Hiking through the hinterland, I was flooded with familiar sensations of what living in New Zealand felt like.
Fresh, adventurous, curious and brave.
I spent a year in New Zealand a little while back. In fact, when I did, Such Different Skies was a travel blog. I spent that time blogging about snowboarding, hiking, bungy-jumping for a living (quite literally), canyoning in glacial water and photo missions with brilliant and interesting people.
Every time I smell a fireplace, in an instant, I’m taken back to winter in Queenstown, which makes me think of hot pools, a glass of local pinot noir, and maybe some cheese fondue.
This is how I’ve felt this past week; as though I’ve been in a time warp – albeit a very present time warp – where memories and sensations have been recreating themselves; this time, in the Gold Coast Hinterland. As Glen and I bounded through the mountains and rainforest, puffing deeply, I remembered how just a few weeks ago, while on retreat with my girlfriends, I declared: More adventure! I want more adventure. You know you’re manifesting on a soul level when your desires show up before you remember that you asked for them in the first place. Does this ever happen to you?
Living simply is important to me. Over the last few months, as my business has grown, as more opportunities have come my way, I’ve monitored my relationship with simplicity; partly because I was curious to see whether it would change, and partly because I was deeply afraid that it would.
What I’ve realised – or more accurately, what I’ve given myself permission to realise – is that luxury and simple living can coexist in the same space. In the same philosophy.
A little light from within was re-lit as Glen and I sat down to a 5 course tasting menu at one of the most gorgeous restaurants atop Tamborine Mountain. This is what brought the two of us together in a drunk-on-love romance that was built on his knowledge of food, and mine of wine. The dinner table has always been our alter. Preferably a dinner table with starched whites, multiple sets of cutlery and a candle between us. Ah, I thought. This is luxury to me. Not the clothes I wear, or the way I style my hair, or the car I drive. This is it: experiential, delicious bliss, with someone I love.
Could I spend every night in a 3 hatted restaurant? God no. Our incredible waiter joked that no, he didn’t live on the hill. He lived down on the coast and simply commuted up every day for work. ‘They’re all a bit cuckoo up here. It’s like they reach a point in which they can’t deal with the world anymore, and so they move to Tamborine.’ When he walked away I smiled and said to Glen. ‘Sounds like me.’
I’ve plunged quite deep recently into exploration; retreating, hiking, lots of writing, plenty of alone time, plenty of time with my tribe. I’ve well and truly had my feelers out, noticing what life throws at me, when.
It’s the contradictions that I adore. The human, choice-fuelled contradictions that in all truth, I’m learning to love and celebrate.
I feel free when I can spend a sweaty day traipsing in the mountains, only to shower, slip on a black dress and enjoy a fine dinner.
I feel conscious when I go three months without a drink, only to turn around when life aligns itself in such a way where I find myself saying ‘I feel like a cocktail.’
I feel like I’m honouring myself when I give time and energy and love to my friends, knowing that time by myself is just as important.
I feel empowered knowing that I can create a life that’s as simple or as luxurious as I choose it to be.
And I’ll be honest, I feel relieved to discover, thanks to my un-ending curiosity and perpetual interest of the human mind- that luxury is a state a mind. It may not be a word I completely resonate with just yet, but with just a fraction of intention, I can step into a luxurious moment, just as easily I can slip on that black dress for dinner.
How I celebrated Self Centred Sundays this week
A breakfast of homemade chia and green juice, a 15km hike with my honey at Binna Burra and a divine late lunch at Songbirds, Mount Tamborine.
Our wearies bodies made their way to bed quite early and stayed there for somewhat of a movie marathon. A full day of joy.
Here’s how YOU celebrated! Hashtag that shit #selfcentredsundays
Looking forward
You know what, it’s all about putting one front in of the other. Simple, succinct reminders like that are keeping me on track at the moment. I love me some big-vision-eering, but for now it’s as though I’m short-sighted, and my nervous system seems to be celebrating it!
This week I also intend on exploring the strength of my body a little more. Think: vinyasa yoga, pilatess barre, 5km beach runs and some physio.
