I went on a pilgrimage the first weekend of June 2011.
A pilgrimage is generally defined as a journey in search of great moral or spiritual significance. It is often a path followed by devout and deeply religious people and I am, well, not religious but nonetheless, on a pilgrimage, I went.
My grandmother has been a devout Muslim all her life, not to mention the kindest angel that has ever walked the face of this earth. That’s right, my grandmother rocks the world of kindness like nobody’s business. If I close my eyes, I can watch her offering prayers to heaven and earth during her daily routines. One day, she went on her life-long pilgrimage to Mecca. She made a very long and hard trip on her own, nearly perished in the unfortunate night fires that ensued across all camps, and lived to tell us about her amazing experience.
How would you describe a love-induced, unforgettably rewarding, deeply spiritual, mildly earth-shattering, once in a lifetime gathering of a group of like-minded people coming together for a celebration?
I call it no less than a pilgrimage to a place the heart has longed to find all its life.
It describes what my grandmother felt during her pilgrimage and what I felt during the World Domination Summit in Portland. It is rare and it is subtle and it may even be open to mockery and ridicule but who cares when it is the most powerful experience of the heart and the soul? You know what you feel and that ought to be enough proof.
One day, I will find the adequate words to thank Chris Guillebeau for creating the experience for us, and my good friend Raam Dev who told me back in December that this is the one event I must attend, and my genius husband for putting me on a plane and shipping me off to Portland to “dominate the world.”
Transformation? Oh yes!
Revelations? Too many to count!
Changes? Making them as we speak!
Surprises? One after another!
Connections with others? Instantly, a magnetic pull like no other!
Learning? In a most subtle, new, and unexpected way.
Openness? Of the heart and mind – over and over and over again.
Energy? To the roof, and still going strong!
Weather? A miracle for Portland to host the sun and the breeze so long.
Happiness? Entirely possible to see it, embrace it and be still with it.
In not so short – as there will be other posts – the World Domination Summit rocked my world and turned it upside down and inside out in a very, very good way.
Never before have I met – or even envisioned a desire to meet – people who truly understand the deep yearning for a life of purpose, a life with meaning and a life lived completely on their own terms. Maybe your world runs on a different scale and in a more beautiful medium but to me, meeting people who understood me instantly was a rare chance – I am used to the uphill battles and utter failure when it comes to being understood – and this divine experience alone made the weekend unforgettable and unrepeatable in my mind.
In return, I found myself understanding others instantly. I kept reacting completely naturally to the shining diversity of these amazing stories overheard at WDS:
Of course you are walking across America. That makes perfect sense. Maybe I should walk more.
How brave and brilliant to own all of one bag – some 30 odd items – for your entire possession in this world. It makes traveling easier and you call everywhere your home.
Naturally, you are writing your own Best Seller and not going through the publishing industry, saving yourself two years, multiple rejections and who knows what else. Self-publish, baby and let it fly!
Totally smart to live in a new country every 3 months to learn the local language. Goodness, I need to get started on my Italiano sooner than later!
But of course you gave up your law degree from Harvard to travel the world and prefer it to your insane work schedule even with cockroaches the size of a golf ball roaming around your dirty hostel floors.
While I embrace your smart idea of driving to every roller coaster in America and riding it, I prefer to do that with every yoga studio. I have a lot longer to go, no doubt.
Of course you two smart kids dropped out of college to write what will be the most brilliant code and what is already changing the way we work and play.
No kidding you are going to travel around the world, live in a few different places, without stepping on an airplane, for 3 years – a bit challenging but entirely possible!
My dear new Irish friend, Niall Doherty, who is guilty of the last audacious statement above, said it best when he said that people here “get it”. That everyone seems to completely embrace the lifestyle of their dreams in all its simplicity and quirkiness and eccentricity and authenticity because the most genuine way to live is to do so with intention and purpose – your intention and your purpose, not someone else’s.
