Can a dot in the map change your life?

Life plays games they say! There was a certain period in my life, more than 10 years ago, full of signs, that made me change my whole perspective. We were still living with @fotostef in Athens and I was working in a big advertising agency, having no time to do anything but work. I knew that this was not for me, I clearly felt I needed to slow down. Sometimes you have to take weird turns in order to go to your destination. It all makes sense now, even this job :) I was never interested in a big career, but it was an experience I had to go through and I am glad I did.

I couldn't stand that lifestyle and although I wasn't sure at all about what I was going to do, I decided to quit and after a while I started working in a small bookstore that some amazing people had. Suddenly I was working in a calm environment and I had all the time for myself. I started reading books again, taking care of my nutrition and myself, having fun. It was great and... I wanted more :)

At that certain period a beautiful soul, a writer, a true lover of nature, published his first novels, a tribute to the connection with nature and it was a bliss to discover and read. And through this writer, I was introduced to the books of Masanobu Fukuoka, a Japanese farmer/philosopher, founder of natural farming. Have you heard of him? Have you read his books and studied his work? If yes, then you probably know what happened to me cause it might have happened to you as well :)

I think that this is when I deeply realized that I had never lived in a natural environment, instead I had spent the biggest part of my life in an artificial world. And I desperately needed to change it. Some of you already know that I am an organic farmer now, but how did this happen? The seed was already inside me by then, and a small island came on my way and made it all clear. Well, obviously I was not alone, together with @fotostef we were going through the same phase and encouraged each other to go further and further :)

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_{Source nisyrosgeopark.gr}

Nisyros is a very small volcanic island in Aegean sea. It is round, like a dot at the map. Instantly attracted just by looking at it, I booked tickets. I am pretty spontaneous and I am glad I trusted my intuition. We were ready to spend a couple of weeks there, that became a month and finally that was the place where we took the decision that we were going back to Athens only to pack and move out (in reality it took us 7 months to make it happen). We didn't know where we would go, but for some reason we were pretty confident :)

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I love synchronicity. The books of Masanobu Fukuoka, a constant call to slow down and connect with nature, the sea of Nisyros, living on a volcano and feeling for the first time in my adult life the heartbeat of Earth, the smell of the herbs, the idea of natural farming growing inside us and a simple, minimalist lifestyle, blended all together. I could feel the touch of the sun, the sand and the water in a different way, more intense and mostly by heart not by mind. You need to surrender in life and let things happen. Anyway, the idea of having control on life is an illusion.

_{These guys living at the edge of the volcano seem to know what trust means :)}

This isolated, hard place helped us see things clear, believe in ourselves, take the risk, try new things and experience a new way of life close to nature. Exposed to all the elements reminded us part of who we are and what we want. And since we completely changed life, we haven't regretted a single thing of what we have done. Connection with nature is priceless and worth every difficulty we have faced.

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Now, being in another stage of our life, ready to risk and make changes again, I try to remember how big decisions are made. Without fear and too much thought for what will come. Anyway, no one has a clue :)

Always grateful to this beautiful virgin place that taught me all I want is a simple life and a deep connection to Mother Earth.

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This is my response to this week's question by The MINIMALIST community asking us to share an unforgettable experience in nature that changed our view of life!

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All the pictures are taken by @fotostef on our trip there unless mentioned otherwise. You can find his original post here.

Well, the words are mine :)

If you would like to know more about me this is my introduction post.