As these words reach your inbox, I’ll no longer be in Spain.  Well, I’ll no longer be in Barcelona … but I will still be in the country.  Granada to be specific.  Guess that was confusing, sorry.  Andalusia feels like a different place.  (You’ll see in the upcoming videos!).

I had a little epiphany this week that I want to share with you.  As you may or may not know I’m on this journey primarily for mental health reasons.  I had a major mental breakdown at the end of 2021 and I had to make a substantial change.  So I quit my career and decided to start my recovery with an around the world adventure (with camera in hand).  And as I type this, I’m three months into it.

Barcelona was supposed to be the crown jewel.  My turning point.  I was supposed to move here back in 2020 before the lockdown closed the country and I was eagerly planning my return.  Sadly it didn’t turn out like I hoped.  What I didn’t count on was that maybe I would change more than Barcelona could ever hope to heal.

(Wildflowers in bloom high over Barcelona)

So while my return to the city of Barcelona wasn’t what I had expected, I did learn a little something unexpected.  Several little something’s actually.  One is that healing takes time and there is no magic bullet.  I’m starting to come to grips with that.  And the other is that life is a journey no matter where you are.

Sitting on the hilltop pictured above I got to remembering how as a kid I could see a grove of pine trees and imagine a hidden fort inside.  How when my mind is at peace, I can stare without staring at a landscape and take in everything with all my senses.  I’m starting to remember what it’s like to be truly alive and unburdened.

And like any good over-thinking individual would do, I also realized up there what I need to do with the channel.  I started it with the idea of showing off my travels.  Then I envisioned building a community around my “brand” … perhaps even becoming famous in a YouTube sort of way.  But what came to me as I sat beside those flowers was that I just want to share myself and my experiences with my friends … which is you.

Healing from a mental break is a lot like the seven stages of grief.  I’m currently somewhere between reconstruction and acceptance.  With maybe a little remaining smattering of bargaining and anger thrown in at times.  But I am getting closer to being healthy, and thus being able to live a happy and fulfilling life.

What does that mean to you and why is this in a patron newsletter?  Because if you’re reading this you are already supporting me in various ways.  And I want to deeply thank you for your friendship and understanding.  I also want to pledge to you my continued over-sharing of wherever life takes me, and I hope that whatever I experience can enrich your life in many ways as well.  Because this journey isn’t mine alone.

More next Saturday!

RICK

🎬 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfX3c8A5hKPHuoKJZQMi0u9AZfpODdTy4
OUR CURRENT SITUATION: LIVING THE SPANISH LIFE! (AND EUROPE TOO!)