Thursday Thoughts
Book planning, living with intention, and a money lesson on my brain
I have been thinking about what to write this week, but actually some of my favourite articles have come from writing without thinking.
Sometimes I busy myself so much with thinking and planning, I have worn myself out before I have even started the project at hand.
So this is my messy Thursday evening stream of conciousness. Welcome!
What else has been on my mind this week? I published an Instagram video with a voiceover that went a little something like this:
“Have you ever thought to yourself, ‘if Simon Squibb stopped me in the street right now, I have no idea what I would say my dream is.’ Don’t get me wrong, I think it is so important to have goals and aspirations to strive towards, but don’t you think this would feel so much more attainable if we asked ‘what is my intention’ instead of ‘what is my dream’? When you ask yourself, ‘how do I want my days to feel?’ or ‘what type of person do I want to be today?’ you are taking small daily actions which will materialise into a dream life.”
My dream is to publish a book and journal that encourages readers to create a life full of joy and adventure. But I had to discover my intention - to constantly feel creatively inspired to inspire others - before I realised this dream. The dream almost acts as evidence that I have fulfilled my intention. Once I have achieved this dream, I will work towards another that is in line with my intention.
I have been working on building a new habit as part of my morning routine. I say to myself these three affirmations:
I live a life full of joy and adventure
I am creatively inpired to inspire others
I feel connected to myself, my environment, and the people around me
These three statements remind me of my purpose, and why my intentions are important to me so that I start every morning with clarity. I hope that the more I repeat these affirmations, the more I will believe in myself and align my actions.
To me, living a life of joy and adventure means finding micro-adventures in my everyday life so that I am always in a state of curiosity, discovery and awe. This is the fuel for my creativity.
I would love to do more reading on this concept if you have any recommendations. Books or articles on slow travel, everyday wonder, the neuroscience behind adventure etc.
Remember I said I have been thinking and planning a lot lately? Well one of the things on my brain has been exactly how I will structure my book on joy and adventure in a way which integrates travel. Because there is so much synergy between travel and wellbeing language - escape, unwind, explore, journey, path, discover. My love of writing actually started with a travel blog full of reviews and guides, so I would love to pay homage to this.
The week started pretty bad. Sorry - you would think I would start with the beginning of the week. My car broke down and set me back a couple of pounds ….. In this though, I found a very valuable lesson about money. Having money is not about being able to afford luxuries, it is being able to afford protection.
True wealth is booking an uber in an emergency, paying for medicine without hesitation, affording to fix you car when it breaks and leaves you on the side of the road in the cold…. This whole fiasco was a reminder to save money for my protection, not just materialism.
My eyes are getting pretty heavy, so I think I will leave it there for tonight. Honestly, I have only ever written like this in my journal. Hitting publish on this post - in all it’s messy glory - will be quite liberating. I hope in a world of AI that you found some comfort in reading my frantic grammar and hearing my human brain’s live-action thoughts. Or maybe I terrified you, for which I apologise.
Oh I’m so glad I’ve just found you on here! Immediate subscribe!!