A Journey Completed!

So here it is, the last post for my 50 for a Year mission.  I'm so blessed and amazed that I was able to accomplish all that I was able to accomplish.  I haven't posted in a while because I just didn't know how to come up with the right words to express my past year.  When the time came to do my last "50", it all worked out so organically and flowed so nicely that I couldn't even fathom it. Let me explain. When I thought about what to do for my last 50.4.50, I somehow imagined something big (perhaps a trip or night out) with some of my closest lady friends.  However, timing and school breaks had other plans for me.  That weekend found me heading to Las Vegas and on to Southern California for my son's fall break from school.  After a bit of pondering, I realized that since he had been on my first adventure, it was only fitting that he go on my last adventure! #50.

Last year I had been too afraid to go on the world's largest ferris wheel in Las Vegas, NV.  This year, I decided, what the heck?  What a great way to end this grand adventure of mine.  If you have never been to this Ferris Wheel, it's a pretty big deal.  The top of the Ferris Wheel is 550 feet up in the air, making it the largest ferris wheel in the world.  The views are amazing from start to finish.  Once you board your "pod", you continue moving for the full rotation of the ferris wheel.  It moves so slow that there is plenty of time to ooh and ahh over the Las Vegas Strip, the sunset, the mountains and the desert beyond.  We were able to see the sunset and even the dark skies of night.  All in all, it takes about 30 minutes for your ride to be complete.

It was very fitting that this last event for me on my 50 list was stopping at 550 feet up in the air. My chill glass of champagne was very celebratory to mark this auspicious occasion.  This year has been a year of fun, new things marked off my bucket list and many aha moments that have propelled me into a new way of life.

How does it feel to have completed what I set out to do?  I can't even begin to describe how this all feels.  This is huge for me.  I am the queen of start something and then not finish it before I start something new.   It felt very empowering and made me excited to usher in a new decade.  The feeling I had while I was 550 feet up in the air was one of complete jubilation.  I did it!  I really did it!

I thank you, the reader, for coming along on this epic adventure with me.  I'm not done with my adventures just yet.  This 50 list has inspired me to continue on with new ideas, trips, and better ways to operate my life.  Stay tuned for more.

“Because everyone has a natural yearning for completion, we are able to change and recreate ourselves endlessly.” ― Ilchi Lee, The Call of Sedona: Journey of the Heart

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

Conquering My Goals One Fear At a Time

Some one asked me the other day how I was doing on my 50 for 50 List.  Good question, I replied.  It gave me pause because I hadn't really been keeping track by the numbers.  I just know that I have been having a great time during the process.  This thought came about on a week where I have been getting the huge message that life is not about the destination but about the journey itself.  This gave me pause.  I need to look into this further. I decided to go back in time on my blog page and list the adventures I had had. They included everything from getting a tattoo to conquering my fear of heights.  That fear was basically conquered yet again with my latest first: Extreme Tubing.  What is extreme tubing you ask?  One would have to watch the video to completely understand it.  Let me let you do that first, and then I will go on to explain my experience.

[embed]http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPN_g7X6iRE[/embed]

Utah Olympic Park is right here in my backyard.  It is a wondrous place that played a vital role in the 2001 Winter Olympics.  It is the training arena for aerial skiers, bobsledders, ski jumpers and many a youngster who have felt the need to be adventurous.  They have alpine slides, rope courses and the latest addiction, extreme tubing.

It was threatening rain the day we decided to do this first.  Accompanied by two experienced 10 year old riders, I decided to conquer my fear.  By the time we got to the top of the ski jumps (which is what you are sliding down at 55+ mph), it started to full on rain.  Great, the course would be even slicker.  They started to rush people through the lines once the hail hit.  It felt like having to evacuate a plane on the slide onto a runway (I have never had to do this, and hope I never get the experience.).  Move, move, move is all I heard.  It was probably for the best because had I had to spend any time waiting on top of the hill, I most likely would have chickened out.

Into the tube I was thrown.  Onto the slick hill I went at top speed cackling manically the whole way.  I came in for a quick landing and realized that everything was intact.  Now I had to figure out how to get my big derriere out of the tube itself.  Once the mission was accomplished, we rushed into the restrooms to seek shelter from the now lightening.  The day was a success.  It even included my son's friend calling his dad and starting the conversation with "Guess what, we are still alive.".  Just what you want to hear as a parent.  Love it.

Now that I am a certified adrenaline junkie, I look forward to the next chance to hurtle my body through time and space at 50+ miles per hour.

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. Right now, today, we are still alive, and our bodies are working marvelously. Our eyes can still see the beautiful sky. Our ears can still hear the voices of our loved ones. - Thich Nhat Hanh

P.S.  Just in case anyone else is wondering, this first put me at number 47.  I have given myself just about another month to complete!!  A lofty goal, but the experiences I have had up until this point have motivated me to keep the process moving.

From Chaos to Calm!

Chaos.  Yes chaos.  That word kept coming up for me today.  "I am so busy!"  I keep noticing people saying this.  I am so busy I can't…..  People filled my message box with the list of things that they were doing in a day.  I stepped back and for once, decided that instead of getting frustrated or annoyed, I would detach and see what message was being sent to me.  It took me all day to realize, but this was exactly how I used to be.  Busy, busy, busy.  People tend to think that if their days are filled to the brim and they can tell the word they are busy, it looks good.  It looks like they are important or have this amazing life.  I know, I was one of them. Today I decided to just sit on this and see what came up.  I have been spending a lot of time lately just getting in touch with my feelings and figuring out what messages I am being lead to.  I know, this might sound all woo woo, but guess what it makes me feel so much more grounded and present.  Wasn't I trying to accomplish this for the longest time?  Yes, my dear, I think that I have finally gotten the message.  The first for today is, just be still.  Be present.

I recently met with a relative who was telling me how much travel he and his spouse were doing.  Caribbean Islands for the holidays, Mexico for a week, here and then there.  My first question I asked him was, do you two ever sit still?  He gave me the weirdest look.  Do you ever just sit and be?  What are you running from?  I can have the nerve to say this because I was once a "runner".  Let's book an exotic vacation, be happy for a week and then guess what?  Your life at home is still the same. Do not get me wrong.  I love travel, I crave travel.  I also think that travel is one of the best things you can do for your life.  See new things, experience new cultures, and sip margaritas at the beach.  However, if you are running from something, stay still long enough to address that so you can go out on your adventures with a clear heart, clear mind and know that you will come home to that same feeling.

