Vancouver: You Will Always Have My Heart!

I love travel.  It's an opportunity to see how others live, experience new places and best of all, try new food.  This past week found me north of the border in beautiful Vancouver, BC, Canada.  This was my third trip to these parts, but the first time that I have spent more than a few hours exploring this beautiful city. The last two times I was there, I quickly headed up to Whistler Mountain.  I am so glad that I had the opportunity this past week to spend it all in Vancouver. When you arrive in Canada, you realize that although you are close to the United States, you feel a billion miles away.  Entering the country, you are met with an almost European like scenery.  The gorgeous mountains surround the water while the city sits on an island like atmosphere.  There are tall skyscrapers surrounding beautiful churches, buildings, and waterfront scenery.  I was there for six days and had the chance to absorb quite a bit of this incredible city.

The first night we arrived, we came upon an interesting sight.  Evidently the TV show "The Flash" was being filmed outside of our hotel.  Fun to watch, explosions and all.  Vancouver is becoming quite the hub of film production.  The US Dollar is doing well up there, so I guess folks are migrating out of Hollywood.

There are plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities in Vancouver and her surrounding areas.  The days saw us going up in a seaplane, visiting museums and walking across a suspension bridge 250 feet in the air at the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park (https://www.capbridge.com).  This experience took me several tries before I went across the suspension bridge.  It was surprisingly hard work to get across having to wade through multiple groups of tourists stopping right in the middle to take their selfies.  I was afraid to look down on the way across, but as this is the only way in and out of the rest of the park, I stopped on the way back to gaze at how high up I really was.

Our days continued with good weather (which is a rarity in Vancouver), good food and fun experiences.  On one of our last days in the city, we decided to try out the Granville Island Market.  This was definitely one of the highlights of the city.  Taking the water taxi to the island affords you a great view of the everyday hustle and bustle.  It also alleviates you having to find a parking spot which is rumored to be difficult.

Stepping into the Public Market was a sensory overload.  Whatever food you could think of had a vendor or multiple vendors.  I saw rows and rows of beautiful fruit, meats, cheeses, and best of all bakery goods.  The macaroons were to die for.  After eating our way through the market, we ended our day by walking back to our hotel and calling it a night.

I can't wait until I have the chance to visit this beautiful city again.  It left a lot of memories implanted in my mind.  I will always think of the wonderful time I had across the border.

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

Feel free to follow me on my Facebook Page: The Second Half or via Twitter (Patricia A. Walker@50foraYear).

The Game of Telephone

“When you are not honoring the present moment by allowing it to be, you are creating drama.” ~Eckhart Tolle Remember that game of telephone that you used to play when you were little??  I am sad to report that it still exists as an adult.  There are still those people out there that won't come right to the source to get the truth.  Why?  They love trauma and drama and gossip.  I have come to realize that I am surrounded by this every day whether I want to be or not. I can only do so much to remove myself from this modus operands but even when I try, it still comes right to my door.  It's just an every day fact of life. With this in mind, I set out to do some research and see how I could exist on a daily basis and not get caught up in the fray.

There are several wonderful tools you can use when confronted by drama.  I was recently confronted with drama when my child decided to tell a non-truth to a classmate of his.  It spiraled out of control and eventually, two weeks later came to my door (thankfully) through a friend who was willing to step up and ask me if it was even true (it wasn't).  Thank God she did.  It has since come out that this untruth went around the neighborhood and through the woods.  See, an instance where the game of telephone came up.  I wish folks had just come straight to me and asked instead of taking for granted that this untruth was well, true.

It's my new MO to uplift situations.  For instance, when someone starts talking about our negative-filled presidential race, I can do one of two things, 1) ignore and change the subject or 2) walk away.  There is a third option, that is to make some humor out of it.  I'll give you an example, I made a comment the other day about how hot the Prime Minister of Canada is and guess what, it completely changed the tide of the negative conversation that was starting to take place.  Mission accomplished!

Let's be real, drama will forever be a part of one's life.  It's the reaction to the drama that will determine how it will be handled and what your reaction will be.

I recently came across a blog post on Tiny Buddha - http://tinybuddha.com/blog/7-crucial-steps-to-minimize-drama-in-your-life/.  An amazing article that puts it all into perspective.  Here are the top five points that this article goes on to explain.  I highly recommend reading it in detail though.