Living a life that is dictated by society’s standards and traditional pressures may or may not resonate with your heart and when it doesn’t, it is akin to being shackled to a lunatic with a mask of gold. It takes a long time to see it sometimes and even longer to break free and claim your own path in life.
But oh do break free!
Break free and live free. Find your own version of truth. Define your purpose and own up to it. Live smart but on your own terms and if that means making a radical change to get there, then so be it. Make one radical change or a thousand un-radical ones but make them so that you get there so that you live this way if only for a day.
What is the worst thing that can happen when you do the things that you really want to do? You can always, always find a way to do the things you have to do in order to survive but how many times do you live your life? Once, I do believe. Make it a good one. Now. Right now, baby!
Go on and dominate your piece of the world. I am off to dominating mine.
This is Post 1 of the World Domination Summit post series, a teaser to warm you up and pull you in. Here’s hoping that some of the inspiration and enthusiasm is rubbing off across the cyberspace and into your home and heart.
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{ 40 brilliant comments, Care to add another? }
I’m so happy for you to have experienced this, I know only too well what it means to live amongst people who can’t imagine anything but ‘safe’ choices in life (whatever those are) and dare not even imagine that there could be a different way – their own way. Really looking forward to more posts about this.
Hi dear Veronika, so nice to see you again! Thank you so much. Yes, I am so glad you feel that way. “Safe” gets very boring and old very soon but we still hold on to it. More posts to come on this soon. I will work hard to get them your way in the next few days.
Farnoosh,
I’m so happy to hear that this was such a transformative time for you! This was definitely an enticing post. When we get in charge of our own mind with spaciousness and humor, we will naturally dominate the world!
Hi Sandra, this was all that to say the least, yes. You know those feelings and perspectives much too well and so did Chris G. for setting up such an experience for all of us. Dominate on!
Being around you for such a short time on Sunday evening I could tell how big an impact the conference made on you.
“Break free and live free.” Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Hi Caleb, I remember you! I was beyond happy, what can I say? Especially by Sunday evening when we were – sadly – wrapping things up. Thanks for stopping by!
Hello Farnoosh!
I’m so glad you had such an epic experience. I would have expected no less from Chris and those people who are called to his cause. I’m looking forward for what’s to come. You definitely piqued my interest here!
Dearest Marlee, I wish I could have taken you with me to Portland. Epic is the word for it too and I don’t use my words lightly. Love your description and I will have more for you and everyone here on the summit. Hope to see your smiling face and feel your fabulous aura again soon!
Farnoosh, it was amazing to meet you. Your face didn’t stop smiling all weekend – no matter whether I saw you in the hotel lobby, eating brunch, or waltzing through the conference. Looking forward to reading more.
Matt, we had such a good time at Mother’s Bistro – I was so happy I had gunpowder tea! No, I didn’t stop smiling and being happy all weekend. It was magical! Thank you for the conversations and if I can do anything to support you, just give me a shout.
Love the spirit of this post Farnoosh. Full of the vivacity , magnificence and depth that results after pilgrimage
Layers change deep inside, don’t they. Can sense this here as you write so inspiringly of world domination, purpose and meaning. Haven’t yet embarked on a pilgrimage of world domination (and i hope to do so ) but have done Hajj !! And yes, one just trusts , and knows that all difficulty will cease to be difficulty as long as we choose to keep our eyes on our goals and of the brilliance of the road. Pilgrimages change on, like how the ocean bed changes so all the waves and the ocean changes..Looking forward to read the posts that follow.
Uzma, it’s been so long. How have you been? Thank you for bringing your poetry to my blog again – it’s so delightful to read. Oh it’s so good, so good to read your writing. Thank you for sharing. And I am very impressed that you have been to Mecca (right?) – I think that’s another word for it. Are you writing lately? I hope so. All the best.
Farnoosh,
This event sounds amazing! I’m so glad you were able to go. With so many brilliant people together in one place, the room must have been buzzing with energy!
