Just over a year ago I sat on top of a dry stone wall on the terraced hillside overlooking the little cottage I stay in on the beautiful Greek island of Folegandros facing out to sea, breathing in the impossible blue horizon, thinking to myself, ‘This is what I call immense happiness!”. I decided there and then I was going after a lot more of those moments, I wanted that feeling of peace, well being and generally Right Here Right Now-ness most of the time thank you very much.
Now I’m back here writing this post with my feet up on the wall, the early evening sun warming my legs, happy to be where I am. Not everything’s gone smoothly though, a big part of my Hibiscus plan was to have a summer shop here in Folegandros in 2012 but for obvious reasons starting a business in Greece had to be put on hold this year. Still, I get to work here on other stuff including my impressive Celtic tan! Aquiring brown feet is a lifetime’s work achievement for someone with ‘O’Keefe’ for a surname.
One of my three reads of the moment is The Art of Non-Conformity by Chris Guillebeau, in particular he makes a reference to Joseph Campbell, “People say that what we’re seeking is a meaning for life,” he began before clarifying, ”I don’t think that’s what we’re really seeking. What we seek is an experience of being alive”. I’ll go with that. I’m feeling just fine and mighty alive right now.
Someone who is very lucky to be alive AT ALL is Nile Rodgers the infamous music producer who has written his ‘Sex, drugs and disco’ autobiography, Le Freak. Another great read, I’ve just finished it this morning, I’ve got that empty feeling when you’re missing the book already. The last few days I’ve kept picking it up thinking, ‘What’s Nile up to now?’. What a life?! NYC, Studio 54, just about every 80’s pop artist imaginable, survival in general. A waaay recommended summer read.
Meanwhile my Hibiscus wardrobe is living up to expectations. I’m feeling good in my Isis and Cassis dresses on the beach, and very happily slinking around in my Magic dress of an evening. My business cards are disappearing at a healthy pace as women ask me where I got my ring/shawl/dress/bag/shoes from. Myhibi.com!
Off to watch a Greek wedding in the village square. YAMAS! XX
one cannot fail to be transported into a palpable [off the richter scale] state of well being with a sea like that to jump into! I am loving the brown feet and totally get that xx
“If you have the guts to be yourself, other people’ll pay your price.”, Rabbit Angstrom in ‘Rabbit, Run’ by John Updike.
Sun’s shining in London…we are pushing the rock…looking forward to conversing with the fascinating Mat Collishaw tonight.
Hope it went well?
See you soon X
Can we swap feet? I could do with an Italian pair! X