Confessions – Page 2 – Footloose Diary

6 Lessons My Free-Spirited Friend Taught Me

Published on August 17, 2015May 11, 2023 by Capucine7 Comments

I just dropped my best friend at the airport shuttle in Whistler. Along with all her necessary belongings and a one-way ticket to Panama, she is leaving a place she called home for the past 11 years, and taking the plunge to start a new chapter.

I met Julie on a friend’s boat on July 1st, 2005. It was 35ºC and she wore wool leg warmers up to her mini-skirt, rocking her unique fashion style in the heat of summer. Her free-spirited nature amazed me and I knew right away a long friendship was about to begin. In the past 10 years we have adventured often, such as road tripping Hawaii to backpacking Central America and exploring the wilderness of Canada’s West Coast. Julie has always been my invaluable companion on so many escapades.

My friend is one special human being. The kind that lives unconventionally and pursues the things that make her feel alive. By following her heart, she ventured around the world, living and working in places such as Europe, Australia and now Panama. She has a collection of To-Do Lists and manages to check them off on a regular basis.

I will miss my friend. But I find comfort in the inspiration she instilled in me. I will follow her journey through life as I walk my own. And I will always be grateful for those things she taught me:

1. Don’t let the world harden you

In a world of routine, hold true to who you are. Be flexible, spontaneous, playful and independant. Take healthy risks, taste experience to the utmost and live authentically. Do not let the world take away your zest for life and your sweetness.

Julie called me early on a Sunday morning, “Any plans today? If not, grab a towel, your swimsuit and bottle of champagne and meet me there”. Little did I know we were going to fly in a heli over the icefield to the hot springs, then to an inlet by a waterfall to pop champagne and watch the sun set over the ocean. Best impromptu Sunday adventure!

2. Stop worrying about what people think

We tend to over-think what people might say about what we do or we don’t do. We act like this as a way to protect ourselves. But sometimes, putting too much energy into those thoughts prevents us from fulfilling our greatest potential and from enjoying life to its fullest. Life is too short to worry about what people think. Start living now! Express yourself, be bold, smile often, have FUN, shine brightly. Like story-teller Oriah Mountain Dreamer once said: “Look like a fool, for your dreams, for the adventure of being alive.”

Another spontaneous trip led us to an unplanned camping and road trip in Hawaii. Julie packed a bunch of random stuff like those glasses that sat on the noses of the people we met. Always a fun time with this lady.

3. It’s okay to be scared

Whether it is being afraid of taking a big step forward, afraid to try a new experience, afraid of the change and transition, being scared generally means opportunities for growth. As long as you don’t let the fear overpower your mind and control you. Once you overcome your fear, you feel a sense of pride and independence. You get closer to who you are and discover what you are capable of. It makes you stronger, it makes you flourish. So get out there and create new boundaries. Test the limits. Make the impossible possible. Make mistakes, make discoveries. Believe in yourself. Being scared makes life exciting: It makes you feel alive.

Julie about to conquer the raging waves of El Zonte during our trip to El Salvador.

4. Discover what you love and do it often

What is it that you ache for? What makes your heart beat? Where do you feel the most alive? Whether you follow or cultivate a passion, the idea here is to do the things you love, and go after the things you want. Whether it is a job, a hobby, or an activity, it is important to have passion infused into your life. You can have a very successful job, yet feel unfulfilled. Like explains the author Gretchen Rubin: “What you spend time doing can also tell you what you should do. Because sometimes the things we do without thinking really are things we naturally enjoy or are good at. ” It’s about finding what draws you in and what makes you shine and feel beautiful. And once you find it, embrace and cultivate it.

A thirst for life and all the beautiful things in it. That’s what Julie has. The way she lives her life to the fullest is greatly inspiring. Picture taken during another impromtu canoe camping road trip, this time in British Columbia.

