Shelley and Toby Discuss Fear and Romance:
I feel like there’s a connectedness between almost dying, and then wanting to have sex.
It seems like they show that in a lot of war movies.
People experience a fear that they’re going to die and then having sex seems like a natural progression of what people do to celebrate life.
It’s just this primal need.
You felt ‘I’m gonna die,’ and then you didn’t die, so then your primal brain takes over and you get into procreation mode.
Yeah. It’s a primal response.
And, hopefully, you’re with someone who’s okay with it.
Shelley and Toby Discuss Life and Death:
Think of all that you had to give up to come to this planet.
You were unlimited.
You had all this power and you had to fit yourself into this sausage casing, basically, to come to this planet.
So, to die is to go back to what you had to give up to come here.
I’m good with it.
I just thought about how we look at death as the living on this earth. We look at death as a bad thing.
The end of something rather than the beginning.
Right?
Maybe we have it backward because the living get to write the story of ‘death is bad because we’re left behind.’
When people die, they leave us.
The dead aren’t the ones writing the story.
Today, we slide into the enchanting world of “A Gypsy’s Kiss: A Treasure Hunt Adventure” by shining a spotlight on Chapters 29 and 30. But, that’s not all – we are thrilled to introduce you to the podcast “Our Story Your Story,” hosted by the dynamic duo of authors, Shelley Carney and Toby Younis.
In this episode, Shelley and Toby take us on a journey of reflection and self-discovery through the captivating chapters, unraveling themes of gratefulness, introspection, escape, and personal transformation.
Watch the video or download the podcast episode.
Join us as we dive deeper into these themes and extract valuable life lessons.
In these chapters, our protagonist Miguel, and his lovely companion Mariah, find themselves swimming for their lives in the Mississippi River. Together, they swim toward the bank and crawl onto a muddy beach.
As they sit side by side in silence, a poignant moment unfolds. Miguel notices his boot floating by, just out of reach.
Both soaked, Miguel’s leather jacket dripping, Mariah shivers. With kindness and warmth, Miguel removes his jacket, wringing out the muddy water, and places it on Mariah’s shoulders.
We discuss the amazing transformation of Miguel, the central figure of our story, as he goes from unhappiness to rebellion, ultimately taking bold action.
Discover how the river symbolizes escape and how Miguel’s journey is fueled by a relentless pursuit of freedom.
Gratefulness after Surviving an Adventure: A Thoughtful Exploration
Expressing gratitude is a profound and transformative practice that can enrich our lives and strengthen our connections with others.
It involves recognizing and appreciating the good things that we receive in life.
When we express gratitude, we not only acknowledge the positive impact of good fortune on our lives but also cultivate a sense of contentment and fulfillment.
While we rest quietly together, I have several minutes to think about the night from the point at which I had fallen over with my bike on top of me, to now, where this beautiful, young woman wearing my jacket is lying next to me. I wonder, “How the hell am I ever going to top this?”
A Gypsy’s Kiss: A Treasure Hunt Adventure, Chapter 30
It’s a powerful reminder that even in challenging times, there’s always something to be thankful for.
The act of expressing gratitude nourishes our soul, fostering a more positive and harmonious outlook on life.
After surviving an adventure, different people react in unique ways.
“I think it refers to the gratefulness of having survived the adventure. Some people I know from experience, having survived, their first reaction is ‘let’s get drunk and have a party.’ Other people having survived become introspective and want to be alone so they can just think about what they want. Other people find solace in the arms of someone else that they may or may not care about.”
— Toby Younis
The crucial takeaway? Surviving an adventure is just the beginning; it’s how you express your gratitude that truly defines the experience.
First Love and Solace: A Romantic Encounter
Within these chapters, a romantic encounter emerges after a perilous adventure.
This phenomenon isn’t unique to fiction; humans tend to seek solace and connection in the company of others.
We recount the touching scene where Miguel and Mariah exit the river, finding solace in each other’s presence.
I swim toward the bank a little faster, reach it, crawl out onto a muddy beach, turn around, and reach back to pull her out of the water to sit next to me in the mud. Everything is quiet and, it seems, neither of us wants to disturb the quiet with any kind of conversation. Although the night is warm, there is a slight breeze and Mariah wraps her arms around herself with a shiver. I take off my jacket, wringing out as much of the muddy water as I can, and drape it over her shoulders, hoping it will help.
A Gypsy’s Kiss: A Treasure Hunt Adventure, Chapter 29
Sometimes, in the absence of a serious relationship, finding solace can be just as impactful in moving forward.
Dividing Life into Acts: Reflecting on Our Life’s Stages
Reflecting on our life’s stages is an introspective journey that allows us to understand the chapters of our existence and where we stand in the grand narrative of life.
As Shelley Carney divides her life into acts and contemplates her own hero’s journey, we are reminded that our experiences form a complex, multi-act story that is uniquely our own.