As I stepped onto my yoga mat this morning, I brought the word chaos with me. Does that sound as strange to you as it did to me?  I decided to bring this word because it came up several times before I even got to the studio.  So why dear Universe were you bringing me this word to meditate on today?  I came to the conclusion that it was officially time to calm down, be still and sit in my own chaos to see where changes need to be made.  Another aha moment for my 50.4.50!  Take the time to stop and smell the roses.  Take the time to spend quality time with your child before he is driving away to college.  Take the time to treasure every day.  It's a gift that can be taken away at any given moment.

I love the way the Universe works.  I love the way that it gently (sometimes more than gently) guides you to see what it is that it wants you to see.  They say that the best coaches are the ones that give you the tools to use to help yourself.  Today the Universe did just that.  I ask you, the reader, where in your life you can skim down the chaos and appreciate that the experience I had today may speak to you on some level?  Let's all put down our phones, gaze out the window and take a deep breath!  Enjoy the gentle moment and bring that forward into your own lives.

I am so busy doing nothing... that the idea of doing anything - which as you know, always leads to something - cuts into the nothing and then forces me to have to drop everything. - Jerry Seinfeld

Until my next adventure,

P.A. Walker

Light for Sam: Life in a Small Town

There are days here in Park City where I am so fed up with how this town is evolving that I am ready to pack up the boxes and move out of town.  The issue has become, where is the next Park City?  Where would one go from here?  Where is that town that we knew and loved 10 years ago?  It's been bought out by Vail Resorts and is going to be turned into the biggest ski resort in North America.  Today we had the "pleasure" of being voted the Wealthiest Small Town in America.  I am not sure how I fit in to all of this lately.  I definitely am not on the wealthy side of town. My first for this post is one of realizing that we have a community here.  It might be being infiltrated by wealthy folks who come in and pay cash for our houses and use them two weeks a year but underneath there is still a current of a sense of community.  Let me explain.

Saturday evening I attended a vigil for a young man by the name of Sam Jackenthal.  Unfortunately Sam is currently in a coma across the world in Australia.  He is an aspiring U.S. Ski Team skier who was over in Australia at a training camp.  During a free ski, he had an unfortunate accident that resulted in a severe head injury.  His parents and sister have flown to Australia to be with Sam at his bedside.  I am sending them prayers, hope and healing vibes.  We, as a community, are hoping that Sam pulls through and is ready to head back to Park City in time for what promises to be an epic winter.

What I witnessed Saturday night was a first for me.  A group of young men and women from the high school gathered together with parents, siblings, neighbors, and even a jazz band from town that came to serenade everyone gathered together.  We came together to send a shout out to the family via Facetime.  We gathered together to hear stories about this incredible young man.  We gathered together to hear from his friends, including one who had had a similar injury three years ago and survived to tell us about it.  It was amazing to see that he had no apparent after effects from also being in a coma.

[embed]http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=596S_IL0J-0[/embed]

Living in a ski town comes with it's sad stories of injuries such as Sam's.  It's a risk taking kind of place.  You have bobsledders, extreme skiers, mountain bikers, among other sports.  However, it is also here that one feels that people get out there and live their lives.  They eat, sleep and breathe extreme sports.  As I tell my kid, you can fall in the bathtub and get hurt, so don't let that stop you from getting out and enjoying all that the nature here in Utah has to offer.

As I finish typing this, I have seen no new information or update on Sam's condition.  I would like to pass along a Go Fund Me Page that someone has put together for Sam and his family to cover all the mounting expenses that occur with this type of situation.  Please send healing thoughts and vibes out to Sam and his family.

http://www.gofundme.com/samjackenthal

“You should be thankful for the journey of life. You only make this journey once in your life time.” ― Lailah Gifty Akita, Beautiful Quotes

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

A Canvas of My Experiences

This week saw me completing probably my fortieth 50.4.50. I have been talking about this one for years and years. It finally took me turning the big 5-0 to act on it. My first tattoo, loud and clear on my forearm, is now a reality. Getting it has reinforced how proud I am of myself for making the plan to do this list and for coming so very close to being near the end. I made an appointment almost five months ago with a young man name Ryan at Oni Tattoo in Salt Lake City. He came highly recommended by a friend of mine who is very well-inked. I saw Ryan's work and immediately put down my deposit and waited out my five months. Not once did I waver from doing this. In fact, I was so excited that by yesterday when it was time for my appointment I was 100% sure of walking in the front door of that tattoo parlor and getting my ink.

I had been grappling with several design ideas, but the theme seemed to be the same throughout: a sunburst. It was perhaps a week or so ago when I was going through some old belongings and an artistic tile I had bought in Sedona a few months ago suddenly resurfaced. The design on the tile caught my eye and I said, this is it. I carried the tile around in my purse all week and every time I glanced at it, it became clearer. This was my tattoo.

The process was a whole lot easier than I thought it would be. It took literally all of about 45 minutes. I had it in my mind that I would be there for hours, but once Ryan sketched the initial design, we made one revision and off to the table I went. Ryan had a great table-side manner and really put me at ease. When he was done, he joked with me that I was officially on the dark side and now I would no longer be able to get a job! We laughed and immediately started talking about how long it would be before I came back in for my next. I am still considering whether or not to get some color on this one, a nice shade of purple might be the answer. This was reinforced when as I was driving back up into the mountains from Salt Lake, I was greeted with an amazing rainbow.

Getting a tattoo at my age was a bit unnerving, but I was helped when I asked the young man at the front desk if I was the oldest he had ever seen. He smiled, and said no ma'am, in fact last week we had a 70 year old lady come in for her first. That made me feel great! Thanks dude!

When I got home last night, I showed the tattoo to my kid. He shrugged, said that's cool and off he went. I realized later that his generation are probably so used to seeing tattoos that it didn't even make him blink. Let's hope that he waits until he is 50 for his first. If not, I will embrace his creativity and right to own his body as this is making me feel I own mine.