5. Just Do It!

Ever wanted to learn how to surf? How to dance salsa? How to play piano? Ever dreamed of travelling the world, owning a business, living on the beach? We live in an era of many possibilities and opportunities. If we can afford the essentials in life and have the privilege of having of choice, anything is possible. And you’ll never know until you get up and try. Stay curious and keep learning. Challenge yourself. It’s never too late. Just get up and do it!

Learning the ropes in Belize. Little did she know she was about to move to Panama, buy a sailboat and run her very own charter business!

6. Be free

Being a free-spirit isn’t a trend, or something you want to be. It’s about being you. It’s about creating your own freeway and not following the conventional path. Accept and be happy with who you are while continuing to blossom into the best version of you. Be honest with yourself and lead the life YOU want to live. Take the time to explore your heart, your soul, and your goals. In doing so, you will find peace. And once you do, spread your wings and fly. The world is yours, and you are free.

Be free and happy Julie! And bon voyage ♥

∞§∞

If you ever make a trip to Bocas Del Toro, on the Northeast Coast of Panama, check out Julie and John’s charter business: Pretty Like Sailing.

Home vs. the Insatiable Wanderlust

Published on March 11, 2015August 17, 2022 by Capucine6 Comments

I am sitting here with a glass of wine, looking at my globe accumulating dust. It hasn’t spun in a few months, resulting from having to keep my feet on ground for a while to make money. I have been back home since November, working the clock, collecting paper bills of different colors and trying to solidify the stump before I can go again, explore the world and vagabond.

The mountains, my home for the past decade, is a wonderful place. The mountain life is always filled with outdoor activities, creative arts, inspiring encounters and beautiful sceneries. It is a playground for the young and young at heart where people get inspired and live lively. However, why do I feel so nostalgic? Why, with all my amazing surroundings, am I still not completely fulfilled? Will it ever be enough?

I am a girl with an insatiable desire to travel the world. Without travelling, I am like a junkie without his goodies. I have itchy feet and I find satisfaction when I am submerged into the unknown. Routine and stability are scary things for me and I still don’t know how to live with them. I wish I could close my eyes right at this moment, spin the globe and travel to wherever my index finger lands. I want to be brought back in a smelly train in the middle of Asia looking at incredible landscape go by; I want to be squeezed again in that chicken bus in Central America amongst sweat and glorious stares; I want to be back holding on aboard a wooden boat somewhere in the Indian Ocean trying to spot a pod of wild dolphins… I have been to amazing places. I have seen things that I could never compare. I have met people that I will never forget. Travelling refreshes my senses. It brings me happiness. It fulfills me. And I miss it right about now.

Travelling blues? Yes indeed. Remedy? That’s why I started this blog. Not only to document my travels and experiences, but also to cure my nostalgia when she arises. Writing about my past adventures, I relive them. And I smile. And to read fellow wanderers that are diagnosed the same, my heart smiles. ”I might be a dreamer, but I am not the only one”.

My mother always told me to fully live all my emotions in order to get a better understanding of their origins. Feel the emotion, explore it, work it then release it. Perhaps turn it into a new emotion. Writing about this now, and embracing nostalgia, I come to realize that I am so lucky to have this unique life full with incredible and rich memories. And I am grateful for that…

Did gratitude just take over nostalgia?

I know I will be on the road again, feeding on the natural and cultural beauties of the world. But meanwhile, I must live in the present and enjoy my surroundings and the people that are part of it. I will climb to the peak of the mountain, grasp a breath of fresh air and remember that I live in one of the most magnificent places of this world, and that I am fortunate to be standing here along with extraordinary friends and family. To be able to wander the world, I need to wander mine first. To have a beautiful tree full of branches, it needs to have a solid stump. And it starts at home.

