Coming Alive
On overwhelm, old wisdom, and the quiet medicine of a good book.
Enough about us, you have had enough updates on our re-opening.
How are YOU doing?
How are you really doing?
What are you dreaming about when the daily tasks get the best of you? What’s your antidote to overwhelm — the small thing (or the big thing) that brings you back to yourself? (I really want to know - so hit reply)
It’s a feeling all too familiar to everyone alive on this planet. And it’s interesting to realise that although we may think this is a relatively recent development, the longing to step out of “doing” and into living is a theme woven through humanity’s entire history.
Seneca put it bluntly, centuries ago: “It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it.”
All that changes is the context… and the references.
Picture taken from the terrace of the main house overlooking our winter food forest jungle
In Walden, Henry David Thoreau describes his life on the shores of Walden Pond, where he made a wooden cabin his home on July 4th, 1845, for two years and two months — living in close harmony with nature, reflecting on life and the world around him.
These days, many wellness and wellbeing practices — especially the ones recommended by the “wellbeing manager” in the HR department of large corporations — sometimes come with a hidden agenda: do this and you’ll be more productive.
But what if that’s not actually the goal?
What if the goal is coming alive?
As the quote that often makes its way around social media says:
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” (Howard Thurman)
And honestly… yes. More of that, please.
In addition to our lush food forest, birdsong, peaceful energy, warm indoor spaces and inspiring art, we’ve now added bookshelves to each accommodation. Because there is something quietly holy about a physical book in your hands — the weight of it, the soft rasp of turning pages, the faint perfume of paper and ink, the way time slows down when you realise your only job is to read the next sentence.
We also have an extensive library at Back to La Tierra (mostly non-fiction) with a selection of some truly life-changing reads. Tell us what you’re interested in — nature, creativity, philosophy, gardening, art, healing, business, personal growth — and we’ll set you up with a good pile.
And because Thoreau felt particularly relevant while writing this, I’ll leave you with one of my favourite reminders from Walden:
“It is never too late to give up our prejudices. No way of thinking or doing, however ancient, can be trusted without proof. What everybody echoes or in silence passes by as true to-day may turn out to be falsehood to-morrow, mere smoke of opinion which some had trusted for a cloud that would sprinkle fertilising rain on their fields.”
— Walden, Henry David Thoreau
May you find one thing today that truly brings you alive. Even if it’s small. Especially if it’s small.
Hasta pronto!
Marina (&Paul says hi!)
PS: this is the link to check availability & pricing on Airbnb for the three private accommodations, with bookshelves ;)