“My body is my journal, and my tattoos are my story.” ― Johnny Depp

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

Dining Al Fresco

Santa Barbara always provides me with a few days away from my reality.  It truly is one of my happy spots.  The ocean, scenery, people and food make for a truly amazing few days.  As my adventure continued, I ventured out to try some new restaurants.  One of the favorites of the trip was a restaurant called Dargan's Irish Pub on State Street.  When I sit outside to eat, it already adds points to a restaurant.  This pub delivered in terms of both food and wait staff.  I was served by a young lad who was over in the States for the summer to work from Ireland.  He said he was excited to be going home because California was just too much for him.  He provided me with great service and some stories on top of that.  Add to that my amazing guacamole and chips and my quesadilla entree and the night was a success.  (www.darganssb.com) While on my quest for full relaxation, I came upon the Float Luxury Spa (www.floatluxuryspa.com).  Set in a small house on one of the side streets of downtown, this spa couldn't have been more relaxing.  I opted for the Salt Scrub followed up by a hot stone massage.  This is a life I could get used to.   The staff was great, the facilities very clean, and the services divine.  I will definitely be going back for more.

After all of this luxury, I headed down the The Natural Cafe on State Street for a healthy meal.  Since I was feeling very organic after my treatments, I wanted to keep that clean feeling going strong.  This tasty little restaurant provided just that very thing.  It is an order-at-the-counter establishment but they bring it right to your table.  They provide healthy food, drinks and again, my favorite, an outdoor dining area.  I really love to dine Al Fresco.  Santa Barbara is the place just for that.

Too soon it was time for me to jet back to Utah.  I absolutely love where I live.  I always remind myself that people pay thousands of dollars to come to Park City for vacation.  However, when I have a chance to be by the ocean, my soul is just re-nourished and I feel grounded.  It always hits me hard when I drive back to my house at 8,000 feet.  My dream is to some day live near the beach!  Baby steps….

We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.  - Anonymous

Until my next adventure,

P.A. Walker

Five Days in My Happy Spot!

Last week brought me to one of my favorite spots on earth, the beautiful town of Santa Barbara.  Although I have been there several times, on this trip I vowed to include several firsts.  I was given the rare opportunity to travel by myself for five days as the rest of the family had headed to Michigan to attend a family event.  I looked at this as an opportunity to refresh and get to know myself just a bit better.  I had no one to answer to and no where to be at any particular moment.  Let's see what the five days brought me. I stayed at a wonderful VRBO property that was just steps from the ocean.  I was able to walk up and down 222 stairs each way in order to watch the beautiful sunset every night.  My trip up and down the Mesa Lane Steps to get to the beach gave me the great idea to set a goal for myself of being able to run up the stairs without stopping by the last day of my trip.  I was able to walk up without stopping, but because of my sore calf muscles, the running was just not going to happen.  It was really amazing to see other folks run up and down several times with no problem.  Quite impressive!

My days in Santa Barbara were filled with contentment.  I was able to pick and choose what I wanted to do each day.  The first full morning there brought me to the Mission Santa Barbara (http://www.santabarbaramission.org).  This was my first first of the trip.  Founded by the Franciscan Friar Fr. Fermín de Lasuén, OFM on the Feast of St. Barbara, December 4th, 1786, Old Mission Santa Barbara, also known as the Queen of the Missions, has a history unlike any other landmark. It's got a rich and diverse setting, with beautiful gardens and surroundings. It takes just about an hour to wander through the buildings, so it makes a good place to visit before heading to the wonderful beaches in and around Santa Barbara.

Before basking all afternoon on the beach, I had a scrumptious lunch at the Shoreline Beach Cafe (http://shorelinebeachcafe.com).  Located directly on the sands of Leadbetter Beach, they provide you with fresh, healthy ingredients, locally grown and harvested whenever possible. These include produce from local growers, seafood from local harvesters and great wines from Santa Barbara County Vintners (quoted directly from the Shoreline's website).  The view is incredible and it wouldn't be hard to sit there for hours just gazing at the ocean.

Following up my lazy afternoon with a stroll down State Street, I was able to check out all the great shops along the way.  Santa Barbara doesn't lack for amazing things to do….  Tommorow, another round of firsts for 50!

“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – Ibn Battuta

Until tommorow's adventures,

P.A. Walker

A Beautiful Beginning to an Adventurous Day!

Day 2 in Capital Reef National Park brought about an amazing hike early in the morning on the Chimney Rock Trail.  This trail is challenging at the beginning because of the climb but stick with it because you end up on top of the world.  After hiking in washes with loose, sandy soil and on miles and miles of rock, I was thrilled to note that the surface of this trail is hard-packed dirt. Much easier to walk on. I would put out there that Chimney Rock itself is not the most spectacular feature of this hike. You can see it from the road. Once on the trail, if you bear to the right instead of first heading to Spring Canyon the trail takes you higher than Chimney Rock and you literally and truly have a birdseye view of the park. Continue on and you loop around and drop down into the canyon with its spectacular cliffs and vistas. Breathtaking. Don't let the steep beginning hold you back. Stop. Catch your breath. Look around. Then continue. You'll be so glad you did.

Once we finished up the Chimney Rock Trail, it was time to start heading north back towards Park City.  However, on the way we had two awesome discoveries.  The first one was just in time for lunch.  We came upon Duke's Slickrock Grill (www.dukesslickrock.com)  in Hanksville, Utah.  Let me explain what Hanksville is all about.  If you blink once you will find yourself on the other end of town. We gathered up our courage and headed into the restaurant that had probably 20 motorcycles parked out front.  Now, I am not opposed to motorcycles, but doesn't that just conjure up a vision in your head of walking into a dark bar and every head turns and looks at you when you walk in?  This restaurant was a big surprise.  It pays homage to John Wayne, aka The Duke. There are cardboard cut-outs of him all around.  The best part of this restaurant though is it's cheeseburgers. Yes, cheeseburgers.  It tasted like it was straight from field to table.  The Conqueror is a 1/2 pound of seriously tasty, pure ground beef patty with cheddar cheese, served on a toasted bun with lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle.  It did not disappoint.  Along with the great food was the great staff.  They really were attentive and truly friendly.

