Norman Mailer Quote

Norman Mailer is credited with saying; "Every moment of one's existence one is growing into more or retreating into less. One is always living a little more or dying a little bit."

This is a brilliant way to describe a move to live in Jamaica.

I have been listening to the book The 4 Hour Work Week, and the author , Tim Ferris, advocates a life in which one travels to spend time in the countries of ones' choice, and he makes the point that we should think about loving the life we want now, rather than much later.

His book describes a plan for how to live that life, step by step.

Of course, a Jamaican looking to return home could pick up and use a lot of what is in that book, and I recognize some of the moves I made in my move back home in the steps that he took to unplug himself from the corporate world.

He also talks about the rapid expansion of mind and spirit that comes from extended travel, and from spending time in a new country.  He contrasts that with the Kamikaze vacations that most people are forced to take in the 2 weeks they get each year.  Many Jamaicans returning home for Christmas in a few weeks will be taking such trips.

Some will take off from Norman Manley like I used to do after Christmas and as the plane circles over the mountains they'll feel a lump in their throat, and a tear will fall down their cheek as they leave their true homes.

A small number will have the courage to do what Ferris says, and realign their lives with their values.  Instead,  most will take the path of least resistance, and overrule their hearts with logic, and tell themselves that they can never return.

A small number will take a step to grow into more, and live a little more, and find a way to put themselves on a path to return home.