Mid-life crisis? A bit introspective?

Travelling for this brief time has made me think and be thankful.

• I lived in a tent for a bit (5 weeks in total) and was truly thankful for a bed, for electricity, cooking facilities and warmth.
• I worked on trails, clearing lupins doing outdoor work and was thankful that I didn’t have to do this 365 days a year (or even 225).
• I picked up hitchers in the rain, booked into a hostel when my tent broke and was thankful that I had the money and flexibility to get the car and not have to rely on the tent.
• I’ve met a lot of folks whose preoccupation is not about financial wealth creation and been thankful that there are many types of folks who bring a little balance to a world that seems obsessed by consumption and production (by being teachers, medics, conservation workers, weavers, etc (I won’t shy away from a debate about where these sit in the consumer society))
• I met a 66 year old who was fitter than me who despite having high blood pressure and cholesterol was practically running up the hills of Greenland and I was thankful that I have my health and was inspired to do more.
• I met a 21 year old living in the moment because the pressures of expectation weighed heavy on him, and we watched sea eagles and ravens fly by. I was thankful for appreciating that moment for itself.
• I’ve lived day to day and been thankful that I could, had home and work to go back to at the end of all this but could afford this time to simply be.

This trip was not meant to be a learning experience, I did not set out to find myself or remind myself of what life is like beyond my bubble, but I have learned a lot, much more besides the above. I have had time to reflect, and times where I have not thought at all, so preoccupied with exertion or with experiencing and seeing nature in its beautiful extremes.

I have 1 week left on my own, then a week with my sister and pals joining from England for some hiking, finally I have a normal city break in Reykjavík at the end, staying in a hotel wandering around museums etc.

So I’m going to wander aimlessly for the next week, drifting about the Westfjords, hiking and indulging in a bit of photography. I shall try not to post too much. Thanks for reading! See you soon.