Angela, I missed you and Aileen immensely. It was an incredible event. Energy is one word to describe it. I hope to see you again soon and I see you still show the old profile photo here – you haven’t changed your Gravatar yet? You must, you must! Thanks for stopping by.
You are so right!!! – “the most genuine way to live is to do so with intention and purpose – your intention and your purpose”
It sounds like an incredible experience. I’m glad this is only the first of a series. It’s going to be a great series – I can already see that.
Aileen, my sweet blogworld roommate, hi! Thank you for stopping here. I missed you in Portland. I better work hard not to disappoint with the series. I had only planned out Part 1 and a bit of Part 2
We’ll see!
I can see your beautiful smile when I read this post. You were on fire at the WDS and it was plain to see what an impact the event had on you.
I love your call to action to break free! This has been my message for the past few years- Break free from your pre-packaged life to create the kick-ass life of your dreams!
Rock on!
Leah
Leah, hi hi! So so nice to meet you. I was on fire – yes! What was it? I can’t understand where it came from! I looked at your blog and your about page and can see that you are indeed advocating a similar message. Thank heavens. I can’t spread this one alone
! Thanks for stopping at prolific living and come back anytime.
Farnoosh, not only did I feel a transformation myself, and all the positive energy of risk-takers and people who believe in seeing the world outside their own town, I also got to meet you.
That was an “awesome” experience: Chris’ favorite word.
Sonia, you know, I’ve been saying “awesome” to everything that has been going wrong or slightly wrong since getting home simple stuff, anything – AWESOME! It’s all awesome! And so was meeting you. Best of luck with the book.
Farnoosh, while I didn’t have the privilege of attending (and the more you keep gushing about it the more jealous I am!), you do a great job of enthusiastically conveying your own soul-transforming, paradigm-shifting, mind-blowing experience. These experiences are truly precious. I guess I need to go next year. Until then, keep soaring!
Hi Sean, is that a new profile photo? Very nice! Oh I will stop gushing, I am sorry but you have to see it through the end of the series, at least. I am so happy, though, that I can convey the depth of the experience in words. Maybe I see you next year. I haven’t yet decided as I may not be in the US at that time but we shall see. Keep soaring < Love it! Thank you.
I’m extremely happy for you, Farnoosh. Having a community is a big help for many. While my wife craves community, it is not essential for me. I have always run into people through my life that keep my momentum going. While I thoroughly understand your reasons for “chucking it all” and living life on your terms. I believe you can live your life on your terms in almost any circumstance. It’s about having integrity and being personally responsible for who you are and how you interact in and with the world around you. The biggest problem for most in a “normal” job is that many times, decision by decision, people make small concession to their life code and over time become too distant from where they should be. Cheers, my friend! I’m glad you like my beautiful NW. Please don’t tell EVERYONE how great it is. ;o)
Hi Vic, I LOVED Portland – I am going to shout it off the rooftops right now
. No, seriously, it is a great place the Northwest. Something magical about it. You are absolutely right in that we can choose to be happy and connected and true to ourselves in any situation – even if we are not in the ideal job. I did it for years. “people make small concessions to their life” – beautifully said. And the small becomes bigger every day. Thanks so much for sharing my excitement about all this and guess what, I can’t wait to go back to Portland with hubby!
Cool! Maybe someday Sylvia and I can meet you there.
That would be lovely. I was not nearly finished with taking in or rather inhaling all of Portland so a return trip, we shall make
!
Farnoosh,
Nice piece. I’ve often wondered to myself as to what is a more free society; aborigines in South America such as the Mayans living a subsistence lifestyle from raw materials & natural resources available to them right outside their dwelling or our so-called “first world” countries where one’s life could ultimately be summarized as economic slavery. I see the light at the end of the tunnel but for now I’m stuck with a foot in both worlds. Happy to see you break free.