Once we filled our tummies again (noticing a theme on this trip?), we stopped off in Goblin Valley State Park.  Goblin Valley is out in the middle of nowhere just south of I-70 near Green River, UT.  What a cool, funky little place complete with hiking trails and a campground.  It's really hard to describe just what this place looks like but for lack of better words, you feel like you are on Mars surrounded by giant aliens.  Perhaps the pictures can explain better than I.  My kid had a blast running all around the rock formations, playing hide and seek.  One thing is for sure, I completely have to come back and camp here on Halloween.  Just the name itself promises a good time during that time of year.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.  - Lao Tzu

Until My Next Adventure,

P. A. Walker

A Love Affair with Capital Reef National Park

One issue with being a travel blogger is that you might be on the road for days at a time, thus preventing some timely blog posts.  I hope that you will agree that this trip was worth the wait. I cannot believe that I have never ventured South to the incredible area of Capitol Reef National Park.  In my quest for doing new things this year, I added a trip to this beautiful area on to my list of things to do.  I am so glad that I did.  Capitol Reef certainly delivered in the beauty and natural surroundings department.  It's hard to put into words the beautiful scenery.  How does one describe an area of the country that God spent extra time on?

Driving into Capitol Reef (which is about 3.5 hours from Park City, by the way) was the beginning of the scenery slide show.  Beautiful red rocks are at every turn in the road.  This particular National Park is one of the least visited in the country.  I am not sure of the reason, perhaps because of it's close proximity to the "bigger" parks such as Bryce Canyon and Zion.  However, it would be a shame for folks to miss this park.  It's an area that is so different from say, Zion National Park. The geography and rock formations will blow you away.

 

Since we arrived in the afternoon, we decided that the first day in the park would be more of a driving tour.  The Visitor Center is a great starting off point to lead you into which direction and activity that you want to embark on.  We decided that for the first time we would take the scenic drive.  This drive is approximately 20 miles round trip.  Stay on it until the end as this is by far the best scenery of all.  You may see some signs along the way that deter you, but all you have to do is look up into nature.  If the skies are clear, proceed on your way.

Around every bend in the road was a surprise and elicited another ohh and ahh.  It was amazing to see so much nature and variations in the view all tucked into one park.  We wrapped up this day by checking into the Capital Reef Resort (www.capitolreefresort.com).  Overlooking the red cliffs and 1 mile from Capitol Reef National Park, this casual resort is 3 miles from the quaint town of Torrey.  The rooms were comfortable, spacious and the resort itself had an awesome hot tub which will be quite the treat after hiking in the red rocks all day.  After unpacking our bags, we headed into the town of Torrey to check out a great restaurant for dinner called Cafe Diablo (http://cafediablo.net).  This little gem is completely unexpected when you look at what surrounds it.  It's got amazing gourmet food.  Everything from Rattlesnake Cakes to Pumpkin Seed Trout.  Every bite of my Watermelon and Feta Salad to start was amazing.  This was followed up by Pomegranate Ribs and some Butternut Squash Raviolis which were the special that day.  Each bite was embedding such fond memories in my taste buds that I can still cherish it to this day.  It's making me want to jump in the car and head back down.

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” ― Virginia Woolf, A Room of One's Own

Until tommorow's hike & adventure,

P.A. Walker

A New Outlook on an "Old" Body

I broke a bone in my foot this month.  How is this a first?  Well, in my 50 years I can honestly say that I have never broken a bone before in my body.  A great thing.  This one was just a small one in my foot, but none the less it's been a great learning experience for me in several ways.  Let me explain. I got up about 3:00 AM one day to answer the call of nature.  As I walked into the bathroom I walked directly into a wall.  I actually heard my bone crack.  If you know anything about my town, Park City, you will see that when I went to urgent care to get looked at, I hesitated to tell the front desk clerk how it happened.  This is a town loaded with athletes of every kind. We have Olympians for skiing, snowboarding and every type of winter sport you can imagine.  We have tri-athletes, bike racers both road and mountain. Therefore, you can see my dilemma.  How can I go in there and say this was a simple household accident?  Really kind of boring if you ask me.

After the doctor confirmed that it was indeed broken, I went home with a walking cast and didn't realize that I was about to make a breakthrough in my thinking.  What I mean by that is, this little old bone gave me a new outlook on life.  I realized what a nuisance it was to walk around in this clunky cast, but I also realized how good I really have it.  If I was complaining about a very small thing such as a walking cast, what would I be like if I were to have a wheelchair or a broken back or neck? This little injury gave me an appreciation for my body and that fact that it still worked just fine albeit for the little inconvenience.

I had started a new fitness program probably six weeks before my injury.  I started it each day with the usual, ugh.  However, after this happened, I actually was surprised to see that I now wake up each morning, put on my biking clothes and go for a road ride.  It's as if I want to enjoy each and everything that I can do as an able-bodied person.

Fast forward a few weeks, and my foot is on the mend.  Yesterday I decided it was time to jump back into the yoga arena.  I cannot tell you how amazing it felt to be back in the saddle after several long weeks of not being able to do this.  I am not 100% yet but I am getting there.

I am happy, yes happy, that I had this injury.  As stated before, I was able to gain a new appreciation and a new focus in life.  Use it or you could perhaps lose it.

"Injury in general teaches you to appreciate every moment. I've had my share of injuries throughout my career. It's humbling. It gives you perspective. No matter how many times I've been hurt, I've learned from that injury and come back even more humble." - Troy Polamalu

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

Kurt Cobain, Is That You?

We ended our day in Seattle by dining at a wonderful restaurant called the Crow (www.eatacrow.com) with our good friends that moved to Seattle from here in Park City. Along with an impressive bar menu (Whenever I leave Utah anything is an impressive bar menu, but this really was one!) the menu offered many delectable items. I decided to partake in the King Salmon since I was near the open waters and needed to fulfill my seafood cravings. It was delicious. Follow that up with an impressive dessert, a glass of Prosecco, all the walking we did and this girl was more than ready for bed. The next day saw us at the EMP Museum (http://www.empmuseum.org). According to their website, "EMP is a leading-edge nonprofit museum, dedicated to the ideas and risk-taking that fuel contemporary popular culture. With its roots in rock 'n' roll, EMP serves as a gateway museum, reaching multigenerational audiences through our collections, exhibitions, and educational programs, using interactive technologies to engage and empower our visitors. At EMP, artists, audiences and ideas converge, bringing understanding, interpretation, and scholarship to the popular culture of our time." That all sounds very cool, and the museum certainly lived up to its name.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TkPZ5Ar4L0[/embed]

We started our tour of the museum by visiting the Star Wars Costumes Exhibit. There were literally dozens of amazing costumes from all of the movies, from Luke Skywalker to Chewbacca. My son is a huge fan and this exhibit really held his attention. The other exhibit that certainly held his attention was the room with all the video games in it. It was like walking into a life-size Mindcraft Game. There was begging and pleading to get him out of that room.