What do you resonate with most? Simple living, or luxury? And how does it show up in your life? I’d love to hear it in the comments :)
I grew up with a simple/luxury life: lots of camping, hiking, and home cooked family dinners but also got to travel Europe, go on yearly vacations to the caribbean, and get dressed up for fancy dinners. But as I got older I realized that luxury for me was my simple life. All that mattered was I was with my family. I didn’t need anything fancy, I felt my most luxurious at family reunions, hunkering down in a tent playing cards, and sitting down for those family dinners. And that has grown with me now that I am living on my own. I spend my weekends camping, running, or hiking the Colorado mountains, cooking Sunday dinners, and curling up to a movie. It’s the simple things in life that make the most memories and will keep a life full of wealth and happiness. Go Simple!
Thank you for sharing babe x
Simple luxury is a concept I always think about. My ideal home is small and simple, but with a huge king bed and beautiful linens. Local food of excellent quality, simple flavours. Spending on exactly what feels true and simplifying the rest :)
Friggen wow. Bring it on.
Oh this post brought back wonderful memories. Most of my favourite family holidays growing up were spent at Binna Burra. I could always imagine going back to live there one day, surrounded my nature but with the gold coast below you. Like Alana said, I’m all for simple luxury. Finding the reverence and joy of the simplest things :)
It really is a slice of heaven there :) x
I love your writing Tara. Reading your posts always makes me reflect deeply and brings me back to my inner self.
Lately I’ve been thinking about the contradictions and intersections between a peaceful life and an adventurous life, and figuring out how they can co-exist. It’s the same question as simplicity and luxury, in a way. I love how you draw it back to living in the moment – the luxurious moment, the simple moment, the adventurous moment. All brought together in a beautiful life x
Oh honey, what an incredible thing for you to say. Thank you. Love you x
One time I was sailing down the Tonlé Sap River in Cambodia, passing the water villages. The boat driver pointed at the village people while shouting to us “you are working hard to have their life for when you are old and they already have it”. The boatman laughed and laughed. His remark has always stuck with me for many years and has led me to believe that simple living is a luxury and one I am grateful to have.
Just beautiful :) x
This is a beautiful post. I’ve always struggled with wanting to live a more simplistic, minimalist life but can’t seem to shake my love of the little luxuries like fine foods, massages and a wee bit of pampering. I’ve only been discovering lately the beauty of balance and that it’s possible to have both xo.
You are so allowed to have both, beautiful :) xx
I so agree with Alana above. My dream house sounds pretty similar! I love simple, classic luxury and the rich feelings it brings. Indulgence without the fanfare – true and aligned with me. Love your work Tara, you are a light xo
Ahhh that sounds sooooo nice, babe. Here’s to the dream vision! x
Honestly my lovely, your writing never fails to give me shivers and to persuade me to reflect inwards. It’s so truly, truly beautiful.
Simplicity and appreciating simplicity were huge themes of the weekend just gone- my other half and I got back to loving spontaneous days out, having low expectations, appreciating each moment and going with the flow. We all have big dreams, but sometimes taking the most from each moment, letting go and letting this feeling flood through us is where we can breathe in the magic of the everyday and feel truly safe.
Very, very tempted to plan a hiking trip now, I have to say! Thank you my darling- xx
Oh yeah I’m over here planting hiking seeds!
Just gorgeous babe. Love it. x
I so so resonate with you about wanting to discover my own peace with the word “luxury” — the mind has it’s own way of making things black and white and to me, sometimes luxury feels unnecessary or overly indulgent.
But then there ARE those moments of clarity and relaxation within a moment and we see that everything can coexist in harmony without us trying to label it :)
Thanks for the inspiration. You rock!
-Ashley
YOU rock!
Thank you for your awesome comment chicka x
Hi Tara,
I LOVE what you said about going 3 months without drinking and then turning round and getting a cocktail! For me that feels like freedom; the freedom to not drink, and the freedom to drink. Rather than having to drink, or having to avoid it!
As for basic vs luxury, I’m gonna go for both! I’m a big fan of luxurious simplicity!
Love Jade xx
Amen lovely x