(I do not own these images)

5 Things I Hate About Travelling Abroad

Published on January 18, 2015August 17, 2022 by Capucine4 Comments

1. Traveller’s Ignorance

If there is one thing I cannot stand, is the culturally insensitive behaviour of certain type of tourists. With attractive all-inclusive packages deals, and ‘soul searching’ travel becoming a popular trend, travelling has brought a variety of travellers to the map. While many tourists show a sense of curiosity and a genuine desire to experience, many others dehumanize the local population by ignoring their histories and cultures, and being provocative, demeaning and narrow-minded. Tourism can be disruptive and using an ethnocentric behaviour is only going to enhance the bad reputation tourists already have, and affect the local people.

2. Knowing You Can’t Save the World

Travelling to developing countries has its harsh realities: the crowds, the heat, the poverty, the pollution, the homeless orphans, the injured beggars, the pack of angry and territorial stray dogs, the cruelty towards animals, … ugh. It is heartbreaking to see how life can be so unfair. We are all living creatures and deserve all the best, at least a shelter, food and water and health. I feel helpless and hopeless at times, and all I want is to save them all from their daily struggles. If I ever win the lottery I want to open a center against violence on women, a learning center for children, a hospital for sick people, a shelter for stray dogs, a rehabilitation center for donkeys, … I’d need to win a lot of lotteries…

I can’t save the world, but I can do as much as I can. Giving your time is a first step. While in Morocco working with children and women, I felt so powerless. However, I understood that to simply be present and interested, and compassionately involved into these people’s lives, was enough to make them smile. It wasn’t a lot, but it felt right.

Travelling hasn’t changed the world, but it definitely changed me. I have a greater appreciation for the things I have and am grateful for the life I live.

3. American Food Chains

I have to admit: I entered a McDonald’s in India and ordered a “burger”. It was uniquely by curiosity, to see how a company whose signature product is the beef burger, penetrated a country that doesn’t eat beef or pork. Chicken was a popular item on the menu. I chose the Tikki Burger, a vegetarian option, like many others, made of potatoes, peas and Indian spices. I hate to say how impressed I was with the result.

But my point here is that if you plan on travelling abroad, make the effort to taste the local dishes. Help the residents by buying locally. Sampling exotic food not only gives you an unique understanding of the area’s culture, but will also tremendously enrich your travel experience. Plus, most likely they will have the freshest produce and the cheapest price. And really, probably the best food you’ve ever tasted!

I am the biggest fan of street stalls and hidden restaurants (of course select wisely and have a certain level of cautiousness). My adventurous culinary experiences abroad left me with great stories to tell, like the time I ate yak-tongue momos in Tibet, or burnt my tongue with indian spices in India, or ate chicken butt-holes in Thailand. Did I ever get food poisoning? Yes, once, here in Canada.

Eat locally and adventure yourself in the cuisines of the world!

4. The People to Miss

You’ll meet people from all around the world. People with the same interests, same philosophies. People with a thirst for life that people at home don’t necessarily understand. You connect with great souls, ambitious and unique personalities. You travel intensively together, do amazing activities, see extraordinary things, live exhilarating moments… And then they’re gone. And you don’t know when, or if you’ll ever see them again. You’ll chat online once in a while, while your spirit wanders through memories and nostalgia. You wish you can be back on that sketchy train ride, on that mountain you sweated each step to climb, or on the beach gazing at the starry sky reflecting on life, just to be with them.

So many people have touched my heart, and I think about them often. I hope to see them again, somewhere around the globe. But I have to be realistic: sometimes goodbyes are really forever.

5. Insatiable Wanderlust, and Never Completely Feel at Home

You come home from travelling and everyone is exciting to hear about all your stories. But those moments fade away rapidly, and then everything is back to where they were before you left. You might feel lost and lonely because no one really understands what happened to you abroad. So you want to leave again and be back in those places that inspired you, with those people who have lighted the flame within you.