1. Recognize when you might be creating drama.  If there are multiple areas of drama in your life - be honest, you're the constant.
2. Change your perspective.
3. Don't feed into other's drama.
4. Reconsider unhealthy relationships.
5. Be clear and straight with people.

Five basic but powerful steps to use when you are wanting to move away from drama.

I wish you luck in creating a drama-less atmosphere.  It's amazing how you're perspective will change and how it will change you.

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

Are you ready to say yes to your soul by shifting your perspective to create something extraordinary? I invite you to contact me via email at twalker.wellness@gmail.com to schedule a complimentary 30 minute consultation to discuss how we can work together to make your second half of life better than your first.

Please also follow me on my Facebook Page: The Second Half or via Twitter (Patricia A. Walker@50foraYear).

Minding My Own Business

“You would be very surprise with how much positive changes that you could make in your life, if could make it your top priority to mind your own business.” ― Edmond Mbiaka

I heard a simple but powerful saying the other day!  "Stay in your own lane.".  Think about this and the statement it makes.  What this means is, mind your own business. The author Byron Katie has a saying, "There's three types of business; yours, mine and God's.  If you are in my business, who is in your business?  Etc."  Very profound.  Very simple, but very profound.

I'm a helper by nature.  I like to help people, give them advice and wish only the best for them.  This can sometimes be to my detriment.  I end up spending too much time helping people and this has taken away from my own business.  This year I decided that I can make the choice to stay in my own lane and work on my own "stuff".  Easier said than done.  Any time the phone can ring and someone can lay a drama at my feet. There I go again.  It's just been this past week that I have made the decision to not get caught up on other's dramas.  If they have drama, darn it, fix it yourself.  Or better yet, don't create drama where it's truly not needed.  If you need to remedy a situation in your life, don't take off and try and help others before you fix what needs to be fixed in your own lane.  Love this.

How's this working for me so far?  It's been tiring, freeing, exhausting but slowly getting to the point where I'm staying in my own lane.  I'm getting more work done, figuring life out and in general, being in a happier place because I know I am moving myself towards my best self.

It can be hard to stay in your own lane.  I know, I've been there before.  However, until someone pointed out to me that it's healthier to go inwards, I didn't always make that choice.  I grew up in drama and trauma.  My relatives thrive on that stuff.  However, I am setting boundaries and moving past this old story.  It can be done, believe me.

I wish you luck on creating your own boundaries and staying in your own lane.  It's a very powerful move.

Until my next adventure,

P.A. Walker

Are you ready to say yes to your soul by shifting your perspective to create something extraordinary? I invite you to contact me via email at twalker.wellness@gmail.com to schedule a complimentary 30 minute consultation to discuss how we can work together to make your second half of life better than your first.

Please also follow me on my Facebook Page: The Second Half or via Twitter (Patricia A. Walker@50foraYear).

Healing in A Medium Way

Have you ever sat back and noticed how many different facets of life there are?  Let me explain.  So my guilty pleasure at this moment is watching "The Long Island Medium" on TLC.  There, I said it.  I put it out there.  I bet there are many other people that can relate to this as well.  It gives me an hour of brevity while I eat my lunch.  Since I work out of my house, it's nice to get out amongst the "real" world for an hour or so and see what's going on. Theresa Caputo is your typical Long Island resident.  Well, perhaps I shouldn't stereotype folks like that.  I'm sure they are not all walking around with long nails and big hair.  However, since I left the East Coast 15 years ago, I kind of still have that stereotype in my head.  Heck, I had the big hair myself.  Never quite understood the nails though.

I digress.  As I was watching an episode On Demand today, it became very clear to me that although we all come different backgrounds, cultures, family size, family style, geographical location, etc., the themes of life run the same throughout all different types of people.  In my life's work, I would love to be able to heal people to the point that they can get out of their ruts and move into their best selves.  After watching today's episode, it dawned on me that that is just what the Long Island Medium wants as well.  You can literally see the folks she is doing readings for lift up in spirit and body. It sometimes looks as if they have gained back years of their lives.  What a gift to get.

