I was watching an Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown episode on Miami (Anthony is my hero, but I guess I should save that for another post), and who should pop up but Iggy Pop? Apparently Iggy now resides in Miami (whhhaaat??) and enjoys the slowness of a beach town. He talked about visiting the ocean, being at peace, and finding the "end of complications" there.
The end of complications. Wow, I thought, what a notion. And as beautiful and peaceful and amazing as that sounds, I don't want that yet.
Say what, Ashley?
You heard right. I'm still in a zone where I want challenges. I want adventure. I want to jump as highly into the sky as possible. I want to dive into treacherous waters. When I stare at the ocean I don't see the end of complications. Sure, it relaxes me. It brings me peace. But that is because when I stare at that forceful entity, I see endless possibilities. I think to myself, if I sail that way, will I reach Japan? I'm in no mood to settle down anytime soon. It's not time to retire, it's time to live!
I'm finally 30, and with that comes a lot of talk about calming down, becoming "old," and settling. But why? Don't get me wrong, I'm not the same partier as my twenty-something self. I like relaxing more, I like taking the world in through less wilder eyes. But I think I'm onto this new phase of pushing myself. This weekend I tried two new challenging things just because: salsa dancing and Buti Yoga. My butt and thighs are now majorly sore, but my heart is content. I like diving into things that are slightly uncomfortable at first. I like letting myself make a few mistakes because I know I will learn from them. I like this new Ashley; I applaud her vulnerability.
Because this post is Iggy themed, of course I felt like referencing one of his best hits. "The Passenger" is most definitely about adventuring. I especially love the line, "I ride through the city's backsides," because to me it means finding your own path, which may not always be the path widely taken.
I get why Iggy wants to settle down now. He was a mover and shaker in his day, and now he wants a bit of rest. As for me, I'm not there yet. My ride has not stopped in any one location; I am a passenger on an awesome ride, and I hope I keep pushing myself across unknown borders and unchartered territory (and cities' backsides). One day I may yearn for the end of complications, but right now I have some more riding to do.