Home can be anything from a place, a person, a job, or anything. In order to put an anchor and plant roots, you need to know what it is that you want. People say travelling is the best way to find yourself, but sometimes it is a way to get lost. Since you meet so many inspiring people, discover so many amazing places, try so many extraordinary things, it can become overwhelming choosing what is it you really want. You tend to want everything and you can’t choose from one or another. Because you felt how hard your heart beat, and you want it to forever be that alive.

So you will keep moving, crossing roads, climbing mountains, swimming oceans until you find what it is that you are looking for.

Photos taken from the Internet.

Merry Christmas!

Published on December 28, 2014August 17, 2022 by CapucineLeave a comment

As I walked in the illuminated streets of my neighbourhood, trying to digest the over consumption of sausage stuffing and other Christmas festive dishes, a maple whisky and eggnog in one hand, and my dogs on a leash in the other, I filled myself with Christmas Spirit.

It was Christmas night and the crescent moon glittered in the sky full of stars. It snowed the previous evening, as it always does the night before Christmas, leaving a white sparkly robe on every tree, and a frosty glaze on every roof. The scents of firewood burning through the chimneys blended with the fresh and crisp air. Houses decorated with flickering and twinkling lights lit the dark streets of magic.

I couldn’t help but glimpse through the home windows. Families gathered in the living room, watching the fire crackling, playing games or chatting. Some were still around the table, stretching a long Christmas dinner.

I started to think about my own family, my friends back home, my friends here, and the people I met during my travels. I am so fortunate to have such wonderful people in my life, and I believe this is the greatest gift life has given me.

I returned to my little mountain home. My dogs panted their way back, satisfied of their evening walk. My friends haven’t move from their cozy seats beside the Christmas tree, still struggling to breath from a stuffed belly. The house smelled like good food and spices. I sat amongst my loved ones, my cheeks, nose and heart warming up to the comfort of my home.

I don’t want anything for Christmas. I already have everything I need. And I hope you do too.

Merry Christmas to you all!

What Is Your Love Story?

Published on February 15, 2014August 17, 2022 by CapucineLeave a comment

For me Valentine’s Day is simply a traditional and irrational Hallmark holiday. However, I must see it as a ‘Day of Love’: to celebrate those feelings of interpersonal affections and life pleasures. I dedicate this day to my beautiful family, to my most meaningful relationships, to my crazy but loyal dogs and to my greatest passion: travel.

What is your love story?

30 and Key Free

Published on February 7, 2014August 17, 2022 by CapucineLeave a comment

I am sitting in front of a blank page, not really sure what to write about. I guess I’m not really sure of a bunch of things right now. That’s always been my life. Uncertainty. Instability. Insatiability. Never knowing what’s gonna happen next has always been challenging, although exciting and exhilarating. I always lived up to that. Now that I reached the age of 30, I’m wondering when am I gonna start being serious? When am I gonna switch lane and settle down?

“Whenever you find yourself on the side of majority, it is time to pause and reflect.” -Mark Twain

Lately I’ve been reading articles about growing up. Most mention that at the age of 30 you should know exactly where you stand: confident of your future, stable with your finances, certain of your relationships, holder of land. I guess I’ve been too busy enjoying my 20’s that I forgot to think about all of the above.

Career? I know I don’t want to work for someone else’s dream. That’s why working in the service industry gives me flexibility to travel and the funds required to get closer to my own pie in the sky. Family? I do want kids. Some of my own, some adopted. However, I’m not ready yet. I just finished being one myself. Perhaps I’ll never be done being a kid. Marriage? I don’t believe in the modern concept of marriage. Still, I do believe in love. And I believe that once you find real love, you hold on to it. It might be this thing in life worth fighting for. Home? I do have a few places I call home. Places that inspire me, places that bring me back to great memories. I’m grateful I got the chance to live in these beautiful locations. But what is home anyway? A place? A person? A satisfaction?