While my son was busy in the Mindcraft room, I wandered over to the hallway that was filled with Nirvana goodies. This Seattle based band was and still is one of my favorites. As I wandered the halls and looked at guitars, sheet music, cool photos from when the band was on tour, I could have sworn the ghost of Kurt Cobain was joining me on my tour. If you are a fan, do not miss this museum.

The EMP Museum has so much to offer every member of the family. We spent a lot of time in the Jam rooms. We were able to be "in-studio" while practicing our vocals, playing the drums, guitar and keyboards. Now mind you, I am so not ready to try out for the Voice. However, it was a treat to watch Adam Levine and the rest of Maroon 5 in a music video projected on a movie theater-sized screen. Of course we all had to dance and sing along. Don't worry, the rest of the crazy tourists were doing the same.

With our time in Seattle coming to a close, we bid farewell to the museum and it's helpful staff. One more stop in Cannon Beach, OR and we were on our way back to Park City!

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

From the Space Needle to the Gum Wall - An Adventurous Day in Seattle

We woke up to a warm and sunny Seattle day.  That kind of sounds fake, doesn't it?  Warm and sunny in Seattle, you betcha!  We mapped out our itinerary for the day, grabbed some breakfast and walked from our hotel to the check-in kiosk at the Space Needle.  I highly recommend buying tickets on-line for the Space Needle, as the lines can get long especially in the summer.  Buying on-line allows you to bypass the ticket line and head right inside to show your bar code and ride the elevator all the way to the top of the 605 foot structure.  After growing up in New Jersey and spending a lot of time riding to the top of both the Empire State Building and the World Trade Center, the ride to the top of the Space Needle didn't seem all that long or impressive.  However, when we stepped out of the elevator, the views were amazing.  All around you, you can see water and snow-capped mountains.  It wasn't particularly clear enough to see through the cloud layer and get a good view of Mt. Rainier.  I had been to the Space Needle when I was about 18, but guess I never realized just how impressive Mt. Rainier is.  I decided to do a little research and saw that this massive 14,000+ foot volcano is actually termed a dangerous super-volcano. Now doesn't that just make you feel comfortable?  I guess the millions of Seattle/Tacoma residents just put that right out of their minds.  To me, the beauty and recreational opportunities of living here far outweigh the risk of the volcano.

After the Space Needle, I was able to accomplish another first (hang on as there were several on this particular day) - heading into the Chihuly Glass Gardens.  Spectacular was the first word to pop into my mind when I saw this amazing collection of glass works by Dale Chihuly.  After spending a bit of time reading about this artist, I came to realize that I have seen his work featured in both Salt Lake City and the ceiling inside the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.  Words cannot describe the beauty of this artist's work.

The second "first" for the day was heading down to Pike Place Market and into the Le Panier French Bakery.  Wow, the food in here was delicious.  I spent several years living in Belgium, so was able to be blessed to go to Paris quite a bit.  The bakery was like stepping back in time to my years over there.  The bread and macaroons were beyond divine.  We had grabbed some cheese from the next door cheese factory Beecher's (www.beechershandmadecheese.com ) and combined with the bread and macaroons, a day spent in heaven was what we experienced.  When I travel outside of Utah, I am always amazed at how much better the food is for some reason. Is this due to scenery, better chefs, I am just not sure.  All I know is I was able to enjoy the best food I have had in a very long time.

No trip to Seattle would be complete without checking out the Gum Wall near the Pike Place Market.  According to Wikipedia, The Market Theater Gum Wall is a local landmark in downtown Seattle, in Post Alley under Pike Place Market.  Similar to Bubblegum Alley in San Luis Obispo, California, the Market Theater Gum Wall is a brick alleyway wall now covered in used chewing gum. Parts of the wall are covered several inches thick, 15 feet high for 50 feet.

As our day came to an end, visions of a delicious dinner swam in my thoughts.  Alas, we will save that for the next post!

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

Off to the Beautiful Emerald City I Go!

Off to the beautiful city of Seattle I go!  After spending five days in Oregon with family to celebrate my nephew's graduation, the road took us on our way to the beautiful city of Seattle.  After we left our rental cabin in Oregon, we took the scenic route down through Hood River, OR.  Hood River is an amazing place right on the banks of the Columbia River.  As we winded our way through town, we came upon another idea for a first!  Paddle boarding in the mighty Columbia River.  No easy feat as you watch the wind whipping down around the water.  Hood River is a mecca for people to come windsurfing and kiteboarding.  Folks travel from all over the world to sport here.  The beauty is jaw dropping and the water looks inviting but can be crazy dangerous with the currents and winds.  We chose a mellow spot that appeared to be kind of it's own little quiet enclave. After getting in our swim suits, we headed into the rental shop to get our paddle boards.  This particular concession is right by the marina. The staff was really helpful and the equipment was perfect for our first foray into the river.  As we dropped in at the mouth of the marina, it became very apparent that this not your quiet tidal pool.  Waves slapped at our boards as we struggled to navigate our way through the waters.  After paddling for just a bit, the fun turned into taking the boards to surf the waves onto the shore.  A good time was had by all, a good work-out and time to jump into the car.  Our route took us over the bridge into White Salmon, WA and on down WA-14 towards I-5.

As the driver, I was the only one who did not get to partake in the heavy napping that was going on inside the car.  Their loss as I got to see some incredible scenery along the banks of the river.  It's about an hour drive to I-5 when you come into Vancouver, WA.  We decided to stop and eat at one of my favorite places for lunch.  Beaches Cafe (www.beachesrestaurantandbar.com) is a great spot where you can sit and look out into the river, enjoy the sunshine and some great food all at the same time.  They are very kid-friendly and brought my son the usual placemat to color on, but it was the trip to the treasure chest to retrieve a toy that usually brings the smile to his face. The menu varies from burgers, shrimp and all the way down the line to the wonderful beef teriyaki bowl that I decided to order.  We had to, of course, finish up our meal with the delicious key lime pie that they have on their menu.