“It is kind of interesting to find these different acts in our stories and in our lives. I was thinking about that today. I’m kind of entering into Act 3 in my life, and how would I split them up? Would I split them up as living in Arizona, living in New Mexico, and living in South Carolina as Act 1, 2, and 3? Or Act 1 is when I was single, Act 2 when I was married, and Act 3 when I was single again?”
— Shelley Carney
The concept of “acts” in life resonates strongly with the idea that we all undergo phases of growth, challenges, and self-discovery.
“I’ve come away from this last summer of turmoil and difficult challenges. We’re entering into Act 3. We’re looking forward to selling houses, moving to South Carolina, having a new adventure, and becoming our next selves, whoever that might be.”
— Shelley Carney
This reflection prompts us to evaluate where we are in our life’s narrative, assess our goals, and embrace the evolving roles we play.
It’s a powerful exercise in self-awareness, helping us acknowledge our personal growth, embrace new opportunities, and learn from our past as we step into the next act of our lives, authoring our stories with intention and purpose.
We delve into the significance of Act 3 in the hero’s journey and parallel it with Miguel/Mike’s journey from unhappiness to rebellion to taking action.
I remain awake a little while longer, staring up at the sky. It’s not the starry sky of New Mexico where Mike used to live. It’s the cloudy sky over New Orleans warmed by the glow of the city below, where Miguel is learning to live, enchanted by the woman lying next to him.
A Gypsy’s Kiss: A Treasure Hunt Adventure, Chapter 30
Our lives are like stories, composed of different acts. Recognizing where we are can help us determine how to move forward.
“I think we’re at the end of Act 2 here, as he starts the return. He starts wondering, of course, is this the end of an adventure? When in reality, he realizes later on that this was the beginning of a lifelong adventure.”
— Toby Younis
Connections and Memories
The connections we forge with people we’ve met along our life’s journey can be a profound source of both joy and introspection that form a network of memories.
Reconnecting with individuals we’ve lost touch with is a poignant reminder of the significance of these relationships.
While we may not always recapture the moments we shared in the past, these connections remain a part of our story, reminding us of the ever-evolving nature of our personal narratives.
Whether through reminiscing about old friends or fostering new relationships, these interactions continuously shape our understanding of the world and ourselves.
Toby’s experiences of losing touch with people he met during his travels prompt us to consider the importance of staying connected, regardless of proximity.
“There were lots of people that I met along the way. Lisette, for example. That you wish, like, shouldn’t you have gone back there and reengaged with her? Perhaps when you got back from Vietnam?”
— Toby Younis
Toby’s encounters with long-lost friends, not as ideal as he’d hoped, illustrate that we cannot recapture the moments shared in the past.
“A woman I asked to marry me, my first fiancée. The plan was to get married after college. Somewhere during college, she fell in love with an antiwar protester who committed crimes and ended up having to run to Canada. She went off with him and didn’t finish her school until later. Then one time in Santa Fe, I had come to visit, and I ran into her at Fiesta. I wanted it to be better, but you can’t bring it back.”
— Toby Younis
Sometimes, we must move forward and grow on our own without those we’ve met along the way.
Freedom and Personal Transformation: A Journey Worth Taking
The pursuit of freedom often walks hand in hand with personal transformation.
In the story of life, we find ourselves in different roles and chapters, much like the protagonist in a novel.
The chapters where we yearn for freedom, whether it’s breaking free from societal expectations or escaping personal limitations, are the moments that most often trigger profound personal growth.
Chapters 29 and 30 of “A Gypsy’s Kiss” exemplify this beautifully, with Miguel’s journey mirroring our own human quest for liberation.
They remind us that freedom isn’t merely about escaping external constraints; it’s an internal transformation that empowers us to take charge of our destinies, to become the authors of our stories.
Through this process, we redefine ourselves, reshape our priorities, and, ultimately, find the freedom we’ve always sought.
It’s an exploration of self-discovery and empowerment, illustrating that the most significant adventures often occur within the confines of our own hearts and minds.
Chapters 29-30 introduce themes of escape and freedom, symbolized by the river, representing the death of boyhood when going in and the coming of age into manhood when coming out.
“Seems that diving into the river and getting out on the other side is not only getting away from the bad guys, but it was also a coming of age, ‘now I am a man,’ that led into this whole romantic interlude between Miguel and Mariah. The cemetery was apropos as the place of death of boyhood. Falling asleep to the old life, and then waking up to a new life. There’s a lot going on there.”
— Shelley Carney
The protagonist, Miguel, displays remarkable courage, and a willingness to take risks for freedom and independence.
“Freedom is in your head. That’s one of the lessons that comes with age.”
— Toby Younis
Freedom is a state of mind, and as we age, we realize it comes from within.