I’m 30 and key free. I have the freedom to leave without worrying about anything. When I was 25 I had too many too young. Between car, house, locker, parking, office keys, I found myself living the stable life I never wanted. It only lasted a year, then I decided to get rid of all keys, packed my bags and moved to an island of the Caribbean, where neither keys or shoes were required.

Growing up. Do I have to? I don’t want to loose my eagerness to run to the sea, to climb a tree, to roll in the mud with my dogs. I don’t want to loose the power to day dream and believe in fairy tales. I don’t want to loose the ability of letting loose and being spontaneous. I don’t want to loose the capability to book a one way plane ticket, the open mind to backpack to a developing country, to love to sleep in the jungle amongst cockroaches, spiders and howler monkeys. I don’t want to let go of my freedom. I don’t want to grow up.

“If growing up means it would be beneath my dignity to climb a tree, I’ll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up! Not me!”-J.M. Barrie

Ok, you’re thinking: “one day you’ll hit a stump and you’ll have to start thinking about your future”. It’s true. I do think about my future, a lot more these days. And I think about my mom’s, and my future kids’ one day. And tic and toc… I know where I want to be, it’s just taking me longer than ”normal”, as I let life be. I guess first step would be to start putting priorities first. If my 20’s were all about the importance of making ”mistakes”, I should know by now not to make them again. Learning from past experiences. Understanding the feelings. Thinking before acting. Be more responsible. Be more knowledgeable of the world and its people. Choosing wisely. Moving forward. Growing up?

We surely grow old, accumulating years in our body, sun marks and eternal tan lines on our unfair skin. Each freckle commemorates a trip, each scar tells an interesting story, each wrinkle represents the repetition of an emotion. The benefits of yoga are racing with the existence of gravity affecting our body. We grow old. I came to accept that. And I guess I am growing up too, only at my own speed. Yet, one thing is for sure, if my body ages and my soul blossoms, I’ll ensure I keep my heart forever young and free.

Top 10: Things You Can Do To Embrace Your 20’s

Published on January 2, 2014February 17, 2014 by Capucine1 Comment

At the edge of entering the 30’s, I reflect on the past 10 years that went by. I have to admit it: I’m a late bloomer. In fact, the reason why I left the city was because people were going too fast. That was never a road I wanted to chase. So no, I don’t own a house, or have a family, or a professional career. But damn did I have a good ride!

Here are 10 things I did that truly enlighten my 20’s (please remember that these are personal suggestions taken from my own experiences. They are not things to do, but rather things you can do):

1. Travel.

When I travelled overseas to a developing country for the first time, I was only 20. I soon became addicted to discover new places, learn about cultures and the people. This travel bug has allowed me to trot the globe, visiting 5 continents and exploring 25 countries (and yet, I’ve only seen 12% of the world). My travels have educated and shaped me into becoming the person I am today. Travelling will not only open your mind and your heart, but it will also teach you life skills, build your confidence, make you compassionate and appreciative of the differences, and make you grateful and thankful for what you have. Travelling is indeed, the richest experience of my life.

2. Stay active.

Ok, I’m not talking about dieting here, I don’t believe in diets. Drink that wine, splurge on that pasta, enjoy that left-over pizza for breakfast. You’re only 20-something, you are allowed to enjoy the pleasures of delicious food, as long as it’s with moderation. The trick here is to be active, breathe fresh air and have a good balance in your life. You’ll find that the more active you are, the less crap you want to eat. Go for a doggy walk, go skating on the lake, go mountain biking, go dancing, go play outside, go have fun! There are tons of active ways to get that booty moving, and it doesn’t have to be boring. Living in the mountain ranges of the Canadian West Coast for the past decade, I found myself spending most of my time on the mountains then anywhere else. In fact, I am the proud owner of 10 Whistler/Blackcomb season passes, with some years counting up to 100 riding days.

