El Paredón (and Power)
Onwards, as a concept, is about the law of forward motion. Is there a law of forward motion? I declare that here and now, there is.
In the Spring of last year, I noticed things around me — and of me — were changing. Because it was Springtime, and out of respect for the law of forward motion, I let them. I decided it was time to leave home and go to Thailand. (As one does.) Then, I rode the train around Europe for a few months. (I love the train. If anything represents my personal law of motion, it is the train.) Prior to arriving back in New York in November, I knew I would not be staying for long. I had to keep moving forward. (One must obey the law, after all.) So, I began asking myself, “What’s next?” and came to these conclusions:
I’m going somewhere warm for the winter
I’m going somewhere I’ve never been
I’m going to live on the beach
I’m going to learn how to surf
I’m going to learn Spanish
I did not in fact learn Spanish (in any truly useful sense), but I did learn how to surf. In the little beach town of El Paredón, Guatemala. One paved road. One tiny pharmacy. No real supermarket. Nothing to do besides work, surf, party, sleep and repeat. It was everything I could have dreamed of. And that, friends, dear readers, whoever the hell you are, is the thing.
I dreamed it. I envisioned an ideal circumstance and made it happen. Half a year removed, I still feel like I manifested the place. El Paredón was, for all intents and purposes, my paradise.
An insecurity: I’ve never been much of a long-term goal setter. I’m more on the wave of taking things one step at a time and seeing where they lead. (Less disappointment.) But I learned — nay! saw firsthand — that when I truly determine what I want, I will do what is necessary to see it through.
Here are some other things I learned during my month in El Paredón:
Disfruta la fruta — literally, metaphorically
No one tans as well as I do, sorry
The audacity of men will never cease to amaze me
Living on the beach is the only way to retain any sort of sanity
Be where your feet are. (“This moment is the best moment!“)
Dancing alone is therapy
I am funny
I’m not trying to be funny. But you can laugh if you’d like. I am.
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This is a testament to the relative power of place. Others will stumble upon this town, have some fun, leave, and think little of it ever again. But me? My memory of El Paredón is so strong, so specific, that I almost never want to go back. It is forever frozen in time as the example of what is possible when I listen to my stupid (smart) gut and take action.
The gist? I’ve never felt so powerful. I have never been so invested in me. My capabilities and my capacity for growth. I am in my selfish era. I am proud of it.
If this flagrant show of confidence doesn’t convince you of the power of solo travel… no, that’s not the point. And yet….
Go. Please go. Run. I beg you. Be yourself. Be a slut. Be lost. Be loud. Be lonely. Be yourself the way you can only be on your own.
Onwards,
Mag
