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17. I’m so freaking frustrated – the world is broken

The World is Broken

(The picture above doesn’t reflect this post in any way, shape or manner…I felt I needed to add a picture to make this whole post a bit more upbeat!)

The symptoms of stress are definitely rearing their ugly head.

Since returning from our sea trials and survey in Palma, Mallorca my right eye keeps vibrating – or blinking without me doing it. I’ve been told that it’s caused by caffeine, low potassium levels, or lack of sleep. It’s driving me nuts. I find it hard to read and just going throughout my day is difficult. My vision is definitely impaired.

Furthermore, I woke up this morning feeling sickly. And thinking back, I think I went to bed feeling a bit sickly. And thinking even further back, before we went to view the boat I was up ill during the night and got sick 3 times!

Perhaps I’m missing something in my diet? Or perhaps I’m eating something that is disagreeing with me? Or perhaps it’s my mental state causing all these effects? All of the above – probably!

Nerves – I’m sure so much comes down to nerves/stress. Perhaps I need to just go out and have some fun? Yes, I just came back from Palma where we spent three days of ‘fun’ but it was stressful fun. In fact, it was more stressful than it was fun.

Once we’re on the boat I’ll be happier.

I keep thinking that once we’re on the boat, life will become less stressful but I’m not happy with that line of thought. If I’m stressed now, I’ll be stressed later. I wish I could just flip a switch and become laid back, easy-going and peaceful about life regardless of my eye twitching, my tummy feeling queazy, or the latest update on our sell up and sail plans.

On the flip side, hubby and I keep saying with a smile, ‘I can’t wait to get on the boat!’ and from that perspective, we’re finding it easier to shed this current life. The weather is getting cold and rainy in England. I’m finding that my normal routine is getting tiresome – I go to the same coffee shop every morning and listen to the same music they play. I’m tired of it all – the same sights, same music, same passers-by with the same issues.

Are our frustrations healthy?

Having the ability to really get frustrated about our current life will help make it easier to transition over to our new life. I just want to ensure we shed the frustration when we go. I know that the grass isn’t greener – been there and have done that. Your problems, frustrations, and issues go with you where ever you run to!

I feel, however, that our frustrations are good ones and for the most part, we’re taking action now to address them. In fact, they might actually be coping mechanisms to make everything progress in the best way for us?!

Not to labor the point, but I wonder if things would get done without frustration or the need for a change? If you think about it, the whole reason we’re selling up and sailing away comes down to frustration.

I’ve been frustrated with what society calls living a normal life.

Normal life seems broken to me. In fact, every sector in the world seems misaligned or misguided. Just allow me a few thoughts about education, the news industry, and healthcare (if you care to read on).

The education system appears to be broken.

I’m really perplexed by the education system (for my daughter). The system flat out doesn’t put the child first by any means. It’s an institution that is seriously broken – the objectives laid out are all about passing exams and ensuring kids can memorize information rather than learn. Did you know that subjects are broken down into Math, English, Science, and History for the simple reason of testing! The reason kids don’t understand how algebra will benefit them is that they learn it in isolation – it’s not contextualized!

Imagine an education where the child can learn all the main subjects based on their core interests. For example, my daughter is interested in her doll’s house now – I can use that as a prop and teach her all the subjects within a context or framework. Anyway, I’m finding that schools kill the excitement and enthusiasm about learning that is natural in children. Actually – I experienced first hand myself!

The news is depressing.

What else am I tired of? Well…I’m tired of the news – I don’t watch it but it still filters through to me. Although the older generation tells me that it’s my role as a citizen to ‘be informed about what’s going on in the world,’ my heart tells me that it’s really not that important. Furthermore, when I watch it I never come away feeling good. Why participate in an activity that actually makes me feel bad? That doesn’t make sense.

And what about the broken medical system?

I’m tired of the medical system – am I the only person that thinks reactive care is so much more harmful and expensive than proactive care? I could go on for days about this…but the reason people are sick comes down to their mental/emotional/physical state, the food they eat, and chemicals they’re exposed to. All three of those things can be addressed BEFORE a person becomes ill. Prevention… cure the cause, not the effect.

What else should I rant about while I’m on a roll?

Should I touch on the banking system? Or what about the governments of the world? No…I’ll just get wound up more than I am already.

Why am I frustrated?

Well – the mainstream world is broken and I don’t want to focus my energy on broken systems anymore.

I want to discover new systems – and there are loads of them out there! I want to consciously create my life and stop being a sheep just following the herd of complacency and ignorance. There are thousands of people creating new offerings – new products and services that make sense.

We have a choice!

