If you missed the introduction, please click here.
Vision for this project
The first question to ask - what am I trying to achieve with this project, and also with this journey? Actually, I guess both of those questions have some different answers. Very early on I made a list of the things that I wanted to find on my journey.
Personal journey aims
These are some quite grand ideas and high ideals! Some are more of a life vision, being my best and providing the best life I can for Ohli are things that are constantly on my wish lists. This doesn't make them any less important to focus on now though.
If I think about what it is I would like this project to achieve in an educational sense, there are some more points to add..
Project aims
Personal journey aims
- I wish to find new inspirations, visiting and learning from permaculture related places and people, immersing myself in doing. More doing, less thinking.
- Becoming more skilled in all things that I am interested in.
- I wish to widen my surroundings.. explore and experience places that I have never come across before.
- I wish to work towards creating a living, being sustained, being able to support my child and myself fully in creative and interesting ways.
- I wish to have adventures! Freedom and blissful adventures..
- I wish to raise my child in wild natural places, surrounded by motivated and productive people accomplishing great things. I also yearn to be in wild, natural places.
- I want to see more of the world whilst it is still possible. I don't know what the future holds, but I know that it is uncertain. I don't want to live with regrets.
- I want to live into my highest vision of myself.
- I want this life to be the best that it can possibly be, for Ohli and for myself.
These are some quite grand ideas and high ideals! Some are more of a life vision, being my best and providing the best life I can for Ohli are things that are constantly on my wish lists. This doesn't make them any less important to focus on now though.
If I think about what it is I would like this project to achieve in an educational sense, there are some more points to add..
Project aims
- I wish to deepen and further my knowledge of the permaculture design process
- I wish to progress in a holistic way; furthering my skills in professional and personal areas.
- I wish to benefit my own life whilst also reaching out and being of benefit to my wider community.
Observations
I made some notes below on ideas on how to move forwards with my journey.
So the main points that were found here were;
- To keep a focus on diploma work and visit permaculture centres
- To travel to wild natural places
- To change and adapt our travel plans in respect of our moods and wellbeing
- To remain open to oppurtunities that arise
- To visit places that positively impact our happiness and wellbeing
- To keep a balance between moving and staying still
- To develop future income streams to support ourselves
We have had many journey's together since Ohli was born, backpacking around Europe, Norway and all around the UK, mostly going to visit friends and family taking overland routes. But this time I would like to go on a big adventure, somewhere far, far away in the land of sun and all things exotic, a true change from home life and all that I know here. When researching this journey, I started to look for help and advice from other travelling parents on the internet. Right from the beginning I started to wonder, how do I carry everything? What should I take? And then there was the whole world of immunisations and health, travelling with a toddler who has never been routinely vaccinated was creating some questions in my mind. On my solo adventures in the past I had always enjoyed unplanned travel, hitching and exploring just flowing along with whatever opportunities came my way. But since having Ohli I have realised that that's not so practical anymore. I've learned from experience now that turning up somewhere with a tired (or even worse, an energetic) toddler can be a real mission if you don't have a friend and a bed to stay with at the other end. I've put links to the things that I found in the resources section, on the next page. But to be honest, I haven't yet found that much that has really helped me, or anything that has been written for people in my circumstances, somebody travelling alone with a small child, looking for volunteering and interesting projects, and not just a holiday. Perhaps these kinds of folks don't really have much spare time to write blogs or make websites, which I can fully imagine. But I feel its a bit of a shame that I couldn't find anything, many other parents I know feel that it's such an unusual or difficult thing to travel with a wee one, and since there's not much written about it, it gives the impression that not many folks do it. I'm hoping that this isn't true, and I'm thinking maybe the best way I can contribute to this is by offering something myself on-line to share with other potential travelling families. |
Dipping into quadrant theory
I have also been exploring quadrant theory and how I can map out my current life within it. This is very relevant to the way I have been entering this project and my feelings on which direction I want it to head in. You can read more about my exploration into quadrant theory here.
I noticed that when looking at the areas of my life that are most fulfilled, right now I couldn't think of anything that I'm doing that is of wider benefit for my community, things that would fit into the lower right quadrant. I have been so caught up with my own personal plans and ideas now for some time. So this led me to thinking that alongside using this project to design a trip for me and Ohli, it would be of much greater use if I could use my experience and anything useful that I discover and share this with others who may be able to benefit.
This would be a great way for my project to have many functions within it. Stacking functions is an important part of permaculture design. Making a design holistic and multi-functional, benefiting as many aspects as possible.
I noticed that when looking at the areas of my life that are most fulfilled, right now I couldn't think of anything that I'm doing that is of wider benefit for my community, things that would fit into the lower right quadrant. I have been so caught up with my own personal plans and ideas now for some time. So this led me to thinking that alongside using this project to design a trip for me and Ohli, it would be of much greater use if I could use my experience and anything useful that I discover and share this with others who may be able to benefit.
This would be a great way for my project to have many functions within it. Stacking functions is an important part of permaculture design. Making a design holistic and multi-functional, benefiting as many aspects as possible.
Thoughts on including holistic health
I started to think that a good way to move forwards here would be to map out what we may need to maintain a good level of holistic health, and see what we are doing to fulfil that. This could then possibly help to provide an outline that can be used by myself and others when planning their trips. I then realised that I have been through this before, in my last project where I investigated the things to include in my life to help make it sustainable. (You can see this project and these findings here.) Reconnecting to these findings has helped me to remember what may help us maintain wellness on our travels and not to deplete our energy too much, as these things are relevant whether we are in a stable home or moving day to day.
In brief, the main points were:
Looking back at this is such great medicine! It is really helpful to remember what the important things really are to keep us feeling happy. I feel that these points really do cover so much of what we need to feel good and be sustained consistently. And by looking at places we have stayed in where these things are not being met, I can see now more clearly why perhaps we were not so happy there. I also find it very encouraging that I am looking to a previous project and finding it relevant and helpful for my present life and work.
In brief, the main points were:
- Friendship and company
- Time put aside to do things I/we enjoy doing, that satisfy our creative needs in whatever way
- Making steps towards making our future better than today
- Prioritising our health; for me that means giving value to spending time in yoga or some personal development, for Ohli this could mean making sure he has stimulating and interesting things to help him grow
- Being in surroundings that nourish, nurture, and bring out the best of ourselves.
Looking back at this is such great medicine! It is really helpful to remember what the important things really are to keep us feeling happy. I feel that these points really do cover so much of what we need to feel good and be sustained consistently. And by looking at places we have stayed in where these things are not being met, I can see now more clearly why perhaps we were not so happy there. I also find it very encouraging that I am looking to a previous project and finding it relevant and helpful for my present life and work.
you can continue onto the next page, the resources and boundaries here