CURRENT MISSION

Not sure about this...if I'm on a mission, it is to raise consciousness - both my own, and that of others.

ABOUT ME

I'm a fun-, peace- and harmony-loving, grateful person who regards as the greatest privilege the fact that I know how to consciously create the wonderful life I have. I like to live simply, slowly and sensuously, taking time to make whatever I do enjoyable, and being present as much as possible. Health and fitness are a priority. I like to write, to eat fresh, healthy (but also sweet and sinful) food, coax organic fruit and vegies out of my garden, spend time with friends, dance, read, explore the mysteries of the human psyche, laugh, reinforce and enlarge the capacity to be tolerant and loving, and show respect for the Earth.

PHILOSOPHY

I live my life to hone the ability to get glimpses of what the world must look like without the smeared lense of perception the years of unconscious living inevitably resulted in. An unobstructed view of sheer joy in being is ultimately the most pleasurable sensation I have had...among the many others. I want to maximize growth, fun, happiness, harmony and beauty wherever I am. I want to keep becoming a "better" person, to be able to choose to respond with kindness, even under duress. I want to get crystal clear on whatever may operate in me that works contrary to my intentions, and I want to assist others in getting clear. Because happy people don't destroy the planet.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

In addition to making friends when I myself am travelling, I want - primarily - to offer the beautiful space I live in to guests (when it is available), so that they can experience the gorgeous environment as part of their travel, and so that we can interact, share ourselves, and enrich each other's perspectives thus.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Impromptu couchSurfing happened when my partner at the time and I were stranded in L'Acquila, Italy, late at night, and a Middle-Eastern man who spoke neither German nor English (and we spoke no Italian), whom we asked for directions, led us to a cafe, indicating that we should wait. He went to get permission from an absent friend to install us in his appartment for the night. Khaled gave us that friend's bed, and spent the night on the floor, chaperoning us. I waited 4 years to be able to reciprocate, rescuing a Belgian musician from the midnight trainstation in Aachen, Germany. I took him to my one-bedroom appartment around the corner and gave him a mattress on the floor. I remember an hysterically funny breakfast, with anecdotes stitched together in 4 haltingly-spoken languages...and a CD he left with me of his highly experimental music.

Interests

psychology; anthroposophy; mind-body connection; living sustainably; Salsa and West Coast Swing; cycling; writing; surfing; language, languaging and languages.

• cats
• writing
• beauty
• perfumes
• dancing
• environment
• dining
• breakfast
• fitness
• gardening
• traveling
• music
• cycling
• surfing
• languages
• psychology

Music, Movies, and Books

I like books of the inspirational genre, but also other things....provided the language is beautiful and inspiring. The topic is less important than the sensitivity and intelligence with which the author packages his message. Favourite books: Out Of Africa(it is nothing like the film!); almost anything by Bruce Chatwin, Gillian Mears, Katherine Mansfield, John Updike. Music: spacey background music like Kruder und Dorfmeister, Nitin Sawhney, Mark Hollis...but also Red Hot Chilli Peppers, and good pop-music like Fergie's and Gwen Stefani's stuff.
I don't watch TV, but like movies that reveal the comedy and the the pathos of human relationships: Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress; Away from Her; The Barbarian Invasions.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I went to live in Germany with one suitcase, in a town where I didn't know anyone, stayed 13 years, created an extraordinary life, imbibed the language and the essence, and transformed. Then I came back.

Teach, Learn, Share

I have a reasonable understanding of health and nutrition, with a somewhat esoteric slant. I'm interested in learning as much as possible about conscious control of the body, especially with regard to healing. I have an extensive understanding of the mysteries of the psyche.

What I Can Share with Hosts

What I can share with hosts...I've not been a cs guest before, and so I can only anticipate I am going to demonstrate to any prospective host how a guest can behave like a cat: moving without disturbing the environment, and being engaging, but then absent without malice, because that's what cats just do.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Germany

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