The Conversationalist

Dear family and friends,

Hello my darlings! This week I write you from the bustling city of Sydney, Australia’s national capital biggest city. The region is experiencing unseasonably chilly temperatures, but the people have been nothing but warm and welcoming. So the universe is balanced.

On Friday, my Australian hostess with the most-est (the divine Edda Lampis) and I departed Lismore on a slow moving train. As we were rolling along through the picturesque rolling hills of New South Wales, I had a sudden realization that it was the first time in twelve months that I had taken an extended journey with a companion. It was lovely to have the company of a friend: to share meals and jokes and wrestling sessions, as well as to not worry about my possessions when I went to the bathroom. I love to travel by myself, but I love to travel with friends.

Yesterday I went solo once again, and bummed around Sydney, visiting the Botanical gardens and walking around the harbor. At one point I sat and gazed across the water to the Opera House. Twelve years ago, I visited Australia as a somewhat lost and confused backpacker, and I remember feeling overwhelmed by Sydney. I remember feeling lost and overwhelmed by life.

I had big emotions once more. Maybe that will always be my relationship to the Opera House – it is, after all, an emotive structure. Again I looked at the white-sailed architectural gem through tear-streaked eyes, but the core emotions were not coming from a place of pain or confusion. Instead the sentiments revolved around joy and appreciation and general awe of the world, as well as gratification in my own personal progress.

I’ve come a long way, Baby.

As the end of the year approaches, I am noticing an augmentation in activity in my tear ducts. This is, of course, correlated to the looming conclusion of my journey. I’ve come to a big decision about what I need to conclude this journey. And I think it’s best that you know now. The closure will involve much needed internal work and space to reflect. And to achieve and optimize the potential of this internal work, my intuition tells me that it might be best to step away from the camera and the computer and the Internet. It’s time to wrap it up.

I have now traveled around the world. But the final voyage shall be to the place inside me where all of these incredible experiences rest in a mess of wonderment and overwhelmedness and perplexity and gratitude. It is a space that is terrifying, yet rich in potential.

And so the broadcast portion of this journey will end next week. I’m approximating that December 18th will be my final Letter Home, as well as the concluding video, dernier shared photograph, last tweet and Facebook update finale for the year.

All things end, or at least take different form, and so must this journey.

Rest assured, however, that this is not the termination of my social media presence. I’ll be back in January in various forms. And I’ll be eagerly forming the memoir of my yearlong expedition across the globe.

Thanks for your understanding and continued support.

With love from Sydney,

xoxo

Daniel

PS: This afternoon, Edda and I went to Cockatoo Island to wander through a large-scale installation of urban street art. We found costumes in a dumpster! Check out the video action.

Related posts: