Book 273 - A Year of Magical Learning

Reflection Title: Oh, The Places You’ll Go as You Follow Your Purpose!

Book – Clanlands: Whiskey, Warfare, and a Scottish Adventure Like No Other by Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish

Book Description:

From their faithful camper van to boats, kayaks, bicycles, and motorbikes, join the stars of Outlander, Sam and Graham, on a road trip with a difference, as two Scotsmen explore a land of raw beauty, poetry, feuding, music, history, and warfare.

Unlikely friends Sam and Graham begin their journey in the heart of Scotland at Glencoe and travel from there all the way to Inverness and Culloden battlefield, where along the way they experience adventure and a cast of highland characters. In this story of friendship, finding themselves, and whisky, they discover the complexity, rich history and culture of their native country.

Reflection:

Well, I have never seen or even heard of the Starz show Outlander until I began this fun journey with Sam and Graham. Immediately after the first day or me reading their Scottish adventure together, I began watching the show as I just couldn’t resist as I was learning more about Scotland and its history, people, and culture. I know that Edinburgh isn’t technically in the Scottish Highlands, but it has always been a bucket list destination for me to check out. I’m now more resolute than ever that this will be a must stop for me someday, and we will make a quick stop at Loch Ness as well, if I’m blessed enough to be able to make it happen.

As this journey continues, and I’m exploring more and more of this world through books and stories, it has made me want to visit some places that were totally off my radar. Someday, I hope to visit Japan and make a stop in Hiroshima after reading the book Hiroshima. Edinburgh, Iceland, Vienna, and Bhutan were discovered and added to the list through adventures with Eric Weiner and his books the Geography of Genius, The Socrates Express, and The Geography of Bliss. Bill Bryson has made me want to hike a little of the Appalachian Trail. Andre Mack has inspired me to want to explore all over France in search of the best Chablis and Pinot Noirs. Jon Krakauer has piqued my interest in Alaska after reading Into the Wild. Trevor Noah and the authors of The Lion Tamer’s Guide to Life and The Elephant Whisperer has made a Safari in South Africa at Thula Thula ranch a must see before I leave this Earth someday.

It’s funny how the more that you embrace your purpose, the more the path slowly becomes clearer and clearer as to where you are going next as time unfolds. As we learned in the Lion Tamer’s Guide to Life, I don’t know where I’m going, but I know how I’ll get there. I found all of these places by following Emilia and my purpose.

This is the art of listening to the omens in this world and letting your path be illuminated by the mysteries of this crazy universe.

Who knows why a certain book, lesson, or event finds you. However, if you stay open and ready to listen to the world around you at all times, it will tell you where to go next in its own subtle way. Then it is up to you to act.

Sam and Graham’s life paths took them on this interesting journey that helped them to find meaningful work through their show Outlander and a meaningful relationship in each other along with other cast members. To me, this show doesn’t just seem like some other acting gig to pay the bills to these 2; rather, it seems to be a great example of the power of what meaningful work and meaningful relationships can look like and how it can lead to more projects just like it.

Sam and Graham’s journey led them to take their unique talents to help them to reconnect and explore their own personal history and heritage while sharing the beauty of their people and culture with the world through Outlander. That meaningful work produced a show that people loved and provided them an opportunity to further explore their meaningful work through projects like Clanlands and Men in Kilts. Who knows what will come next? I’m sure if you would have asked either of them if thought they would one day become defacto ambassadors for Scottish heritage and culture around the world, they would have laughed in your face. However, here we are.

Meaningful work and Meaningful Relationships can take you places you never dreamed in your wildest dreams.

Listen to the omens, follow what you love, find others that care about the same things, and I promise this is possibly for each and every one of us as well if you do the same.

Question: Where is your purpose leading you?

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Links:

What is The Year of Magical Learning? An Introduction

YOML Podcast Discussion - Coming Soon

YOML Bookstore - Clanlands