Tag: travel

travel.

i’ve read that it is a sign of generational age to end texts with a period. to end sentences with punctuation on a medium that is meant to be quick and free of form. i like a good “.”. it says “That’s all.” in a Miranda Priestly sort of way. or maybe it’s more “Your turn.” a period brings closure. even though the conversation continues.

i’ve been traveling — i’m currently writing this fighting my body telling me it’s been time to go to bed for at least a while now. i was gone for two weeks in a place that was not unknown – but not as familiar as i thought. it felt so good to be back. i had to continuously remind myself that this is this time and not the trip from 20 years ago. i had to give myself permission – no, i had to insist! – to experience everything as if it was new. this is all new.

new towns. new accents. new castles. new mountains to climb. new relationships to explore. new neutrality to sit in.

i got to move through the space and time in a different space & time.

(the white dots are sheep)

to the sky

i have a headache. it’s been with me all day. off and on.

i was on a journey home after being away for a few days, in the mountains. (these mountains were unfamiliar to me though) the journey there was longer than the return, so when i arrived i was slightly frazzled. this feeling didn’t shake off until the second day. we went off-roading, up high towards the sky, through pine forest, semi-arid desert, mountain scrub. to the top: a rock, by way of snaking dirt roads of varying complexities. we’d stop occasionally to get out of the SUV to inspect the road ahead: could we make it? what’s the best angle? remember to not stop!

when off-roading, it’s easy for me to focus more on the task at hand – not crashing, rolling over, breaking the car, etc. – than what is around me. thankfully, the mountains knew i was there. the high winds flew over, around, and through me. the plants shared their serenity, their optimistic outlook. the rocks, their histories, pragmatism, grounding. the uninterrupted sun: disinfecting. while it would perhaps have been more meaningful or special, i did not need to know that the mountain was cleansing and nourishing me so. it gives so much: a playground for us to go vroom-vroom1, and spiritual development. to me, these two go hand in hand.

when i returned home i felt high. this is a loaded word for me nowadays. i’m not supposed to feel that way. but i did. it took me the better part of the evening to realize why. why i felt so calm, free, light.

when i was first taught about forest bathing i liked the simplicity of it, how passive it was (while recognizing the power of the place one finds themselves). i appreciate that the intention is to have no intention. to just listen, receive, share, acknowledge, appreciate, feel. the effortless nature of it is liberating.

that evening, the fog rolled in. the sunny day moved on to the next part of the world to share its love, opportunity, challenges, victories (or failed attempts). the cool water vapor coating everything on the mountain: “it’s alright. i’m here.”

my body was vibrating, i didn’t realize how apart from nature i have been. this reminder was necessary. i could feel the woods, the lake, the trees calling to me. a bit like a horror movie, but for me it brought comfort.

it’s alright. i’m here.

1 i thought it best to include this bit: we were off-roading on designated OHV trails, respecting the land, picking up moop