far has been a love at first site. I love it. It is like someone took the best elements of a lot of my favorite cities and combined them here. I think I have been on a Barcelona timetable for the last ten years and just finally arrived at the right place – you never know what you are prepping for haha. Florian (my host) has joked that I have suffered no jet lag because I was born on a Spanish clock. Late wake up, lunch at 2, nap (siesta – yes for real) at 5 just in time to do part two of the work day, get ready for dinner and enjoy the close to a day. Our happy hour is their nap time. A little nappy makes you happy! I don’t feel rushed here, people seem to enjoy each other, deep conversation and life in general. Not always in a rush to the next thing. I am at home.
Missing a lot of people but instead of wishing to be back, more a wish everyone could be transported to the BCN.
The first day here picked up where World Cup left off. Magic in the air … blessed to have a girlfriend here who suggested Da Greco (owned by an Italian who lived in Miami for 20 years ironically) a private restaurant in town. We met for lunch and the lunch was quickly interrupted by a gentlemen who insisted I was someone he met before (that lives here – her name is Marina – promise it wasn’t me!) … we politely laughed and exchanged polite greetings as he continued to his table. Shortly after, the owner of the restaurant came over to invite us to join this same gentleman for coffee after our lunch. I accepted and we proceeded to do exactly that. We sit down – and no one is speaking English – to a table full of laughter as he proclaims I have met my novio (not exactly) on my very first day in Barcelona and what great luck I have. I laughed with him at this idea. “Javi” … then asks what I am doing during the siesta time and suggests we go to the rooftop of one of the most beautiful hotels in the area to see all of Barcelona from many floors up in the sky. I again accepted. We headed to the Hotel Majestic.
From there the views were amazing. I could see where I live, the mountains, the ocean – everything in sight. We had a great final time together and then he invites to meet for drinks after dinner later that evening at the private residence of his friend. I accepted a final time and then he shows me a name to see if it solicits a reaction. It doesn’t.
Turns out we had been invited to the house of the ********************* and current **************************. I had to laugh when I realized this – and realized that this first day in Barcelona was expectedly unexpected – normal abnormal. The stars are aligning and I giggled at the thought of another adventure beginning.
The night? Was beautiful – imagine sharing Vintage Dom with friends on the rooftop of a beautiful penthouse overlooking one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen … at midnight of course – no one is phased by the time. Was a great time and have made some interesting new friends to say the least.
Now back to work on Day 2 … here to write, produce a book prospectus, and finish Camino Santiago (www.caminosantiagocompostela.com). The success of this trip will be measured by the completion of these things. Along the way I hope to perfect my Spanish and see if I can make a living while living abroad. My 36 hour prediction is that it will work.
Stay tuned … have not been writing during this transition time but my mind is quickly opening up and hope to be producing some great content in no time.
The last 10 days of my life are hard to describe … I have felt literally every emotion known possible to man in a ten day period – yes I mean literally. From love to despair, from living in the moment to missing moments far away, from invincibility to fear … this trip has had it all.
The energy of the World Cup has been impossible to describe. Truly impossible. Even I was overwhelmed on Final Day when the air, filled with fireworks of every color, seemed at the brink of exploding (thankfully it didn’t ha – and none of those plots came through). The people were abundant with joy…
On that day it no longer mattered where you were from … everyone had picked a team and everyone just wanted to be a part of the game. It can only be compared to any of life’s great events – weddings, birthdays, births, watching your kids grow up – I think you look around you at the smiling faces, catch yourself laughing and then have that split second moment of sadness that you are one second closer to it all going away.
That is the best way I can describe it.
I have been here so long, and away from home (let’s be broader and call home the US) for what is approaching two months. So, the question has been asked “Are you coming back?”. And when I reply with a yes, I have gotten – from the people I would least expect it from … why?
On the physical side, my house and my car (smile). On the personal side, people. But, on the side of truly wanting to the right thing, my word.
I said I would.
I love South Africa, specifically Cape Town and Durban. And literally have an adopted family there. But the thing is, I don’t need an “adopted” family. I have a true family that incorporates my blood family and the other family that has taken years to grow through trust and love. My family in this land cannot replace that one, but it certainly can be integrated in.
I would like to live here, that has never been in question since I first stepped foot off the plane 6 years ago – but now is not the right time. There are work opportunities here – but there are work obligations there. And I want to come through on those before coming back here again.