3. Discover a new passion.

You might already have a bucket list with new things to try. That’s great! Try new things, scary things, things you never thought you would ever do. Challenge yourself. Sign up for that mountain bike drop-in class you always wanted to try, get a membership at a yoga studio, start painting, writing, photographing, cooking. You might fall in love and develop a new passion that can lead you to new people, new places, new opportunities. I was always attracted to the depth of the ocean and its intriguing creatures. So when I got PADI certified in Panama, I immediately fell in love with the underwater sport. As of today, I scuba dove in 3 oceans, a total of 51 times, and I still have a lot more on my list!

4. Cultivate personal relationships.

You might realize while you live through your 20’s that there isn’t much left of that panoply of friends you had in your teenage years. People change, develop new taste and evolve in different ways. The importance is to keep close the people that matters and let go of the negative relationships. Choose your friends wisely. Surround yourself with positive and inspiring people. The real friends are the people that will inspire, encourage and support you through the years. They shape who you become. Get to know who the real friends are and keep them close. Also, appreciate your parents. They are the ones that will love you unconditionally no matter what happens. Stay connected, love them in return, you never know when they’ll be gone.

5. Work to live, not live to work.

I work to make enough money to live comfortably, have a fun lifestyle and travel as much as I can. I work hard, but play harder. I don’t want to work my ass off for someone else’s dream. When I’ll have my own business, I’ll make sure I have the right balance with work and life. Working hard in your 20’s toward your retirement years? Really? And then what? Experience life when you’re 65? Sure. But for me, I’d rather do it all now -now that I have the energy, the health, the open-mind and the flexibility. Of course I’m not saying to blow all your money and end of broke by 30. But remember that money comes and goes. You can be financially responsible, but don’t forget to live and have fun, now.

6. Volunteer.

I did my first volunteering experience last year, where I taught French and English to kids and empowered women in Morocco. I also stayed with a charming local family. It was challenging at first, as I felt that I learned more from them than they did from me, but it was the greatest reward at the end, when everyone showed their appreciation with warm hugs and sincere words. Along with helping people in need and giving back to the world less-fortunates, volunteering helps build confidence, increase social and relation skills and gives a sense of accomplishment. To get more information on how you can help, visit IVHQ.

7. Pack up, move, relocate.

You’re young. You might not own a house yet, or have kids or hold a professional career. Pack your things and move to an other city, an other country, overseas. You can always come back if that ain’t working. When I left my hometown at the age 19, I knew I was never going to come back. I moved solo, 5,000km across the country, with the little English I knew, a backpack and a snowboard on my back. Moving away helped me experience new scenes, meet new people, live different lifestyles. I found a home in the mountains with breathtaking scenery and inspiring people -roommates that became a family. And when I got an offer to work in the Caribbeans 8 years later, I jumped on the opportunity and packed my bags again. Along with fear, anxiety and uncertainty of jumping into the unknown once again, I put my life in boxes and flew South where I lived and worked for nearly 2 years -some of the best time of my life, and a roommate that became a best friend.

8. Spend time alone.

It’s ok to disconnect from social life once in a while. Spending time alone will help you reboot your brain and unwind, enhance your creativity and concentration and give you an opportunity to put things into perspective by reflecting on where your life is heading. Play some music, crack a bottle of wine, read a book, watch your favorite shows, dance in your living room, write in a scrapbook, day dream. Do the things you love. Why even not take the road for a few days, fly to a new destination, backpack to a new country. Spending time alone is healthy and beneficial. Don’t underestimate the power of solitude.

9. Meet new people.

Whether it is while travelling, or at a new job, or at a new yoga class, open yourself to others, you never know where that new relationship will lead you. People have different background, outlook on life and each and everyone has something to offer and a beauty to be seen. Meeting new people will help you expand your skills and knowledge, boost your self-esteem, be culturally aware and understand the world. Also, increasing your network can be beneficial for your future. For me, travelling gave me the amazing opportunity to meet people from all around the world, whether it was on a plane, at a hostel or while riding an elephant. Some are acquaintances, some became my best friends. If there is one thing I am the most grateful about my 20’s, it’s for all the amazing and inspiring people I met, from all around the planet.

