Dear Diary (and you),
These are going to be messy for a while, but it’s important that I just get comfortable writing, and build the habit of it, rather than agonising over every word. I’m actually quite excited now that I’ve started writing. This is the beginning of it all!
Today, I have finally finished overhauling my old website, and the front and About pages reflect what I’m about these days. I know they’re not perfect, but they’re good enough to be getting on with. I think everything is cohesive enough that I feel comfortable sharing it, which was the most important thing for me before starting to write my diaries. I didn’t want to attract people to a website that would be confusing and outdated if they happened to navigate away from the diary entries.
I think I need to spend a few weeks writing and processing my thoughts here before coming up with a plan for each week. I’ve spent a lot of time planning and not doing, and so much of what I’ve planned in the past either hasn’t come to fruition or I simply want different things now. There’s no sense in spending so much time planning without action. I need to practice action.
I’m cognisant of the fact that I can’t write about everything here. I must endeavour to stay on theme, but I’m not going to limit myself to one tiny niche. Or, you could look at it this way – my niche is optimising my life for true slow luxury.
I want a Nancy Meyers-type life with a generous helping of Elle Woods influence.
I’m picturing a life and business where I can build wealth by owning cute real estate in multiple countries that allows me to embrace slower travel, pursue hobbies like horse riding, sailing, hiking, and hosting, where I have the time and freedom to take a few violin lessons just for fun, and where I get to write about it all and build a genuine, friendly community of people who value the same things. I’d like to host retreats either at these properties or maybe at other beautiful locations, where we can focus on slowing down and prioritising fun, and help each other have the best possible impact on the world.
And by impact, I don’t mean just “helping people by selling them coaching sessions”. I mean helping people who can’t afford it, or saving an endangered species, or cleaning up the ocean, whilst reducing waste and emissions. This, and spreading kindness wherever we go. Actually using our privilege for good.
I want to work on putting my own oxygen mask on so that I can help put others’ on, too. I need to build a business and wealth so that I can put a lot into causes that matter to me, because at the moment, I feel helpless. Right now, I’m trading time for money, so time given is money lost, and money given is time lost. Don’t get me wrong, it’s lost to a good cause, but I am absolutely limited in what I can give. Once I build something I can scale, I can give more freely and generously.
My initial goal was to write 1,000 words today, but I’ve managed over half of that and I’ll be honest, I think that’s enough for today. I’ve covered more than I thought I would with that word count.
I don’t want to exhaust myself, and if I leave myself some topics yet to cover, the next entry won’t be too hard.
I hope you’re keeping well and thinking about what you want for your own future.
Much love and hugs (and excited squeals for the first day of writing!),
Erin