“We find out that no matter where you go, there you are. You take yourself with you. So whatever problems you have, you bring them with you. Because you don’t leave yourself behind. You’re right there.”
— Shelley Carney
Death and Acceptance: A Unique Perspective
We explore the profound concept that death is a return to what we had to give up to come to this planet. It is a form of freedom and a crossing over into a new, more powerful way of being.
Society often views death negatively, but we challenge this perspective, considering death as a natural part of life.
Death is a sad story told by the living and accepting it is a path to a different perspective and inner peace.
“I just thought about how we look at death as the living on this earth. We look at death as a bad thing. Maybe we have it backward because the living get to write the story of, ‘death is bad because we’re left behind.’ When people die, they leave us. The dead aren’t the ones writing the story.”
— Shelley Carney
Our journey concludes with an exploration of the poem “Thanatopsis” by William Cullen Bryant, which seeks to explore our relationship with death.
“If you read Thanatopsis, it’s poetic prose. It basically is someone who has written down how to accept the idea of death without any fear whatsoever. Including that last stanza, ‘wrap the draperies of your couch about you, and lie down to pleasant dreams.’ A lot of what goes on in that poem is an adventure, an acceptance, and a willingness to look at things in a different way. Death is not anything to be feared. Adventure is not anything to be feared. It is to be tried and accepted to make it part of your life. Now I know it sounds silly to say you make death a part of your life, but once you do that, life gets so much easier and less worrisome.”
— Toby Younis
Our podcast hosts delve into the poem’s meaning and its relevance to life experiences and Miguel’s story, highlighting the powerful connection between death and nature.
Embrace Life’s Lessons and Write Your Own Story
We urge you to embrace the themes from “A Gypsy’s Kiss” and reflect on your own life’s transformative experiences.
Shelley Carney and Toby Younis have shared an enriching narrative that invites you to uncover your own story.
In the spirit of living authentically, we encourage you to:
Express Gratitude
Take a moment to express your gratitude, whether for surviving an adventure or for the people in your life.
Expressing gratitude doesn’t have to be elaborate or complicated; simple gestures can be incredibly meaningful.
A heartfelt smile, a warm “thank you,” or a handwritten note can go a long way in showing appreciation.
Additionally, actively listening to someone, giving them your full attention, and expressing empathy when they need it can be powerful ways to convey your gratitude.
Acts of service, like helping a friend or family member with a task, can also demonstrate your thankfulness.
In today’s digital age, sending a thoughtful text or email to express your appreciation is a practical way to brighten someone’s day.
Gratitude journals, where you jot down things you’re thankful for daily, can be an excellent way to cultivate a habit of gratitude.
Ultimately, the simplest acts of kindness and acknowledgment can carry immense gratitude and foster strong, positive relationships.
Stay Connected
Make an active effort to stay connected with the people who matter to you, even if life takes you in different directions.
Staying connected with loved ones and maintaining meaningful relationships can be achieved through practical and straightforward means.
Regularly reaching out via phone calls, text messages, or video chats is a simple yet effective way to keep the connection alive, especially when distance separates you.
Scheduling regular catch-ups or virtual hangouts with friends and family can provide a sense of togetherness.
Social media platforms offer an easy way to stay updated with friends’ lives and share yours.
Sending surprise messages or small tokens of appreciation can also be a lovely way to nurture connections.
It’s not just about the frequency of contact but the quality of interaction, so active listening and asking about the other person’s well-being can make a world of difference.
In essence, staying connected is about making the effort to keep the lines of communication open, even in small, manageable ways.
Find Freedom Within
True freedom is a state of mind, and as you age and grow, you can find it from within.
Finding freedom doesn’t always require grand gestures or major life changes; it can be achieved through practical and simple means.
One way is by decluttering your physical and mental space.
Clearing out unnecessary belongings and letting go of emotional baggage can create a sense of liberation.
Practicing mindfulness and meditation can help you find freedom by focusing on the present moment and reducing stress and anxiety.
Setting boundaries and learning to say no when necessary can also free up your time and energy for the things that truly matter to you.
Moreover, pursuing your passions and hobbies, even in small increments, can provide a sense of liberation and self-expression.
Ultimately, it’s about making conscious choices that align with your values and desires, which can lead to a greater sense of freedom in your life.
As you embark on your journey of freedom, self-discovery, and connection, remember that every chapter of life contributes to your unique story. Embrace it, treasure it, and share it with the world.
We invite you to explore these themes and engage with us by watching the Our Story Your Story video, listening to the podcast, reading the A Gypsy’s Kiss book, or reaching out to share your own stories when you write to us at stories@agkmedia.studio
Your voice and perspective are essential in making this journey of discovery even more enriching and rewarding.
We look forward to connecting with you and embarking on this captivating adventure together.
AGK Media Studio 