10. Experience, experience, experience.

Your 20’s are the time to taste freedom, make mistakes, do crazy things, live your own list. No one should tell you how to live your life. Never say no to opportunities, take risks and embrace every moment. Get weird, let loose, embrace your oddities. Have fun. Be wild. Be young. You’re free. My experiences are the fruits of choices and decisions I made. Good and bad. They define who I am.

You don’t have to take the common highway and hurry up to your destination, choose your own road, at your own pace. Smell the flowers. Enjoy the journey. You’ll have your 30’s to figure out the rest 😉

To my friends and family: Thank you for all that enlightened this journey, to the ones that stood by, to the ones that inspired, to the ones that became family. You are part of who I be. The 20’s have been the craziest, wildest and raddest ride. Am a bit scared of letting it go, to be honest, but I’m ready to start fresh and begin this new chapter of life. Time to be awesome! Peace, love and always, believe x

-Capucine

A Decade In Such Great Heights

Published on October 13, 2013August 17, 2022 by Capucine9 Comments

500 weeks ago, I headed west aboard a Greyhound bus on the Trans Canada Highway, bringing along a poor English, a backpack, a snowboard and just a few dollars in my pockets. After spending the summer by the sea in Victoria, BC, working at a Yögen Früz to learn a second language, I migrated to the city. However, the crowdedness of the streets, the continuous autumn rain and the stressful lifestyle wasn’t for me. I travelled north of Vancouver for a day, to explore a magical town that I heard so much about. Indeed dreamy, lively and chummy, I found myself immersed in a bubble of eternal smiles where people actually…lived. I met a group of local residents, a few of them also from Quebec, and soon enough we clicked and exchanged numbers. And this is where it all started…

On October 13th, 2003, I packed my bags and headed towards Whistler. A week earlier, I have accepted an invitation to rent a room at these locals’ house. I barely knew them, had no idea where it was located, but I knew I was going to move to Whistler. I found myself sharing a room in a garage with a stranger and paying the full price of $450 a month. The basement suite was old and dated. The wooded walls were dusty, the rooms were dark and the carpet moldy… It was perfect! I was so happy to be there that nothing could stop my ecstatic joy.

At 19 years old, I have found my paradise, on my own, away from home, in the unknown. I was the happiest girl. I got a job right away cleaning luxurious homes and working on the mountain serving chilly potatoes to hungry skiers and snowboarders from all around the world. While friends at home started university, I started my own. It could not have been a better English immersion. It could not have been better life lessons. I lived in million dollar homes, I snowboarded the best terrain in the world, I met inspiring people. I became part of the movement: the young at heart, the free spirits, the gypsies of the world. I made friends that became my family, I matured up and evolved, I became fluent and I live life at the fullest.

I remember when we used to gather around the steps of Moguls warming up on each other’s mountain stories of the day. I remember feeding on Raman noodles and 0.99$ loafs of bread and 8-packers of Pilsner. I remember the 50cm powder days, waking up at 5am to be the first in the line-up and getting stuck all day. I remember the people that came and then left, but always returned. I remember the ones that stayed and became the wonderful family I have today.

Now, 10 years later, I look back at all those years that went by. I am so thankful for having found such a perfect bubble nestled in paradise. A place to call my home. Thanks to all of those that helped me through this journey, the ones that tagged along, the ones that inspired. Thanks to the community who made me feel like a human, with passions to follow, dreams to pursue. And thanks to the mountains, the ones that gave me fresh air to breathe, hills and trees to ride, magical snowflakes to fall from the sky. You made me feel alive.

I might not be on your ground at the moment, but I raise my Moroccan tea in your honor. Cheers to you Whistler, and thanks for the good ride.

Note: I apologize for any mistakes, this is written on an iPhone with a poor Moroccan Internet connection.