I lost both of my parents to a heart attack and Alzheimer's respectively.  One I never got to say goodbye to and the other the goodbye was too long.  What I mean is that my mom suffered with this disease for a long time.  It would have been nice to know that she passed over sooner and got to a peaceful place.  There are days where I know their souls are around me.  In fact, just the other day I distinctly smelled cigarette smoke around my house. I went out and no one was anywhere around.  In fact, I know none of my neighbors smoked.  A ha, I thought, Dad must be coming in for a visit.  He smoked like there was no tomorrow.  Unfortunately because he smoked so much, there was no tomorrow.

In each of the readings that Theresa does, you can see the different themes of life:  loss, love, regret, gratitude, joy, relief, etc.  Loved ones get the answers they have been looking for.  Thus they can begin the long process of healing and moving on with their lives.  That's what I want for my clients, myself and my family members as well.  Take that first step and the others will follow.  Step out of your need to be right and step into saying yes to your soul!

So now that I have outed myself as a fan of a reality show, I feel like a weight has been lifted off of me.  Why do I sit in the basement and hide this? Why don't I put myself out there with the other fans of her show, why, why???  So this is probably the subject of another blog post to come!!

Until then,

P.A. Walker

Are you ready to say yes to your soul by shifting your perspective to create something extraordinary? I invite you to contact me via email at twalker.wellness@gmail.com to schedule a complimentary 30 minute consultation to discuss how we can work together to make your second half of life better than your first.

Please also follow me on my Facebook Page: The Second Half or via Twitter (Patricia A. Walker@50foraYear).

The Power of a Rest Day!!

Never underestimate the power of a day to snuggle in.  It's been months since I have had the opportunity to just stay in bed.  My son and I cut a weekend in Southern Utah short because we both were feeling under the weather and wanting to be in our own beds.  We drove home late Saturday night and ended up both having a great night sleep. Imagine our delight when we woke up to it raining and cold.  A perfect excuse to go back to bed.  See, where I come from the sun shines 300 days a year.  There's really never a day where you can just sit and not feel the overwhelming urge that you have to go outside to ski, mountain bike, or hike.  I know to those of you in gray states, this sounds like whining, but it seriously can be a problem. Back to bed.  It's 10:00 AM and I have been very creative today while still staying in my jammies.  The rain is hitting the windows, the kid is watching a movie and I am snuggled under my comforter thinking about all the things I'm glad I am not doing today.  It's giving me the excuse to do a re-set.  I've been cleaning up Facebook, typing up blog posts and sitting in meditation to see what Spirit has in store for me this upcoming week.

Our society teaches us that it's a badge of honor to keep saying, "I'm so busy, oh, I'm so busy".  I can remember being in the corporate world and saying the same thing myself. I thought it showed that I was someone who deserved respect because I was so BUSY. However, nowadays, I see it as someone who can't manage their time very well.  If you truly wanted to be with someone, or do something, you would find the time.

I am so enjoying this moment of peace.  It's letting me hear the birds chirping, see the rain turn to snow, and giving my physical body time to rest after a day yesterday of hiking and driving for four hours.  I can actually feel my body sighing and saying thank you.  Thank you for taking time to nuture me.

I hope that you take the chance to have a "snuggle in " day.  The benefits, especially around the time change, will be huge!!  Enjoy and let me know if you can recommend any good movies!!

"Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for.  Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us." - Maya Angelou

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

Are you ready to say yes to your soul by shifting your perspective to create something extraordinary? I invite you to contact me via email at twalker.wellness@gmail.com to schedule a complimentary 30 minute consultation to discuss how we can work together to make your second half of life better than your first.

Please also follow me on my Facebook Page: The Second Half or via Twitter (Patricia A. Walker@50foraYear).

Life is Not A Dress Rehearsal

As I raise my personal vibration through self-examination, it's become very apparent that others around me are having trouble with the changes.  At first it made me sad that others were not there to support me, but then I started to re-frame it and realize that it has nothing to do with me.  It's on them!  Perhaps a change in me has triggered something in them that they dream of changing and just don't have the courage to. Perhaps they are looking outside instead of looking inside.  Again, not something for me to worry about but to move past. My journey of self-realization has been happening over the course of more than a few years.  It's taken shape in everything from workshops, to coaching, to fitness and beyond.  It's been a struggle sometimes, but more than ever now, it's been a road to joy, amazing stories and a sense of being very grateful to the Universe for all that has come to me.  It's hard work but I'm glad I am pushing forward on this path.

