Hello! I want to get back into the rhythm of writing so here goes with a few more stories. Today I want to write about a few different topics. Airbnb, decluttering, travel and my current art inspiration Richard Claremont. And you get a special poetry bonus!

I have been sharing my home with my Airbnb guests for well over 10 years now. I personally love bringing travellers to my own space and enjoy meeting new people. I have had people come from all over the world. Sometimes there is a really great connection and we share food, take some outings together, play boardgames and generally have a great cultural exchange. I have not really had a bad experience on Airbnb, although some guests can be slightly more challenging then others. It is a push sometimes to share your personal space with others. But I think it teaches me to be more patient, more tolerant and I always learn new things. I have shared some delicious new meals, just recently my Korean house guest made a delicious hot pot dinner with noodles and tofu and beef and vegetables. We shared it with my past house guest who was from Hong Kong so it was quite the event! I love the extra income it brings me too as my main goal right now is to keep paying off my mortgage! I also enjoy staying in airbnbs around the world too and hope that I can go stay in a few more this year. 

Decluttering has become a slight obsession of mine recently. I love the vibe of clearing out and frequently go through the house to make space. I believe it is like an energy clearing too, out with the old and in with the new. Marie Kondo is my number one inspiration, the obsession with which she tidies is admirable, although somewhat unrealistic for most of us! Recently I have come across a new hack, to have an ongoing declutter bag, then once it is full take it straight to the op shop. Just as I was getting ready the other morning I randomly pulled out about 6 things that were just no longer working for me and bang straight in the bag! Winning! Less is more! Minimalism is the goal. To live with less, and want for less too. I want to spend my money on life experiences rather than things. 

Another radical thing I have done recently is put the TV in the wardrobe. I have not watched the TV in over 3 months now and I do not miss it all. I have so much free time in the evenings, to make art, enjoy a home cooked dinner, share a board game with my house guests or read, or even go out more. Removing this major box of distraction really opens the door for so many more productive things. I highly recommend it. Plus my anxiety about world events has been significantly reduced, ignorance is bliss so it turns out. I figure major news will filter back to me across the radio, or through my social feeds. The free time and quiet time far out weighs the constant drone of bad news emanating from that incessant screen. Once removed, it feels like an energy sucking vampire has been removed from the room. The room feels lighter and calmer and has more light. Try it and let me know how you go. 

I have not been travelling for sometime now and I am starting to feel a little itchy feet so to speak. With the world crisis and fuel prices, flights have escalated in price so that is off putting, but Asia is on our doorstep and I think flights there are still pretty reasonable. My current top travel destinations are South Korea and Japan. I would also like to get over to Europe again this year, Sweden, Italy, Latvia, and maybe Finland. I am currently fantasising about living in Europe for 3 months or so and immersing myself in art, writing and photography. Possibly in Latvia where my Father came from! We will see what the future brings. It would be lovely to stay with a local and have a good cultural immersion experience. I could even house or pet sit. The possibilities are endless. 

I came across Richard Claremont somewhere on my rabbit hole exploring one day.  I was immediately drawn to his wonderful use of colour, light and depicting real scenes with warmth, love and emotion. I loved so many of his artworks. Recently I purchased his self published hard cover book and I LOVE IT!! Every page has a story around his artwork and I feel very inspired to create something like this with my own art. I have included some of my favourite paintings of his here. Follow him on instagram for more inspiring art.  

He mentioned writing poetry too, and feeling inspired I decided to write a little poem last night. There may have been wine involved… 

RARE

Life is rare

Connection is rare

Rare is rare.

Life is one random concoction of ideas and dreams and energy all slamming into each other at once. Like two bodies creating you in the first place. 

Chances of success to create your soul and energy is rare. 

Make the most of rare, we only have one life.

That we remember.

Rare. Be more rare. 

Be raring to go.

Bare the rare and dare to not care and share the rare. 

Be more rare.

Rare.

As I walked yesterday afternoon I saw this word on a scuffed screwed bit of cardboard, and it stuck in my mind and percolated to create this random little poem. What do you think? 

I think that is enough writing for this one blog post. It has been fun to put this one together. I hope you are enjoying my writing again. 

Anita xx