Back in the car we go and on the I-5 Northbound for about another two and a half hours.  As we rounded the final bend into Seatlle, I was met with the lovely skyline that let us know our destination was near.  It was a long day but filled with adventure.  Knowing that I had another first on my list made me realize how blessed I was to be living this adventure.  The excitement of paddle boarding was amazing and ending the night by having a great dinner at one of Seattle's cool restaurants Rock Bottom (http://www.rockbottom.com/locations/seattle) was the perfect end to a perfect day.  Stay tuned for my next installment where I give you the reader, a tour into some cool Seattle tourist spots!

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

The Ultimate Road Trip (Part One)

It's been a while since I have blogged.  The reason is I just pulled back into the driveway from driving 2,600 miles throughout the Pacific Northwest.  What an incredible journey.  There is lots to tell so I will whittle the story down to several posts. The reason for this long journey began with the announcement of my nephew Dan's high school graduation near the majestic peak of Mt. Hood, Oregon.  Dan is one of those kids that has remained his solid sweet self since he was born.  You really never knew that he hit teenage hood in the usual sense.  He remained upbeat, happy and just truly embraces each day with vim and vigor.  When I got his invitation, it made me sit back and realize just how fast life goes by.  Here was the cute baby that I used to visit who now had become a man and was going out into the world after reaching the 12th grade mark.  It was only fitting that I be there to join in the celebration.

After leaving Park City, our first stop of the night was in Boise, ID.  Boise is one of those cool towns that most people probably have not explored but should definitely plan on doing one day.  On this particular journey, we simply pulled into a hotel and spent the night.  The real fun started the next morning when we hit I-84.  All the way from home until the Oregon border, you can really crank it.  The speed limit is 80 MPH.  The minute you hit the Oregon border, you have to drop to 65.  Seriously, how can you make any time at that speed?  I pondered why this might be, but if you have ever driven this stretch of road, I truly think it is so beautiful that they want you to slow down and enjoy the sights.

My first "first" of this trip was stopping in Pendleton, Oregon for lunch at an amazing place called the Prodigal Son (http://prodigalsonbrewery.com).  I had the most amazing salad ever: fresh goat cheese, toasted hazelnuts, sliced apples and mixed greens with homemade cider vinaigrette.  I also splurged on splitting an amazing cheese burger with one of my road trip buddies.  This was by far one of the tastiest cheese burgers I have ever consumed in my life.  Every bite was a tasty morsel.

Pendleton is the ultimate western town.  When you first pull into the downtown area, you are taken back to some old western film.  There is even a giant cowboy boot on the sidewalk to advertise a very cool little store that sells all kinds of signs and house items.  It's definitely worth a walk through.  The name escapes me but it was right next door to the Prodigal Son.

As we winded our way up to the destination for the night, we spent many miles driving along the banks of the mighty Columbia River.  What a beautiful sight.  Since we do not have much water in Utah, it is always a treat for me to be around such big bodies of water.  I just soak in the moisture.  As we rounded the bend on I-84 into the Hood River, Oregon area, we were greeted with our first glimpse of Mt. Hood.  I have been visiting Mt. Hood for over twenty years since I have family there.  Everytime I spot it for the first time on a trip, it never ceases to amaze me.  Just look at the beauty and grandeur of this volcano.

Stay tuned for the next installment in this awesome adventure through the Pacific Northwest!

As Always,

P.A. Walker

Dear Wonder Woman, I Am Officially Resigning!

The first for today is about finally finding the courage to set up some boundaries. It takes a lot of courage, strength and detachment to set up boundaries with those loved ones who suck your energy, those people around you that suck your energy and life in general. This week I came upon quite a few folks who were going through some intense energies. They all had one thing in common, people were truly annoying the crap out of them. I am a true believer of loving everyone the same, but sometimes people just really push the limits on that one. It was with this in mind, that I realized that it was time for me to find the strength to set boundaries.

This week I had two phone calls that really angered me. Why did they anger me, because I gave my precious time away to people that just didn’t respect it. They had their own agenda, and did not come up for air to ask me about what was going on with me. Again, I realized that this is my fault. I do not set boundaries. This has finally taken it’s toll. I am ready to take off my cape and forge ahead in a way that is healthy for me.

Why are we so afraid of saying no? Why are we so afraid to not set boundaries with those around us? Several reasons pop into my mind: what will people think (oh geez, there goes that line of thinking again), we cannot say no or the old FOMO = Fear of Missing Out.

It truly has been an empowering week for me. This boundary lesson got me thinking about other themes that run concurrent in my life. Why all of a sudden does this boundary thing bother me so much? Why do I all of a sudden have the strength to set them? I truly believe that because of the healing path I am on, I am acquiring more and more tools to help me handle these situations in a different manner than I ever have before.

Today I ran into two dear friends serendipitously. It couldn’t have worked out any better even if I had planned it for months. These two lovely souls didn’t know each other but by the end of the two hour chance meeting, they were chatting like old friends. I love that, I love to see that my tribe can expand beyond me and those like-minded folks can connect. It also helped me to see that I was not the only one that was having this boundary issue come up. We had a lot in common today and it helped cement for me that I was moving in the right direction.

I think that we spend a lot of time blaming ourselves for past mistakes. Who doesn’t? It’s human nature. What I saw today is that I realized that I sometimes slip back but I am correcting my course a lot faster to get back in aligment with my authentic self. I love how the Universe helps us out.

“We change our behavior when the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the pain of changing. Consequences give us the pain that motivates us to change.”  ― Henry Cloud

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

My Town Through New Eyes

The other day I had the awesome opportunity to see my hometown through new eyes.  My first for this post is that I decided to become a tourist in a town I have lived in for 15 years but have started to take for granted and actually complain about (more on that later). A friend of mine came into Park City for the very first time.  She traveled to Utah from Northern California with her 6 year old son whom I have never met before.  I loved this kid from the get-go. He is an old soul in a young person.  What a beautiful outlook this kid has on life.  He does things with gusto, no complaints and definitely a lot of boy adrenaline.  After just 10 minutes with him, I said to myself, why am I not living like this?  Let's do this, let's have a fun day.

We started our day by having a late breakfast at Squatter's Brewery on the main drag in Park City.  (www.squatters.com).  Squatter's has several locations.  I have eaten here a lot but never had breakfast there.  I would say it was your normal fare.  Nothing amazing but once you added a side of bacon, the rest just seemed to not matter.