Someone told me just a few months ago that my soul's blueprint is that I am here to help people see their true selves.  It's a tough job but someone has to do it.  How am I going to accomplish this when I am trying to stay in my own lane?  Perhaps it's just by being a example to others that it's never too late to change, or to move forward.  It's never too late to take those things that you have always wanted to do and act on them. Do you want to travel the world, have a successful business, adopt a child?  NOW is the time to do them.  It's not something to wait to do, because as I have discussed in the past, tomorrow may never come.

There are all kinds of reasons and excuses to not go forward on your path.  Maybe you say that a spouse is holding you back or that you have to be home for your child. Perhaps you are saying that you will start a new fitness routine tomorrow, but never get around to it because it's easier to just stay rooted where you are.  What will this story look like in a year or two from now?  Will you be in the same cycle that you were two years ago?  How will that feel?  I'm guessing, not too great.  I've been in these situations before and thankfully, have dug down deep in order to see that it's time to move past them.  Just realizing this is the first step to doing something on that new journey.  If you change just one thing a week, for example swap out a healthy food for a previously unhealthy food, look how far you will be in a year!

Life is not a dress rehearsal.  We get one shot at this folks.  We get one body to borrow and one mind to use.  What will it say to our children or others around us if we don't take these gifts to heart and use them to their fullest potentials?  I'm betting that we might not get the chance to do it all over again.  Enjoy your life, live your life, and get out there and rock this one shot we have!!

"Look at what you want to change, gather a few people who believe in it like you do, and start moving forward. It's important to remember that you don't always need a destination. Sometimes, you just have to make forward motion. And you absolutely can." -  Debby Ryan

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

Are you ready to say yes to your soul by shifting your perspective to create something extraordinary? I invite you to contact me via email at trish@thesecondhalf.us to schedule a complimentary 30 minute consultation to discuss how we can work together to make your second half of life better than your first.

Please also follow me on my Facebook Page: The Second Half or via Twitter (Patricia A. Walker@50foraYear).

The Different Sides to Santa Barbara

I have traveled to Santa Barbara several times over the last two years.  It feels like home to me.  Each trip here has me finding more and more layers to it.  This past week I was exposed to just a little more…. I was blessed to be able to experience a conference this week that rocked my world. Basically it was an energetic/business gathering.  I won't get too much into why I was there, but more into what I garnered while I was there.  For years I have been saying I wanted to volunteer at a soup kitchen, homeless shelter, etc.  However, I never made it happen.  Not really sure why, but this week I was able to take part in a group activity that truly changed my world.  Another first!

One of the nights that we were at meeting, we were told to meet at 5:00 in our conference room to find out what we would be doing.  We arrived to find bags of bread, jars of peanut butter and jelly, plus bottled water.  We quickly got down to work and assembled as a group 100 bags of sandwiches and water to pass out to the homeless population in Santa Barbara.  If anyone knows what Santa Barbara is like, you would be hard pressed to believe that such a population exists.  Not only does it, but it is pretty numerous and all around from the beach to the parks.

We set out in small groups to areas that we thought might have some folks in need of a meal.  The biggest gathering that we came to was in Alameda Park downtown.  Sure enough, we came upon many folks that were truly grateful for a sandwich or two.  We spent considerable time just connecting with the folks.  They have stories, lots of stories.  We met a young lady whose family had disowned her after her grandmother died for various reasons.  We met a man who lost everything a month ago in Michigan and was now living in a park in Santa Barbara.  He had an amazing attitude and said, "Hey, who wouldn't want to live here in such a beautiful place?'.  It truly was a mind-shift for sure.

One of the take-aways from this experience that was a huge shift for me was their attitude of we have enough.  What I mean by this is, we would try and hand them enough food for two days and they said no.  They would only take enough for one and say, we are okay for now.  Can you imagine?  These folks don't know where their next meals are coming from and they still said they had enough.  It was a huge lesson for me in abundance, being grateful and realizing that I have more than enough.

The homeless population in Santa Barbara is bigger than most people realize.  There were two gentleman who actually did a documentary about it, the actor Paul Walker and his friend Brandon Birtell.  The documentary was called Shelter.  They worked with a local therapist who was a big advocate in Santa Barbara for the homeless.  He has since retired.  Unfortunately with Paul's untimely passing and the unfavorable response of some to the movie (Paul actually received death threats while promoting it.), most folks have never heard of the documentary.

