Writer's block or observation overload?!

I've been struggling to find a quiet place to get my thoughts on paper. Just clear my head of all the insights and epiphanies and stories. But no matter if I try a quiet cafe, a busy cafe, the beach, the hostel common area - everywhere I go I could not calm my mind. Could not calm my eyes. Maybe the yoga tent. But that's for a different t purpose. Then I realize, there are just too many sounds to distract me and no matter what I am just not going to get away from it. My only option might be the library but I'm not sure that is a good environment for creative writing. Then it hit me! A few times during the five weeks j was doing my writing class I listened to instrumental music while writing and the words just flew out! Immediately, I took action. After getting a new WiFi code, sitting on the jagged ground at the back of the hostel (where reception is best) j downloaded three different instrumental music stations from Google play. Now they are in my phone and I have then always. Which should mean that u can write anywhere at anytime. Just quiet the world around me and jump inside. Then pull it all out to share with this outside world. Come back to my surrounding, soak up more experiences and gain new insights, then repeat. This just might work!

I want to work on some big projects today,  but first I figured I'd throw some thoughts down here. But I'm not sure I have much. Byron Bay has been a place of refuge for me. I've broken through a lot of things that control me - spending money, gaining weight, intense workouts, doing stuff rather than doing nothing. These are things that are battle with eah day. But here in Byron I am putting down my sword and choosing not to fight.

There is a lot of delicious food out here and I'd rather sit at a cafe and try a new concoction and people watch then sit at the hostel with a bland meal I can out together any day of the week, so I eat out. A lot. It costs a lot of money. Oh well. I'll make more in the future. I'll spend less later on. It'll sort itself out. Along these lines, I usually am watching my weight, don't want to eat too much, don't want to eat unhealthy foods. But if I'm craving something sweet, I get the gluten free vegan carrot cake. I already surfed and did yoga today anyway! If I'm craving something salty, I get the sweet potato chips! They go so well with a glass of red wine and a busker (street performer). I normally would make sure to get an intense hike, long walk or run into each day. But here, here in Byron Bay, I do yoga everyday. I walk into town and back a lot, usually along the beach. I surf when I have people to surf with. And if I feel like I've done everything I wanted to do already, I'll just lay in the sand and, well, I'll fall asleep. The sand feels so much like Carmel Beach sand I think my body just reacted as such - oh this is the stuff we sleep on in the afternoons, right? Cool, laters. Or if there is a long late night ahead, I'll just hang around the hostel, snack, drink my instant lattes, and write. Maybe I'll go for a bike ride. At the least I'll go for a run or walk down the beach before I shower up. But no pressure. Just be me. Just do what feels right, right now. Just embrace Byron.

Embracing Byron also encompasses being a total dirty hippie. I love everyone's hair here. Everyone has curly or wavy hair that likely is likely only washed once or twice a week, but had that awesome touch from the salty sea water. I fit right in. I usually feel like my hair stands out form the crowd - not here. I'm just another woman with long wavy locks.

Where I don't fit it is the stylish adorable summery clothing or the early twenty girls. There is a lot of attractive people here - I think mainly the women, although maybe I just haven't been checking out the dudes enough. You'll see me wandering down the street in my running tights, or my Texas shorts, an old tank or T-shirt. And the outfit doesn't change drastically at night. Tonight I'm actually planning on going out, and my cutest outfit is what most would wear to a day at the beach. Oh well. I'm not here to impress anyway. I'm just here to be here and to be me and find me and maybe make a few connections along the way. Which I am!

Last night I was out with two New Zealand born mates. How I met them is hilarious and weird, but awesome. I wanted to stay at this Airbnb hours because it was cheap, a bit outside of town, and the host said he'd take you surfing and/or fishing. I didn't score the place, but the host messaged me and we talked about surfing together at least. He ended up heading to NZ shortly after I arrived, but I said if any of his friends is interested in an adventure buddy feel free to share my info. Well, he did. Met his buddy for beers, then music last night. Sweet as.

At this point I feel as though I've been blabbing away for hours but in all honesty in just glad I'm getting something out. I miss having a laptop for writing. A part of me feels I should dump the tablet and get a Chromebook for the NZ leg of my trip. But I'm not sure about that. I do know j want to write a lot more. And I guess if I write better in a device rather than paper I need to accept it and go for it. Not sure why that's the case though. Maybe it outs in my head instantly that there is an audience. All my writing to an audience has been on a computer, whereas I've been journaling for years and tht stuff is just private. So maybe pen to paper internally to me means private blah blah of words. I play around with it today.

Alright, I'm gonna peace out for now. Please send words of encouragement for me to keep writing, even if you find this boring. I just need it. Thanks!

Cheers,
Travellin' Tash

P.S. I might a journalist out at the cafe right next to my hostel the other night. We were both out to see some music, both solo, and both from Cali. She overheard me talking to some Aussies (one of which is a radio show host) and she basically came and hit on me. "I couldn't help but overhear..." It was awesome. We had a wonderful evening, I picked her brain on a journalism career and how to get there, she invited me to go surfing in the morning. Match made in...Byron.

The End. Orrrrr the beginning...