This trip has reminded me that I love an adventure … but you have to do it the right way. In the process of shifting out of Miami, I made a list of all of my belongings. I am not so attached to them, as I have lost many things in previous “fires” and it was funny that after going through the itemized list, organized by room, floor, etc. I then put on the end of the list a category called the “Most Important Things” and it surprised me … my favorite (we’ll leave out their worth) shoes didn’t make the cut … although probably because I’d be wearing them!
Instead the first thing I thought of was the photo of my Grandmother by my bedside, then I drifted to the cast of Mary above my front door, I then (literally) could picture myself running around the house grabbing the rest of the photos off the fridge, walls, counters before having a split second of reason and grabbing a silver briefcase that documents my life … then, in a moment of clarity, I realized that I don’t have to run around carrying only pictures and papers as a memento of my life … because I still have the real thing.
And that is why I am coming home … (24 hours left in South Africa … will miss it, but will be back soon).
It required me counting the days to have an accurate sense of how much time has passed…the experiences and emotions that have passed in the almost three weeks of my journey have somehow surpassed common measurements of time and date.My College Reunion, A Memorial for an Old Friend, The Realization of how the Economy is Hitting Loved Ones in the Loss of Their Home (that I lived in), New Opportunities in New York City, Realizing the Meaning of True Beauty in Vancouver Island, June Gloom in Newport Beach, Reuniting with Loved Ones in San Francisco, Being a Part of my Father’s Retirement, Gaining a Deeper Understanding of my Mother, and finally Realizing the Actualization of a Dream that began four years ago when “South Africa” peeked out from the envelope announcing the next host for the world’s greatest sporting event.
Nothing comes without a price and in the midst of celebrating the second chapter of my adult life (that I have selected to break up in decades) there has been a price to pay. To go on this journey has required the willingness to let go of the many constrictions that restrain people in day-to-day life. My goals are not measurable, my dreams are not of this earth and, as a result, this road is sometimes lonely but I am compelled to keep going. The right people seem to “get it” and I have been amazed at how they have have revealed themselves over the past few months of preparation for what will prove to be a defining time.
The magic of modern technology keeps me closely tied to those I care most deeply about and allow me the opportunity to realize that love is something that does not fade regardless of the miles traveled or distance that separates our physical bodies. So, on this journey, where I will unite with men and women from across the globe gathered together to celebrate our distinct cultures and simultaneous love of a common sport, I am joined by many although they may not be sitting with me as I write from 35,000 feet in the air.
At his high school graduation party a day ago, my youngest cousin Javier reminded me that I had told him I would go to the World Cup the moment it was announced. At the time, I had just returned back from my second trip to South Africa and, at the time, never would have predicted the future road that lie ahead … that road has taken me in a direction very different from the path I was on as a 26-year-old who was welcomed at the Sandton Sun in Johannesburg only 6 years ago. We were greeted with the words “Welcome Home” and the sound of the word ‘home’ brought tears to my eyes as I looked up and saw a face brown like mine.
Fate many years ago had destined me to be at the receiving end of the greeting, being served by someone who was no different than I. Fate put my ancestors in a torturous path that brought them to the North American continent, a path that led to the endless opportunity that I have been presented with many years later. Fate has placed the right people along the way, delivering the right message at the right time. Fate is bringing me back there today.
The power of manifestation is something we have no grasp on. Wishes that I gave to the Universe years ago are now trickling back at the perfectly appropriate moment. Be careful what you wish for I have always warned because wishes made from the depths of your soul always seem to come true. The time and the place may not be what you expect but they always come to fruition at the time that is right for the Universe around you.
For the ten years that have passed since my Commencement, I was yet to love anything enough to be willing to sacrifice for it. That willingness and humility, that finally hit me in the face of losing most things material and superficial, has proven to be the key to destiny and are the reason why I am sitting here today. I do not use the word destiny lightly.
I love soccer, but I am not hear about the game. I am here to tell a story. It is a story I could not hear six years ago. I cried the tears but did not have a full grasp on the significance of this place and of people coming together united by a common love – and how THAT outweighs any tragedy or calamity we see on the news. The story that I am embarking on is one that required the past five years as a rites of passage to get to the next level of understanding, and this understanding is a requisite for what’s to come.
There is no coincidence that in my 18 day journey I have been unable to write, and finally as I sit coming from the place of my birth on a six leg journey back “home”, the words finally seem to flow, the thoughts have gained clarity and the replenishment I feel is real. All great journeys in my life I have started with the two people who love me unconditionally and this has been no exception.