Hi dear Triple, thank you. Gosh, this is the most intriguing comment. I do not know how to reply. It gives me a lot to think about. Well, now that I’ve broken the chains of “economic slavery” to some extent, I am starting to like the idea of those Mayans more and more
but I do need some form of infrastructure and society around me. I know myself enough to know and believe that. Breaking free from the economic slavery though, that I can work on even more. How about you? Thanks for sharing!
What a cool event to attend. I am going to have to read your WDS series so I can pick your brain. Can’t wait to read more. I am going to dominate my world now. What’s the worst thing that could happen? I could fail. No big deal.
Hi Meg, working on post #2. Go dominate your world. Much fun that WDS was, you don’t need a summit to tell you to do it. Hey, the worst thing, Danielle La Porte said, is she promised you won’t die
! She was fun. And failure, who are we not to fail? Let’s get it out of the way so we make room for nothing but massive success. Lovely to see you here.
Farnoosh, I am so pleased to have met and talked with you throughout the WDS weekend. You immediately struck me as such a kind and warm-hearted person – and I can see here that your writing shines as you do! Thanks for sharing this story
Hi dear Nick, my new Kiwi friend, I was delighted to see you throughout the weekend and it was such a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Thank you so much for your kind words, and as I promised, in Wellington, we shall meet, perhaps I will break my no-coffee rule again because nowhere else does coffee taste better than New Zealand (and I’ve been a few places here and there
)!. Thank you for stopping here.
Hiya Farnoosh,
I didn’t get to go to this event, but I’ve been on a bit of a spiritual pilgrimage of my own, and I totally agree with you. There’s a special energy that’s created when like minded individuals, who all care more about their happiness than following the status quo get together. And since you can only be brought together with people that match your vibration in some way, the Universe divinely orchestrates the perfect community for you to meet. Argh! Right, I have to go plan my next trip now…
Hugs,
Melody
Dear Melody, hi!
You described it perfectly – a special energy for all the reasons you state. Oh I do need another trip like this too but you know what, Melody, I am convinced it will never ever repeat again, and even if WDS happens next year as it is being planned to happen, I doubt that this particular gathering and energy will come about more than once. So glad you know what I am talking about and here’s to your next fabulous trip. Thanks for commenting.
Thanks for writing such a great post and bringing back the WDS chills for me, Farnoosh. Meeting you was truly one of the highlights of my weekend in Portland. You radiated joy and energy and happiness. Please never stop
And thanks for the mention!
Niall, my dear, dear friend, you truly inspired some of the conversation here – when you said it, I knew that’s what I was hearing in my head. None of those confessions of pursuing a crazy, unconventional life sounded strange. In fact, it sounded so very right. I hope we meet again very soon. I’ll be keeping a close eye on you and no intention of changing now that I have finally come into myself!
Cheers!
Great post, Farnoosh. I had a lot of fun pedaling around Portland with you. Your story – like so many others – inspired me a lot. It’s great to see that you’re still excited. Keep on rocking the world! You’re doing a fantastic job!
Gerhard, it was *so* nice to ride along with you, albeit at the back of the pack. I didn’t care. I loved Portland so much and we could not have asked for better weather that day. Your story is just as unique and I am very – very – proud of you for pursuing your passions around history. Where is your blog link? Or are you planning to create one later? Thank you so much for saying hello here and keep in touch!
How frickin’ awesome is this! Not only have you been on a pilgrimage across the world to Portland, Farnoosh, but you’ve also met some amazing people to hook up with for a long time after. That’s what I’d call a success!
What I like even more is that you have some amazing people who helped you make the pilgrimage in the first place. It’s been said that our future is defined by the people who we choose to spend time with, and it’s clear to me that you’ve got a pretty bright future ahead of you
Dear Stuart, thank you so much. You could not have said it better – amazing people to get me there and amazing people that I met there. I think the least I can do is live up to the promises of that future and also share the event in all its glory – much as possible – here with my readers. So glad you enjoyed it and thank you for all the kind, kind words here.
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