Creating my own meaning

This post was sparked by a great conversation that occurred  this last summer. The statement that was said wasn't vicious nor ill intentioned but it was another blow at what was already a loss of focus on this new site I'd created......

This summer I informally attended  WDS . This event gathers all types of great people the likes that include digital nomads, travelers, social entrepreneurs and quite possibly everything in between. I had the great pleasure of meeting  some amazing people during the summer weekend in July.


One person that I connected with over and over was a fellow Latino. An inspirational blogger from Mexico that is leading the charge with living a life that you create. We attended an event together, sat and chatted with some great people and hung out  during the weekend.


At one of these hangouts we ended up at a great dive bar in Portland. Cheap drinks, good conversation, and vibrant energy was surrounding our group. We sat and shared ideas, projects, and life occurrences. Three of us in the large group split off and started having a good topical discussion. Eventually this discussion led to the site I was creating and the aim for it. I was very proud of the direction I was going in and what I was creating.


Being a first generation child in the U.S is a unique experience. You get the best of two cultures meshing into one existence. This group of three individuals included a non-Hispanic, the Mexican blogger and myself . I was asked what I was working on and gladly obliged to describe the website. It started with what  I was trying to express, which went well. It then lead to the name of the website which I was very proud of...here is where it didn't go so good.


I described that my site was called "Viaje"(vya-hey) the Spanish word for journey. It was an attempt to incorporate a phrase I resonate with 'that life is a journey'.  I had understood this word as 'trip' or 'journey'.  One of three people at the table was impressed by what I described the other had a different take. The Mexican blogger overheard what I was saying and seemed to agree until he heard "Viaje" and my explanation of it.


He looked at us and said "that's not really what that word means, it means a "trip" not a 'journey'".  His brief correction sidelined me in a deep way. Up until that point I had never questioned what I was doing not only from a creative standpoint but also from one of language ability.


Who was I, this non-Hispanic country raised Latino going to argue with an authentic Mexican about the meaning of a Spanish word. The weekend continued without much focus on that conversation again, and we had some good times together. But that interaction stuck on me like a bad rash and it wouldn't go away.


Months went by after that interaction and I began to lack a passion to create. This only hindered my process of posting new material for the website.  I searched and scoured the internet trying to come to a resolution in my favor.  Most sources pointed in a direction that favored my interpretation but I was still reluctant.


After about two months of my website being stagnant  I said........... F*ck it !


I got refocused and things began to align again. I created a new look, kept some of the old vibe and VIAJE is alive once again!  Essentially I got to a point where I looked over and over at this word and I came to my own terms.


They say words are powerful  but I've also heard some describe them as meaningless.  I looked at both perspectives and thought:


"We give words meaning, we accept them and then incorporate them, we have given ourselves this power."


In this thought I felt a great sense of self empowerment. Rather than continuing to be reluctant I decided on taking  this word that may be incorrect  in translation and decided to disregard this notion. I don't care if someone knows this word and attributes something to it. To me this is what the word means and I am running with it.


I WILL DEFINE IT FOR MYSELF !



LA VIDA ES UN VIAJE


and with that I mean


Life is Journey


and for those who may want to correct me, save it. I understand linguistic nuances and I respect  accurate translation, but this is not needed here. This is my space, my vibe, my place to create.


I can create,

I can be incorrect,

and I can also be both at the same time.



What I can't do is be everything for everyone, it's unrealistic and tiresome. I'm happy with what I am and what I'm putting into this world.



I am content in my own meaning.

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