Pleasure, Procrastination and Planning

"Those who fail to plan, plan to fail." Or so the saying goes. We all make plans. Evening plans. Weekend plans. One or three month or longer away PLANS. How much of these plans are in line with our personal goals? How much of these engagements of time are in line with our SELF and what our HEART truly desires, in the long-term not just the short-term ( i.e. I want an ice cream, I want to have sex, I want a nap, etc. ) I've been living in Bali for 5 months now. Time sure does fly when you're flying.

I've made a very cute little home / nest for myself here in Bali and I am generally happy as I have pleasure and convenience at my fingertips. By that I mean that I prepare the kettle, my cup and my coffee the night before, so that when I wake up in the morning all I have to do is plug in my kettle on my bedside table and voila, coffee in bed. Also, I've got the internet in bed, which offers me the world at my fingertips, literally. I can communicate with loved ones, blog, research whatever random thought I have in that moment and do WORK. Yes, The Bali Chick WORKS!

What do I do you may wonder? How does this chick live this lifestyle galavanting from beach to beach? What do I do to make an income? In Bali you can't just go out and work in a cafe or a restaurant or bartend..... those jobs are reserved for locals. It's hard to work here.... to make a living. But I've figured it out. I don't work in an office. My bed is often my office, as I work on the internet. It's been a struggle recently, financially, and still am really..... but I'm getting by. I'm doing Social Media for one friends company and Copy-Writing ( writing content for websites ) for another dear friend. Thanks guys - you saved my butt. My expenses in Bali are literally nothing. In Canadian prices, my rent is $200 a month, my bike rental is $50, gas is $2 to fill the tank. Food and eating out is generally really low. I eat Padang most days, which is Muslim - rice, veggies, tofu or tempe ( soybean ) with sambal ( spicy chili ). Plus the other household expenses: laundry, cleaning stuff, toilet paper, water, etc.

Pleasure. I am a huge fan of pleasure. Who isn't? I love my simple luxuries. Hot showers, shaving my legs, washing my hair, hair masks, painting my nails. Drinking coffee in bed. Riding my scooter through the rice fields on a brilliant sunny day. Reading a good book and listening to the rain on the roof. Chocolate Truffle Magnum Icecream bars - My new boyfriend. I see him at least twice a week. I take him home and we have a great time. I don't feel guilty...... I just feel pleasure. I'm single and I'm happy. I haven't made a huge amount of close friends in Ubud, but that's just fine because I love spending time with my favorite person: me.

Procrastination. We're all guilty of this from one time to another. I am a huuuuge procrastinator. Have you read my blog? I don't exactly write everyday, now do I? Why do I find it so hard to just sit and write, when I ENJOY it so much?? Sometimes it's easier to just say "I will do it later / tomorrow." Sometimes it's easier to just take a nap. I am famous for my naps. Some people can't do it. I can do it very easily. I love napping. And when I procrastinate, this is what I usually do instead. What I have found is that when you just go and DO IT, whatever "it" is, it is always a lot easier and more pleasurable than you think it will be. For some odd reason, we convince ourselves that these "things to do" won't bring us pleasure, when really.... the act of doing them and mentally checking it off your list, does in fact bring a sense of pleasure.

Planning. I don't usually make them. There are always options, what to do tonight, tomorrow, this week, this month...... but nothing is written in stone. Life is flexible and I try to live my life and do what I feel. If I want ice cream, I eat it. If I want a nap, I will take a nap. If I am feeling inspired, energized and ready to take on the world...... I hit the internet, and send emails, communicate with my network and create opportunities. Your life is your life, so if you aren't living it for you, you better start doing it.

Now I understand it's not the same for everyone. Not everyone can live in Bali and work on the internet. You may be stuck working a job you hate to pay off debt. You may be a new mother, and your needs and wants come after those of your child. You may have 3 kids, 2 jobs and no man to help you out emotionally or financially. You may live in a war-torn country. My blog is reaching all kinds of people...... Russia, Africa, Ireland. I recently got an email from a woman in Venezuela, who is ready to change her life and reached out to me. I love the internet for this. There are so many people in this beautiful world from all backgrounds and walks of life. I understand this and try to put myself in other peoples shoes often, which is why I feel so lucky and truly grateful on a day to day basis.

Change. Change occurs naturally in life. The seasons change. People change. Jobs, apartments, relationships, and friendships CHANGE. Life is a constant flow of change, just like the ebb and tide of the ocean. Although we don't realize it, our lives and the circles of change are very much in tune with the cycles of the moon. Here in Bali, the moon cycles are celebrated. In fact, there is a ceremony for every black ( new ) and full moon. It is a truly beautiful thing. The full moon is this Saturday and I feel change on the horizon, not just in the next few weeks... to the next moon change.... but in the next few moons to come.

Everyone thinks I have been living in the sun for the past 5 months, galavanting beach to beach with flowers in my hair and not a care in the world..... which is only partly true. Ubud is usually cloudy, with dramatic thunderstorms and rarely are there fully blue-sky days. I've been lonely and had money worries, just like everyone else. I've had amazing days and days where I just want to sleep it away and see awake to tomorrow with fresh eyes.

In the next moon cycle, I plan to move out of Ubud. I love my sweet little apartment here and the beautiful family who I rent the place from dearly, but the time has come for me to embrace change once again and discover new oceans. "Man must have courage to lose sight of the shore in order to reach new oceans", afterall. My next destination is Canggu. It's quiet, green and near the ocean. And more sunny! After spending the week on Gili Trawangan ( full blog post to come on that, I'm still in awe ), I discovered that I am truly a beach baby. I love having the sand and salt on my skin. The ocean cleanses the aura, they say, so as I did in Australia 10 years ago, I want to be in the ocean every single day.

In the MONTHS and moons to come, I have been presented with an opportunity that is very exciting. It is a choice that will absolutely change my life. I have an announcement that I will make soon, but not yet..... as it is not yet "set in stone". Aka, I am waiting on the contract. It will be a quantum opposite change to the lifestyle I have been living. I plan to continue the blog on the "new" blog I have registered. Yes, Bali still has my heart and I want to build a house here one day. I looked at land in the Gili's and I know I have to work hard for what I want. The opportunity that has crossed my path I cannot say no to. Financially and esthetically, it's very glamourous and my heart, parents and close friends are telling me to GO FOR IT!! So I will leave you in suspense :)

I hope you have enjoyed this post. Please stay tuned for my post on the beautiful Gili T. And take my words to heart. Find the balance between pleasure and moving forward. Live in the moment, but act proactively for tomorrow at the same time. Life isn't all about pleasure, nor is it all about pain. But I believe there is a beautiful balance between the two. Do what you need to do today, to move forward tomorrow, and reward yourself with your idea of pleasure, whatever it is.... a Magnum Icecream Bar or a luxurious cat nap. Love, Kate