Regarding my daughter’s education, I’m so excited to find that there are hundreds of support groups and thousands of resources for home-schoolers. I didn’t like school and my husband hated it. Hubby was dyslexic, yet they didn’t know what dyslexia was at the time. He was told he would never amount to anything and would be lucky to ever get a job. I was told something similar. Most of my teachers gave up on me. And from the social perspective, I found my days filled with fear. Would I get picked last for the gym exercise? Would someone make fun of me? Would I get bullied? Would I have to stick up for someone being bullied?

To choose a different way for my daughter I’m going to give home-schooling a go because our sell up and sail plans are forcing that to happen. And I’m really pleased about that!

There’s loads of good news…the media just doesn’t report on it.

The news? Well, again I’m happy to report that there are thousands of sources of good news. There are websites, blogs, and syndications sending out the positive, inspiring, exciting news. If you think about it, 99.9% of the world has positive news on a daily basis. Why not get a daily intake of that rather than the 0.1% that is bad.

Yes people die, there are earthquakes and the cost of electricity is always on the rise. It’s not that I don’t care…I do care – especially if people are suffering. What I’m saying is that I want to focus on the people that live, those that work to save people from earthquakes, and the many that are creating self-generating power sources. Most ‘bad’ news actually has the power to be positive or will have a positive side to it but the media fails to bring that into focus.

You get what you focus on so I’m choosing to say no to the 0.1% of the ‘bad’ stuff and going out and living life enjoying the good stuff.

As far as the medical world goes, I think the emergency services are amazing and much needed. If I break my arm, I want someone to help me! And when I had a baby I was so happy to have amazing midwives with me to manage the experience. Beyond things like that, however, there are so many ways to be proactive and get our bodies and minds in a good, healthy place.

It’s all about educating ourselves and TAKING RESPONSIBILITY for our health. The alternative and complementary health fields have been growing massively in recent years and there’s a good reason for it. Nonevasive offerings like acupuncture, chiropractors, nutritionists, and so forth can help individuals with many health issues.

My family and I are now eating a diet of meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, and nuts/seeds. We’ve cut out most processed foods and avoid gluten. Just Google gluten and read a few websites on what it does to your body – it’s scary!!! I’ve said ‘no more’ to fuel for my body with ‘bad’ news and ‘bad’ food! And mental/physical health – there are so many places to turn for assistance on that.

It’s not like the information on being healthy and happy isn’t available. The problem is that too many people are blaming everyone around them for their misery rather than taking charge of their own life. You can consciously create your life and it can be the most amazing life imaginable (and it can get better and better) but the only way for that to happen is to wake up and start figuring out what works and doesn’t work for you.

Amen.

Next Chapter: 18. Saying goodbye to my old routines and old lifestyle

Previous Chapter: 16. What does homeschooling, the paleo diet, writing, and photography have to do with sailing?

Or…if you’d like to carry on reading all about our journey from selling up and sailing away, you can purchase my book, ‘Changing Lifestyles – Trading the Rat Race in For A Sail Around The World,’ 

Changing LifestylesREADER REVIEW
"I finished your book this week and absolutely loved it! It was great to read about your early days in many places we also sailed. I loved the way you combined your blogs/real life scenarios with advise on boat maintenance, letting go of your previous life and about your honestly throughout. I enjoy your style of writing Kim, and I loved the little Sienna quotes." Jayne Eames-Thornton, s/v Delphinus
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Comments

  1. Jen says

    February 26, 2014 at 9:49 am

    But, despite all these wrongs in the world, you have found the strength and determination to do what you want and grab life with both hands!

    Unfortunately, there will always be wrongs, and lots of them, but individually we can all try to do right by ourselves and those around us. Those who choose not to take charge of their own lives are the ones that will suffer, we shouldn’t suffer on their behalf, but enjoy the choices we make for ourselves.

    Great post 🙂

    Reply
    • Kim Brown says

      February 26, 2014 at 7:37 pm

      Thank you so much for your feedback Jen! That means a lot to me. Great words of encouragement. 🙂

      Reply
  2. how to cancel google plus account says

    June 26, 2014 at 9:34 am

    Today, I went to the beachfront with my kids.
    I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She put the shell to her ear and screamed.

    There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched
    her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is entirely off topic but I had to tell someone!