The message as I begin this trip and look back at the time that has passed since my last “once in a lifetime trip you must repeat” is to treat every day as a school day. The reason may take a lifetime to reveal itself but have faith that our lives are not without meaning and our place on earth is not simply as a speck of dust. Instead we have the individual power to shape and impact consciousness through the love and understanding we give to those around us. In my case, it may be through a story or a smile … but we each have our platform – it is just a matter of finding it and spreading the word without fear or hesitation.
Miss you all but carrying you with me (along with way too much luggage!!!). Love love. Love life.
Siempre,
Sienna
I took off from the Vancouver International Airport on a teeny prop plane headed over to Vancouver Island surprised that my phone was still working … we continued to climb … my phone continued to ding. The view was spectacular as the city faded away so I snapped pictures and decided to send them … ding again … they were going through.
My best friend texts “I thought you said you were in the air!?!”
I replied, “I am!!” and I could feel her thinking the same question I was “Well why is my phone still working?!?”
Right then the plane began to shudder, but I watched with relief as the propeller continued to spin. (I was in the back row to ‘balance out the plane’ so apparently I have gained a few pounds back this week after all, but my rear seat provided me with the perfect view of the wing).
Then, without announcement or notice, I realized we were already descending into what honestly looked like a mystic paradise I had never seen before … fuzzy green islands, the line of sail boats and dark water everywhere … we had arrived.
With the bump of the plane I realized in the rush of the previous seven days I had not once taken a moment to glance at a map, which may had provided me with the knowledge that this little island was literally a stone’s throw away from the mainland.
36 hours later, 20 of which I have spent sleeping more peacefully than I have in a month, I decided to take a look and saw on paper what I felt in the air – that I had landed in the literal opposite position to my normal water paradise in Miami and in this journey have discovered a very different paradise indeed.
The air is a little cooler, but is life really about the weather?
I had not taken a moment to look at a map because the map I have been studying over the last few months has been a spiritual one and not a geographic one.
The highest highs. The lowest lows.
Sometimes you have to let everything go in order for what you really want to be able to enter your life. Having lived through this I am amazed that with an open heart, open eyes and an open mind how the world opens up, and every tough moment I have survived has simply prepared me for the road ahead.
The road ahead is driven by a simple mission to leave a positive impact on the lives of others, in ways big and small, and whether through a smile to a stranger, listening to a friend in need or plotting to change the world’s consciousness in the right direction I am inspired by joy and love …
I am the most simple complicated person you’ll know … Neither my brushes with success or my familiarity with failure has taken away from the spirit that defined me as a 20 year old college graduate of arguably the nation’s best academic institution.
From the outside, my life, gated in a private island community that is a part of the historic Miami Beach, is picture perfect. I sleep to the sounds of palm tree fronds gently brushing against each other, I wake up to the sunrise and jog waterside in the Biscayne Bay, I spend winters scheduling around high season events instead of brutal winter snowstorms. I live in my “big girl house” on my own with a professional life that connects me directly with the golden vein of China and opens the door to the new world order that will face us in the years to come.
On the inside, there is a part of me that still looks at the world as the naïve teenager who stepped foot into the Harvard Yard thinking life would be easy because it had been to date, but that part is tapered by the experiences that have left me literally convulsed in grief and fear thinking my life was over before it had begun. All part of getting older.
If you are open to the lessons that life and the divine offers you during these first few steps out of the (literal in our case) gate, you accept them as preparation for the life that is to come. These pages share the greatness that has been accomplished by our classmates, the best and the brightest that the new millennium had to offer.
As we all write to reflect – we realize that greatness for some may be measured in the companies we run, paychecks we bring home, countries we’ve traveled. But for others it is measured by the smile of our firstborn, discovering the meaning of true love (and having that feeling reciprocated back to you), or in taking a moment to breathe in the nature that surrounds us – and enjoy the greatest gift of all, life.
We share the special gift of being able to manifest what we set our mind to, so with this power I believe we must be careful for what we wish for. And as we discover what being great means, what being successful looks like or what the true definition of happy is for each of us, draw a picture of that special combination that will define your life with the knowledge that your wish may very well come true.
Ten years later, my picture is one that consists of many smiles. I have drawn my family who have made my path possible, friends I have made along the way and strangers who have been there right at the precise moment to deliver a message confirming I am going in the right direction – the work, the travel, the day-to-day is in the background – but the people and the love are what sustains and inspires me on this journey we call life.
Our only limitation is the imagination. Love love. Love life.
