Man of War Bay dorset

Travel is essential for the well being of your mind and body but don’t go packing that suitcase just yet. Often a simple change of scenery is the only thing that’s required so instead of looking for cheap flights abroad, research and see hidden treasures around you. Since I moved to London 2 years ago it’s been difficult to actually get out of the city. There’s so much to see and do that putting things off becomes an unwritten pasttime. Holidays abroad became easier than local adventures so to put a stop to this a few of us grabbed our cameras and drove down to Dorset to see what Mother Nature had in store for us.

anton dee durdle door

Kimmeridge Bay, Dorset

british coastline

The first stop on our adventure was Kimmeridge Bay which filled the nostrils with a fresh sea breeze and set the mood for the rest of the trip. In the distance you can see Clavell Tower, also known as Clavell Folly or the Kimmeridge Tower. The tower is a Grade II listed building which was built on the top of Hen Cliff back in 1830. The receding tide also exposed the geology of the world renowned Jurassic Coast. The rocky shale and comentstone reefs make the area a key habitat for marine animals while historic fossils and dinosaur bones have also been discovered here.

dorset travel blogcote ciel backpack anton dee

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Finding Happiness

friends durdle door

Maybe it was the fresh air or simply a change of scenery but for the first time in months I felt truly happy. No worries about girls, work, rent or what my next article is going to be about. Just a simple day of walks, laughs and photographs. This got me thinking about happiness and how people view it as a commodity or thing we’re all entitled to but for me it’s more of a feeling or a state one finds themselves in. The world renowned illusionist and personal hero of mine Derren Brown recently gave an interview on Radio 2 about this very topic. He talked about how the question of happiness isn’t thought about as much as it used to be. People think they know what they need to be happy but unfortunately chasing the path of fame and fortune isn’t likely to be fortuitous. Fame and fortune should be by-products of your life, not the sole purpose of it as success isn’t something that arrives suddenly.

british nature

Maybe the word ‘happy’ is part of the problem as we use the term loosely everyday. You team won a football game? You say you’re happy. Enjoyed a nice meal at your favourite restaurant? Same answer. Using one word to describe different emotions is limiting and diminishes its value. Perhaps what we’re feeling is pleasure and sometimes its hard to distinguish between the two. More and more self help books are published everyday with a simple message that anyone can “magically get what they want”. This is a damaging precedent as it’s a promise that will always disappoint.

Ancient Greek philosophers such as Epicurus and Pyrrho also talked about Atoraxia, a lucid state of robust tranquillity, characterised by ongoing freedom from distress and worry. The teachings of Buddhism follow along the same lines by telling you that attachment to things you cannot control will only lead to pain so treading the fine line between productivity and tranquility is the way to go.

dorset stairway to heaven

I feel that happiness is whats left when you remove anxiety and disturbances from everyday life or as the 18th century philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau put it:

“Happiness: a good bank account, a good cook, and a good digestion”

Durdle Door, Dorset

lulworth cove stair hole

Travel in and of itself will not make you happy but it does pull you out of your comfort zone. To grow and develop (whether personally or creatively) you have to take risks and continuously try new things. Over the next couple of days I will be using my travel journals to delve deeper into our fragile psyche and explore topics such as stress, decisions and what makes a good life. But for now here are a few more snaps from the truly gorgeous Durdle Door.

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lulworth cove stair hole

Durdle Door is a natural limestone arch on the Jurassic Coast near Lulworth in Dorset, England. It is privately owned by the Welds, a family who owns 12,000 acres in Dorset in the name of the Lulworth Estate. Big thanks to the crew for dragging me out of my slumber and helping me discover this unique piece of British coastline. A few of the pictures weren’t taken by me so if you like what you see make sure to check out their accounts using the links below:

Ed Robertson // Jess Hope // Zsuzsa Zichó // Jonathon Cartwright // Amber Hoa

durdle door dorset uk

STYLEGRAM

dorset-durdle-door-britain-uk-natureThanks for checking out my latest post. If you enjoyed what you read you can share it using the links below or just follow me on your favourite social channels. Remember, no one is going to tell you what happiness is as it’s different from person to person. Don’t believe that if you wish for it the universe will provide, go out there an do it! Until next time 🙂

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