    Reply
    • Kim Brown says

      June 26, 2014 at 12:12 pm

      That’s hysterical. Thank you for sharing! Hehehehehe

      Reply
  3. Wendi says

    July 25, 2014 at 3:30 am

    I just found your site and I’m devouring it. My husband and I are preparing to leave the rat race and sail. Sell and Sail, I call it! I was recently diagnosed with Cealiacs and have to avoid gluten at all costs. I am researching how hard it will be to sail and be gluten free. I imagine it will be easier in countries where I speak the language and if I don’t I can just cook or eat fruit and veggies and meat. I am concerned about dining with other sailors, as the sailing community loves potlucks and sharing. How do you handle being gluten free abroad? (I haven’t read much of your site yet so I apologize if you have already posted about this.) look forward to hearing more about your journeys!:-)

    Reply
    • Kim Brown says

      July 29, 2014 at 3:58 pm

      Hi Wendi. Where are you planning on starting from? The Med is full of shops with Gluten free goods. In Italy, the pharmacies carry gluten free bread, pasta, etc. And in Greece, you can find it in the shops. I just stock up when I find it. That being said, I’ve found that the bread in the Med doesn’t bother me as much as the bread in American or the UK. Of course it goes off quickly, but it’s lacking all the chemicals. For the most part, we all eat salads, cheeses, meats and fruit. Bread is always around but it’s not a staple. As far as sharing goes – make gluten free stuff and everyone will enjoy it. And then just be choosey as to what you eat. Loads of people are off gluten now so I think you’ll find that it’s not that difficult to avoid it!!!! I wish you the very best with your plans and look forward to enjoying some gluten free pasta with you on the seas! Big smiles, Kim

      Reply

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Changing Lifestyles: Trading in the Rat Race for a Sail Around The World (my book). Chapters:

  • 1. That’s it – I’m selling everything and sailing around the world!

  • 2. Oh crap – Are we healthy enough to sail around the world?

  • 3. House sold, price on yacht almost negotiated – just need temporary housing now!

  • 4. Before I sell up and sail away I need to clean out my closet (in many ways)

  • 5. Getting the boat of our dreams – will we or won’t we?

  • 6. Negotiations 56 Oyster Yacht have finished but not without massive pain

  • 7. Everything was going well until we got this phone call…

  • 8. Quick, quick – we need to sell our current boat. We need a place to live. We need to…

  • 9. My new normal and dealing with giving up all our possessions

  • 10. Going from sailing Selene to selling Selene so we could afford to buy our 56′

  • 11. Sea trials and the survey – the night before we meet our dream yacht

  • 12. Hours before we meet our new yacht…our new home!

  • 13. Sea trials on the Oyster 56 were a success – we love her!

  • 14. Getting a yacht lifted out for a Marine Survey

  • Extra: Sell Up and Sail Away Video – Sea Trails & Survey

  • 15. After sea trials and the survey I ran a marathon (accidentally)

  • 16. What does homeschooling, the paleo diet, writing, and photography have to do with sailing?

  • 17. I’m so freaking frustrated – the world is broken

  • 18. Saying goodbye to my old routines and old lifestyle

  • 19. Life has slowed way down – is it the calm before the storm?

  • 20. A lesson on stopping the ‘what-if’s’ from taking over my life!

  • 21. Serious issue – we can’t take our yacht to Barcelona, Spain as planned – YIKES!

  • Extra: Sell Up and Sail Away Video 2 – Our thoughts, feelings and move day!

  • 22. The day before we purchase our 56′ Oyster

  • 23. My first trip on our new yacht – Dolphins included!

  • 24. Feeling excited, sick, and in awe are not mutually exclusive when sailing on the seas

  • 25.Things got worse

  • Extra: Sell Up and Sail Away Video 3 – Palma Mallorca to Gibraltar

  • 26. Sell up and sail away preparations – we successfully took possession of your new yacht

  • 27. Preparation for our around the world sailing trip couldn’t get more exciting!

  • 28. Two months to go before we set sail for our world adventure

  • 29. We got a gun, but not the kind you’re probably thinking of

  • 30. The contrast of sailing around the world and cancer

  • Extra: The reason I decided to sell up and sail away (video)

  • 31. Courses, becoming British, putting our remaining possessions on a pallet and what else?

  • Extra. No – we did not win the lottery!

  • 32. Less than 3 weeks to go before we sail off into the sunset

  • 33. Ten days to go before we set sail on our grand adventure

  • 34. Will this sailing adventure turn me into a dreadlocked, pot smoking, whale saver?

  • 35. In 2 days we will set sail around the world sailing adventure

  • 36. Leaving Gosport England today to start on our around the world sailing adventure

  • 37. Life aboard our new yacht with the BBC, Daily Mail and Times in tow

  • 38. Feeling amazing, scared, overwhelmed and useless

  • 39. Sailing Gibraltar To Malta

  • 40. I’m honoured to introduce Loryn Bennett – Britican’s Chef

  • 41. I still can’t even believe this is happening

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