Now that we were full, I suggested to my little friend and his mom that we head up to Utah Olympic Park.  Utah Olympic Park is an amazing venue where several of the events were held during the Salt Lake 2002 Olympics.  There is a museum there that has quite a few of the items from these Olympics.  There are also plenty of fun activities in the park including zip lining, bobsled rides, and a ropes adventure course.  (http://utaholympiclegacy.org)

D. is an avid Nascar fan.  You could ask this kid about any driver and he could tell you their car number, stats, etc.  To make the outing enticing to a 6 year old, I told him that they had bobsleds at the park where the drivers did upwards of 70+ miles per hour.  My sidekick's eyes grew big when he asked if he could ride one.  Alas, the track was closed and you have to be 18 to do this.  He wasn't sidetracked because we were able to do a simulated one inside the museum.  You sit in a chairlift chair and are faced with a big screen that shows the bobsled track.  You feel like you are actually going down it because the chair bumps and fake snow rains down upon you.  What made it for me were the belly laughs coming out of him.  He just had that pure, child-like giggle that took me out of the real world for a few hours and put me into the shoes of someone experiencing Park City for the first time ever. How cool was that?

Next up on the agenda was picking my own son up early from school.  With D. in hand, I went into my kid's classroom to surprise him and tell him that we were heading up to Main Street and the home of the world's best ice cream (www.javacow.com).  We have been in here countless times, but never tire of the unique flavors.  My favorite is Cherry Springer, a delicious blend of dark chocolate chips, vanilla ice cream and pieces of cherries.  Divine!!

After walking around the touristic Main Street area, we headed to Vinto's Pizzeria for some of their amazing limeade and to share a pizza.  Vinto is our go-to pizzeria in the Main Street area. Being from New Jersey originally, I am a bit of a pizza snob.  Vinto's is not East Coast quality but it certainly keeps me happy.  (www.vinto.com)

The day went by extremely fast.  I realized at the end of the day how much fun it was to look at my town with fresh eyes.  We all enjoyed the day.  As I stated before, I am getting a bit jaded on my hometown.  It's all of a sudden become the place to move.  It went from a quiet little ski resort to a big deal.  The traffic is getting worse, the people not so nice and the house prices are booming (okay, that last one is a good thing since I own a little piece of paradise).  By spending the day as a tourist for a change, it gave me a new perspective.  I realized that folks spend thousands of dollars to come to my town for a week's ski vacation or a long weekend.  I live here.  I can cherish and enjoy it each and every day.  I am now making the vow to have a little vacation in each day.

"My goal is to build a life I don't need a vacation from." - R. Hill

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

Signs from the Universe

As I sat down this morning to write this blog post, it occurred to me that I had no clue what I was going to write about today. I just knew it would flow through me. This is a first of sorts. I liken it to just putting it out there. I am trusting the universe to take over the reins and give me a voice. Today has been unique. I have had an outpouring of phone calls and messages from people that I haven’t heard from in a long time. These are folks that I have chosen to take a step back from. They didn’t fit into what I have been moving forward into. They are not bad people, just not on the same path as I.  I was questioning why all of sudden did they all reach out on the same day?

As the voice mails and emails appeared , I thought to myself that I should sit and figure out what was going on. What is the pop quiz that the universe was putting to me this first day of the week? I finally got it. I realized after seeing several posts pop up on facebook and sitting on what was happening, it is about going within. Why were these messages so bothersome to me? Why was it irritating to me that someone close to me was once again self-sabotaging himself? I pulled out the proverbial “mirror” and said, why was I irked? It hit me. I am irked because I made the conscious decision to be irked. I was spending my precious energy trying to figure out the behaviors of others. Do you know what this did for me? It gave me the luxury of time spent away from my dreams and visions. If I spent it on others, then I wouldn’t have to go out into that uncomfortable world of the unknown.

When I realized all of this, I kind of got a little excited. I realized that I had a choice here. I could continue going down that path, or I could forge ever forward to do something that felt uncomfortable to me. I could move one step ahead today to get myself closer to my dreams. I could do a huge thing today to get even closer. Bottom line was that it was all in my power.  There are times where, of course, the behavior of others will still affect me. It’s only natural, but what I can do is be there for them with compassion. I can ask them, what would playing a bigger game look like to you?

I ask you the reader, if you have had a situation that you keep re-visiting to get away from the bigger picture. If you do, what will things be like in one year, five years, ten years if you don’t take action now?

"We are our choices." - Jean-Paul Sartre

Until my next adventure,

P.A. Walker

It's As If Someone Turned the Light On.

Today I woke up to the news that yet another earthquake had hit Nepal.  This time the 7.3 earthquake was 42 miles from Namche Bazaar, close to Mt. Everest.  I realized with a start that this is the area that my niece's friend Katie had been trekking in.  I had a Facebook message from Katie not two days ago that she was fine and was staying there until she left to go to Khatmandu in two weeks.   My heart sank when I realized that today she might not be so safe.  I immediately took to social media to see if I could find an answer.  It came via text message an hour or so later, that Katie was indeed safe for now. My first in all of this is that I realized truly for the first time, how quickly a life can be taken.  In the blink of an eye an earthquake could hit and take dozens of lives.  With this mindset, I proceeded to go about my day just a little differently.  I had a new purpose.  I realized that today could be my last day on earth.  If so, did I want to spend it doing meaningless things?  Did I want to spend it watching reality television (not that I make a habit of that).  No, I answered, I want to make every minute count.

Sitting at my desk this morning, I realized that I had an overwhelming urge to help out someone.  I didn't know what form this would take, but quickly realized that it would be one step in the right direction to send a donation to a Go Fund Me Page that I have been reading about on Facebook.  My amazing Reiki teacher Carol Wilson is on the ground working tirelessly in Nepal. Carol landed in Khatmandu just five minutes before the first big earthquake hit.  She could have made the choice to turn around and go home, but instead she is staying to help out with relief efforts.  Below I have attached a link to her Go Fund Me Page.  It has a beautiful video that her kids put together for her for Mother's Day.  What kind, selfless kids she has.  They definitely learned that from their mom.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ6GoIrVP8I[/embed]

Carol's page is http://www.gofundme.com/ubfcsg.

I know it sounds trite to say life has changed for me in this instance, but I keep getting this feeling that in some ways it has.  I have made a deep decision to make some changes and will act on them now.  It's selfish of me to not use this one beautiful life I have been given to give my gifts to the world.  What that looks like might not be so clear right now, but it is time to start moving in that direction and not be afraid to put those gifts out there.  How many people has Carol directly affected by using her gifts to the world?  It may be ten or thousands, but if she didn't have the courage to use her gifts right now in Nepal, the world would be a different place for those affected by this earthquake.

