There was a point in my life where I was forced to watch EVERY game of soccer. Every single one of them – it was my job. Having a world cup contract has its perks (travel, an international crowd, and of course, money). But it also has the downside: you actually have to watch soccer (call it football if you must).
Back in South Africa in 2010, I tried to spice up my job (and my life) and swore that I would flightlessly travel from Australia and move to whichever country won.
(Needless to say, I was rather relieved when North Korea dropped out of the runnings).
Suddenly the games became so much more interesting. I kept wondering how my future was going to pan out.
Being half Dutch, I was fully supporting the Netherlands. But, being a sun-chaser meant I would prefer a country with a sunnier disposition. And, when Spain won the final, I was not too disappointed.
I thought my journey would take 2 years… but the world is full of beautiful distractions!
I learned to sail (it’s the only way to properly cross oceans).
I learned to cycle tour (it’s the best way to insert natural dopamine into a journey).
I became flipping good at hitchhiking – public transport (and needing to be in set locations at specific times) is tedious!
After three years and a zillion detours, I joined a boat that was sailing to Spain and it looked like my journey was finally going to be complete… we were pirated off the coast of Brazil.
In a twist of fate and plans, I hopped on a tiny sailing boat without a toilet.
We heard the cheers of the first world cup game as we sailed out of Columbia and began our Pacific crossing.
And after loosing the rigging and drifting at sea, we missed everything else. (Soccer was the furtherest thing from our minds).
After more than 4 years, I wound up back in Australia, where I’d started.
And then life became such a crazy adventure that I forgot about my mission. There wasn’t even a goal anymore, there was just “The Road”.
In 2018, I had more plan changes and accidentally crossed the Atlantic for the third time, sailing into Morocco. Needing to find a job to feed my anorexic bank account, I found a boat heading to Europe.
I sat down in Malaga to sip my countrily beer (every country should begin with a beer, no matter the time of day).
There was a big screen in the corner, and I ignored it at first, but hey- it turned out it was World Cup time again. And I’d arrived just in time to watch Spain play Portugal. I cried. Without even remembering my mission, I’d achieved what I set out to do 8 years earlier!
As a sailor, I thought Mallorca was going to be home and started to hitchhike towards there. But hitchhiking in Spain is horrible and I got dragged further and further away from it. I kept my wits and my eyes open – scouting the coast for a place that felt like home.
But Spain didn’t seem to want me. It seemed intent on sending me to a little country nestled in its armpit.
It took 5 minutes in Portugal to feel the air shift to one that my lungs loved. And while I tried to force things to how I thought they needed to pan out, Lagos intervened and pulled me like a magnet.
And it has done that time and time again – every time I leave, it draws me back.
Last night, as I cycled home from a party on the beach, I realised that it was the night of the final and somehow, I had successfully missed every single game. I also had a weird feeling that maybe Spain had won, again… and that I would have somehow come a full circle.
This morning, that was confirmed.
And while I planned to sit at this café sorting out my life*
I needed to start with a blog.
You see, life really is such a crazy, beautiful adventure.
And against all odds, soccer completely changed my life!
My small wager to illuminate boredom, took me around the world twice. It taught me more skills and lessons than university ever did. It filled my life with so much beauty and even more importantly, so many exceptional legends. (Thank you for being on my path, wherever we met!)
It taught me how resilient we are and how much we are capable of.
It taught me how to make death blink. And, all those near brushed with the Grim Reaper reminds me that EVERY day is a gift!
We can make all the plans we like, but we are still going to end up where we need to be.
We are always where we need to be!
So, this morning, as I sit in Lagos. I am sitting in gratitude, remembering so much of the journey of life.
Thank you for being a part of this beautiful planet.
Thank you for being a part of my life!
My beating heart is so full! (And yes, I want to share the overflow!)
*Anyone hiring? (in Lagos, on-line, or short-term in a place that has real wages?)
Anyone have cash I can BORROW to buy a sailing boat?
Anyone know the best way to short-track affordably to getting a Yachtmaster?
Anyone have advice on how to get your first customers to get your business running?
