Extreme Inspirations

     I wasn't able to write for a few days due to a lack of phone reception much less Wi-Fi down in the Palo Duro Canyon.  
     My first day of driving was pretty mindless....not how I wanted the first day of my trip to be.  It is amazing how plugged in we are.  I listened to CD's, talked to a few friends on the phone, texted, listened to a book on tape.  I felt like I did not give my mind a break.  Why do we do this? 
     It was so very beautiful when I arrived, however, and I was very happy to know that I could handle my camper down into the gorge and even happier to be able to trudge it back up yesterday. Bullet, my camper host was such a friendly face to see when I got there.  He helped me back my trailer in and gave me tips on hooking up and levelling my camper.  He did the same when I left, as well.  Accepting help is a lesson I am learning quickly in this new life.  I have so many things to learn, so a few shortcuts and understanding nods are truly welcome. 

     The next morning, after staying hunkered down in my camper for awhile and trying to get centered, I decided to venture out on a hike.  It was rainy and cold, but I was game.  It was so beautiful, and even though I am very out of shape due to months of no exercise, I walked for a good long way until a cold blast of wind and a dead silence in the gorge forced me to listen to my intuition.  I often ignore this part of myself, but something made me turn back.  Even Teddy seemed agitated.  By the time I got back, it was quite cold and windy.  I think the first lesson to learn in mindfulness is to trust our intuition...that little voice.  It was rainy, windy, and very cold all night long.

     The next day, I made my way to Santa Fe and felt much more in the groove.  It hit me that this is now my life.  This is not a vacation.  I really do not know what each day will bring nor who I will meet.  It was quite an exciting, not to mention a bit daunting, feeling.  Even Teddy is a little unsure how to navigate with not knowing what is next.  But isn't that how life really is anyway, even if we have it all planned out?

     Today I spent the day with my good friend and former student Lauryn.  She took me to a museum I had already been hoping to see.  The Meow Wolf Museum is not to be missed in Santa Fe.  It is impossible to really describe.  It is experiential to say the least, and the element of surprise is the best part.  It plays with one's sense of reality and shows the participators what is possible when you "break the rules" and allow creativity to explode.  In my mind, I kept thinking, "This is what I want my life to be... a creative exploration of the mind and out of the box experiences in the world around me."  As we get older, we forget how wonderful curiosity and wonder are.  I want to think and feel multi-dimensionally, and this museum inspired me to start exploring this at a much deeper level. One does not have to go far to experience this.  Just allowing beautiful things to happen and touching people deeply is a miracle in itself.  We limit ourselves so much.  Many of us do anyway. I feel so strongly that the world needs this kind of thinking right now.  This is where the spirit lies.  This was an incredible start to being inspired.  I have a long way to go to being mindful and quiet in my heart and head, but there is time.  Today was just fun!

THANKS FOR A WONDERFUL DAY, LAURYN!