I urge you, the reader, to take some time today and see what changes you might need to instill in your life.  Maybe you are in complete alignment with your purpose.  If so, I applaud you and commend you that you are there.  However, if you are not in alignment, I know the feeling.  I also will think of you as I am making my own strides.  It's hard to put that first foot on the steps, but just imagine what we can do if we keep moving forward!!

God bless all the people affected by these terrible earthquakes.  Let's pray together that they all find peace sooner rather than later!

“Faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase." - M.L. King Jr.

Until my next adventure in life,

P.A. Walker

A Mother's Day Spent in a New Way!

This week's new adventure had me on the road to Moab, UT, a beautiful area in Southern Utah that encompasses several National Parks including Arches and Canyonlands.  The first in this adventure came about when we decided to "glamp" at Moab Under Canvas (www.moabundercanvas.com).  What is glamping you ask?  It is a new word for a new kind of travel.  When you are glamping, there's no need to pitch a tent or bring a sleeping bag.  These items are provided to you as you sleep in a yurt, airstream, villa or in our case a spacious canvas tent.  I love to sleep outdoors, but sometimes you just don't have the time or energy to drag your own equipment.  When you glamp, it is all provided for you.

When we arrived at Moab Under Canvas, we were warmly greeted by Ben at the reception tent. Ben went out of his way to make sure we were properly settled in our tent.  He helped with our duffel bags, pointed out a lot of the area information and even suggested that we order our breakfast for the next morning so we didn't have to drive down into Moab (about 10 miles away) the next morning.  Ben gave us some great tips for hiking and made sure we knew that he was available if anything should arise.

After getting settled in, we headed into Arches National Park.  I have hiked here several times. However, every time I go into Arches, it makes me feel like it is my first time there.  The red rocks look different every time.  Around each bend of the road there is another stunning vista.  It truly takes my breathe away. The hike of the day was into the area with the arches called North and South Window.  An easy hike to do, especially with the young one.  Lots of fun rocks to climb up and over, and not too long of hike so there were no complaints.

        

        

After dining in downtown Moab, we headed back to our campsite.  The weather this particular weekend was a bit iffy.  The clouds kept rolling in and rain threatened.  Rumor has it that the night before we arrived, a spectacular lighting show and heavy rain had hit the area.  That would have been amazing to see from our campground.  The scenery just from our tent was one that changed on a minute by minute basis.  You can see the edge of Arches from the campground.  As the sun was setting, the rocks kept changing colors.  Truly a sight to see.

The next morning, which happened to be Mother's Day, I was greeted by an amazing sight while up at sunrise.  I hiked down to the reception tent to get a warm cup of tea [The tent is always flowing with coffee, tea, hot chocolate and plenty of great conversation with whomever happens to be at the front desk.].  As I walked out of the tent, I was greeted with an awe-inspiring view. It had rained pretty heavily the night before, which made for some wonderful sleeping.  As the rain cleared out in the wee hours of the morning, I was amazed to see not one, but two full rainbows up in the sky.  As words cannot describe this sight, here is a picture that just might:

It was one of the best Mother's Day presents I have ever received.  My son even told me that he had ordered those special.

We had originally planned to get up early and do the 2-3 hour roundtrip hike to Delicate Arch Trail in Arches.  However, since we woke to gray and cold, we snuggled in our extremely warm and comfortable beds and fell back asleep for a few more hours.

We ended the weekend by doing the Lower Delicate Arch Overlook Trail.  This is literally a 100 yards long trail that leaves right from the parking lot.  You are treated to a great view of Delicate Arch, but not as up close and personal as the other hike.  Next time, we will do the longer of the hikes.

Moab is one of those places where the weather can turn on a dime, one minute sunny and the next raining and thunderstorms.  We waited a bit, but alas, the weather did not break.  TIme to head back to Park City and do the dirty laundry.  How did we mess up our tent so much in just one weekend?

I am truly grateful to Ben and the rest of the staff at Moab Under Canvas for such as special weekend.  The company has other locations in Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks.  Hmmm, which one to try next?

Until my next adventure,

P.A. Walker

As always, you can follow me on Facebook and Twitter under my page Kiva Wellness.

Love and Acceptance

I was lying in bed this Monday morning getting a little sad. I realized that I did not have some sort of fun adventure planned for this week. It is going to be a week full of work, spring cleaning and being the Mom taxi that I am. However, as I was out on my morning walk, I had the clear realization that life’s adventures and new things (aha moments) are not just about fun, travel, etc. They also can come in the form of a life lesson that sets you up for future greatness. I was joined on my walk this morning by my husband. Today is our 15^th wedding anniversary. We were reminiscing about the last 15 years and all the ups and downs that we have had. We are currently in a pattern in our relationship where we are working on ourselves. We have realized that in order to move forward in a positive and loving way to each other, that it was time to step back and take care of ourselves. This has come in the form of therapy, energy work, yoga, mediation, life coaching and several other modalities. It’s been a slow process, but one that seems to be moving in a forward and positive direction.

What brought up the aha moment was that we were discussing a family member that we were both getting frustrated with. We know deep in our hearts that his indecisions and fear hold him back from living his true potential. It’s been a source of frustration for years. However, today I had a moment, for my first time ever, where I stopped and said, “I was taught the difference between what I could and could not control!” It’s taken me years of self-work to do this, yet this family member has not done this at all. He has made the conscious choice to stay stuck in old limiting beliefs and patterns.

I turned the conversation around to, “Why do we spend so much energy on worrying about this person?” It’s because we are not taking that energy and putting it on our own journey. It’s super easy to put your attention on someone else so you don’t have to take care of your own issues. I will go a few steps forward and then revert back to this old pattern of “worrying and trying to fix” someone else. How convenient!  This takes my time away from me and makes me think I am using it for a valid reason!

Today was a great first for me. I was able to realize that I was doing that. I also saw for the first time that it is time to let this family member live his own life. He is on his own path, we just have to accept and love him. Here is a quote I heard today and I believe it is from AA:

"And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing or situation — some fact of my life — unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment."

What aha moments have you come up with today? Would love to hear your stories!

Until my next adventure,

P.A. Walker