New year, new intentions | embracing "island time" and taking the scenic route
I found myself slowly drifting into stillness, listening to the gentle, hypnotic cooing of Mourning Doves that had gathered for their daily morning ritual, just outside our bedroom window in Hong Kong. The familiar morning chirps and chitters from our Sparrow flock in Toronto has been temporarily replaced by the coos from those Doves, the sweet songs of the Magpie-robins, and shrill, dramatic screams of Cockatoos.
Yet, I felt absolute peace that morning.
Letting the cool feeling of relaxation wash over my mind, I fell deeper and deeper into a quiet, thoughtless trance.
"What's your resolution?"
The quietness slipped away as quick as the Doves scattered, spooked from the waking neighbours below. Around this time of year, I would be filled with excitement and clear visions of what was ahead, of dreams to be built. I would have a few intentions floating around in my mind, letting time dictate which one would be the best fit to carry into the year ahead as a North Star.
But, I had absolutely no idea that morning.
The promise I made to myself when starting this business came through as a quiet reminder.
"I'm going to do the opposite of [how I managed] my animation career."
Instead of hustling to reach unrealistic, lofty career goals out of fear of falling behind (which led to massive burnout, emotional hurt, and physical pain after achieving them 🙃), I forgot that I intended to take a slower approach to building this art career and business. Pondering over this led me to listen to this fantastic video by Career Coach Mandy which reminded me of embracing an "island time" approach to life.
What is "island time?"
If you haven't grown up in a culture that's ruled by the concept, "island time" is a relaxed pace of time and life, often referred to island cultures where punctuality is less emphasized (sometimes derogatorily 😬). It is all about enjoying the moment over rigidly sticking to a schedule.
And if life and my old career taught me anything, rigidly sticking to *the schedule* is the immediate path to getting what you *truly* don't actually want, though you may think you do. The unwillingness to be flexible will cause the most delays and blockages to what you truly, deeply desire. (And let's be real, sometimes those perceived blockages are actually blessings towards something better!)
Okay, cool, so how do we embody "island time?"
Well, everyone's spiritual journey and methods are different, so give yourself some self-care time to sit down and really figure out what works best for you. For me, stagnation in the external world has almost always been a reflection of stuck internal energy and movement has always been the cure. This year, I'll be diving back to investing into my yoga practice. I started an extremely dedicated daily yoga practice 10 years ago and managed to keep up with it for 4 years straight (then life happened, as it does). I've been craving to go back to it and now is better than never.
If you're stumped with coming up with ideas on what to do to encourage more presence in your daily life, ask yourself, "What's something that I do or an activity, hobby I practice that makes me feel free?" What's the first thing that comes to mind? Is it making a morning coffee for your loved one? Is it journaling and letting your true thoughts and feelings flow onto the page? Driving on the open road, singing at the top of your lungs? Singing at the top of your lungs, but at your favourite karaoke bar with your closest friends? Ponder this. Literally schedule in time to make this a daily, weekly, or monthly practice. Start small and let the practice grow on its own time.
The more time you invest feeling freedom and peace internally will reflect and expand externally.
May your 2025 be full of life and joy!
Yet, I felt absolute peace that morning.
Letting the cool feeling of relaxation wash over my mind, I fell deeper and deeper into a quiet, thoughtless trance.
"What's your resolution?"
The quietness slipped away as quick as the Doves scattered, spooked from the waking neighbours below. Around this time of year, I would be filled with excitement and clear visions of what was ahead, of dreams to be built. I would have a few intentions floating around in my mind, letting time dictate which one would be the best fit to carry into the year ahead as a North Star.
But, I had absolutely no idea that morning.
The promise I made to myself when starting this business came through as a quiet reminder.
"I'm going to do the opposite of [how I managed] my animation career."
Instead of hustling to reach unrealistic, lofty career goals out of fear of falling behind (which led to massive burnout, emotional hurt, and physical pain after achieving them 🙃), I forgot that I intended to take a slower approach to building this art career and business. Pondering over this led me to listen to this fantastic video by Career Coach Mandy which reminded me of embracing an "island time" approach to life.
What is "island time?"
If you haven't grown up in a culture that's ruled by the concept, "island time" is a relaxed pace of time and life, often referred to island cultures where punctuality is less emphasized (sometimes derogatorily 😬). It is all about enjoying the moment over rigidly sticking to a schedule.
And if life and my old career taught me anything, rigidly sticking to *the schedule* is the immediate path to getting what you *truly* don't actually want, though you may think you do. The unwillingness to be flexible will cause the most delays and blockages to what you truly, deeply desire. (And let's be real, sometimes those perceived blockages are actually blessings towards something better!)
Okay, cool, so how do we embody "island time?"
Well, everyone's spiritual journey and methods are different, so give yourself some self-care time to sit down and really figure out what works best for you. For me, stagnation in the external world has almost always been a reflection of stuck internal energy and movement has always been the cure. This year, I'll be diving back to investing into my yoga practice. I started an extremely dedicated daily yoga practice 10 years ago and managed to keep up with it for 4 years straight (then life happened, as it does). I've been craving to go back to it and now is better than never.
If you're stumped with coming up with ideas on what to do to encourage more presence in your daily life, ask yourself, "What's something that I do or an activity, hobby I practice that makes me feel free?" What's the first thing that comes to mind? Is it making a morning coffee for your loved one? Is it journaling and letting your true thoughts and feelings flow onto the page? Driving on the open road, singing at the top of your lungs? Singing at the top of your lungs, but at your favourite karaoke bar with your closest friends? Ponder this. Literally schedule in time to make this a daily, weekly, or monthly practice. Start small and let the practice grow on its own time.
The more time you invest feeling freedom and peace internally will reflect and expand externally.
May your 2025 be full of life and joy!