This is perhaps the hardest words to write ever. And I've written millions of words in my life.
They are hard to write because they represent at hope, and a future. A dream coming true.
My name is Annette, I am Danish and have been living in Italy since 1997. I am a business mentor and have been helping people all over the globe to become better business people.
Over the years, I've started to purge - my closet, my shelves, my habits, my mind. The road towards being more content with less has been long and winding, and has taken me to a life I knew nothing about:
The life as a lay person at a Buddhist monastery.
Since June 2023, I've repeatedly been a guest at one of the biggest Theravada Forest Tradition monasteries here in Europe. It has been eyeopening for my scientific brain, soothing for my aching heart, and quieting for my spirit longing for peace.
During my last retreat, the longest so far, I found out that my body which has had a particularly harsh period lately, was entering a new rhythm.
Or should I say, it was finding its natural rhythm again:
- getting up early
- eating frugally (and thus shedding a bit of "fluff")
- going to bed early
- living in the here and now, without too many worries
has brought unexpected benefits for me, also after my return to "the outer world".
My body would benefit from a retreat.
My mind would, too.
It would furthermore be the perfect way of finally getting to write the book I've been wanting to write since I was 6 years old...
If only I could take six months out of the calendar...
Then I could go on a long retreat.
I could write the book.
I could...
"But if I don't work, then how on Earth do I manage? I live frugally but the bills, taxes and rent don't pay themselves...?"
This question has kept tormenting my spirit - I had no answer to it.
It was a dear friend who gave me an answer I hadn't thought of. To make a GoFundMe.
But how do you do that? How do you go to people asking for them to fund your needs?
I don't know. BUT...I know that whatever happens, I won't regret trying this method. Even if I'm not at all good at asking for help.
My promise to you - if you decide to fund me - is that
- I will rest and heal as much as I can while at the monastery
- I will take time to pin down the most important lessons learned during my long experience with "decluttering"
- I will share those experiences with you, if you want to keep updated
- I will, in the end, write my book, my first book, as I think that there might be more than one waiting in the wings
- I will NOT worry about how to pay the bills, taxes and rent
The funds will be used for exactly this. For the expenses I have outside of the monastery. Anything else I will provide for myself, in one way or the other.
I feel that this could be the way to finally write the book and thus make my first ever dream come true.
And as I am learning to trust in the process, I will believe that something good will come from this.
With gratitude for anything you are able to offer,
Annette
Organizer