Changing Lanes: The Impossible List

Published on September 25, 2013September 12, 2023 by Capucine2 Comments

Like most of us, passionate and travellers, we live life to the fullest and to make sure we do so, we have created a list of goals we want to accomplish before we expire. Whether it is a meli-melo of ideas trotting in your head, or on a sheet hanging around the house, or written on your bathroom mirror, the Bucket List is there and waiting to be crossed off.

Most people tell me, “Why are you such in a hurry of doing it all? You have all your life!” But what if I don’t? Life is unpredictable, plus I enjoy setting myself challenging goals. As I believe we only live once, I want to take advantage of my human life. And while I agree with most part of buddhism, I am not entirely convinced with reincarnation. I hold no memory of my previous life, although if I was a bird that would’ve explained all those aerial dreams. And what if I turn out to be reborn as an amphibian, or a reptile or worse, a parasite? I want to make sure that my human life is fully completed with the goals I set myself. Some people will strive for professional career success, or to realize an Olympian dream, or to become a great entrepreneur. But me, I just want to complete my Bucket List, or I was…

Recently I came across one of the toughest decisions. I was working so hard on accomplishing my #1: 30 countries before 30, and started stressing out by a lack of time and finances. At the edge of the 30’s, I had 8 countries left to visit and 4 months left to do so. My plan was to volunteer in Morocco then travel the African continent overland with a budget camping safari company. It seemed like the perfect plan. But came reality and my dream collapsed. After volunteering costs, surf camp and safari fees, visas, vaccines, air tickets, travelling equipment and optional activities, I was left with just a few coins. I would’ve found myself restrained from checking other items off the list. Plus, when I travel abroad, I like to be generous and give to the local economies, hence buying souvenirs, booking activities from local companies, buying lunch and presents to my guide, driver, host. There was no way I could do it all without coming back home in the biggest financial hole. Life would’ve been hard and miserable for a while. I had to choose. So I took a walk in the woods and sat by a waterfall. I looked as the water streamed through the rocks.

The fear of growing up, the anxiety of settling down, the pressure of starting a family. Overall, it is the fear of stepping into this milestone of life. Growing up. Aging. Life moving too fast. Middle-life crisis. And a Bucket List screaming to be crossed off.

I came to my senses and realized that I was putting too much stress into following this list. I started to search the Internet, trying to understand this meaning and purpose of this famous list. Then I came across Joey Runyon’s article on the Impossible List:

“The impossible list is a journey (…) a series of events, each building on each other in order to create a great story. Each list has a meaning and a purpose and the list expands and changes in order to tell a story of how you’ve grown, what you’ve overcome and how you’ve gotten to where you are from where you’re from. The check marks designate things accomplished, but the purpose is not to simply achieve specific accomplishments but to change in the process that occurs between events.”

This reading has inspired me in changing a few approaches I had on life. I turned my Bucket List into an Impossible List (at least to try it out) and found myself releaved of anxiety and future feelings of failure. I decided to postpone the safari to a later year, without holding grudges, and put emphasis into volunteering. This way I could spend more time offering my help to people in need and I would even have the time to fit a safari with my mother in the Sahara desert and finish with a vacation in the Canary Islands. While focusing on one thing, I would have the financial comfort and appropriate time to profoundly explore an area of the world that I was forever attracted to.

Whether you have a To Do List, a Bucket List or an Impossible List, remember it is not a race, it is a personal evolving challenge with no expiry date. Don’t limit yourself with time, don’t take it as a failure if you can’t cross off some items. Leave room for change, as we constantly mature and evolve. A list should inspire you to do more each day and live life at the fullest. A life of purpose and meaning. Because it’s not to get there, but how you get there. It’s about how you live the journey.

I won’t be able to cross off my #1: 30 before 30, but at least I got an inspiring lesson from it. And I feel great about it 🙂