This issue of homelessness is one of huge importance.  I am so grateful that I was able to have this opportunity to spend some time with some of the homeless population in Santa Barbara.  It certainly changed my view.  I plan to look for more opportunities to help out this cause in the future.  I urge you, the readers, to seek out opportunities to help out as well.  It was amazing how giving to someone else, can give us more in terms of feeling so good about our own lives!

"I know I sound like a broken record, but 10 years ago I was living out of a garage and pan- handling, so just being a little comfortable is more than good for me. In fact, this is heaven." - Paul Walker to the Chicago Sun Times

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

Are you ready to say yes to your soul by shifting your perspective to create something extraordinary? I invite you to contact me via email at trish@thesecondhalf.us to schedule a complimentary 30 minute consultation to discuss how we can work together to make your second half of life better than your first.

Please also follow me on my Facebook Page: The Second Half or via Twitter (Patricia A. Walker@50foraYear).

Anything You Dream is Possible!

On Monday, February 1st, 2016, James Twyman walked into ISIS controlled Syria to perform his peace concert.  He had asked his tribe previously if everyone would say a prayer of peace at the exact same time throughout the world.  I had the time to pray programmed into my phone so I could be a part of the collective.  As the time neared, I actually got chills and felt like there was a powerful energy building up.  I wanted to tap into it and give my support. This whole process got me thinking as to what makes up an individual such as James Twyman?  Why is it that some people will kick ass and do this sort of thing and why do some folks decide that just getting by is good enough?  It's an interesting thing to ponder.  Why am I one who is ready to look deep inside and why are some folks just okay with staying home, never traveling and just surviving?  I want to thrive.

I am realizing more and more that the James Twyman's of the world usually have been through some earth shattering situation that turned their lives around in a minute. There are the cancer survivors who say, "Cancer is the best thing that ever happened to me." There are the people who have lost loved ones in an instant that are well aware that life is just too darn short to waste it.  That's the avenue that put me on this path.  The loss of someone with whom I have a connection with changed my life in just one day.  The path that I am taking since his sudden death has been one that has not only amazed me but those around me as well.

Remember the story of Randy Pausch, the charismatic young college professor who chronicled his battle with pancreatic cancer in a remarkable speech widely-known as the "Last Lecture?  If you have never read this book or seen his lecture, I would highly recommend it.  In fact, I am going to share the video of it right here.  Please take a moment to watch it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncoSRKoU6GQ

Mr. Pausch points out a few important factors in this video.  "Anything you dream is possible.".  He talks about how to live life as if you were dying because, well, he was dying.  I watched this video and said to myself, "If this man is so inspirational and upbeat in his last few months, what could I do here on Earth without being that sick?"  Imagine the possibilities.

The lessons that have come through loud and clear for me over the last few months is, life is short.  We are all going to die.  No one gets out of here alive!  With that in mind I decided it was time to take some action and live the best life that I can!  What does that look like?  It's a daily work-in-progress.  I have been given the gift of this realization by folks I have lost way too young.  The best way that I can honor their memories is to live my life to the fullest.  I know that they are around me everyday.  I talk to them.  Obviously they might not talk back, but I know in my heart that they are there to support me.

“Don't you ever get the feeling that all your life is going by and you're not taking advantage of it? Do you realize you've lived nearly half the time you have to live already?” ― Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises

Until My Next Adventure,

P.A. Walker

As always, you can connect with me on my Facebook Page, The Second Half and also on Twitter.

Family By A Different Name

A visit from family is something to cherish, or is it??  This past week I had the pleasure of having my brother's ex-wife visit me here in Utah.  In the 15 years that I have lived here, she has not made it here yet.  However, I believe that she is now a fan of our beautiful state. Her visit got me to thinking about how my family life has evolved over the last 10 or so years.  I am one of five siblings, the youngest in fact.  My siblings are spread out all over the United States from Oregon clear across to New Jersey and South Carolina.  We also throw Arizona into the mix.  There is a reason we all live in different states.  In fact, there are several reasons why we all live in different states.  That could be the subject of another blog.

What I started to think about while my ex-sister-in-law was here, was how I define family now. For starters, she is on paper my ex-sister-in-law but in the heart and on the phone, for all intents and purposes, she is my sister.  I have known her since I am 12. She could tell stories about me that even I didn't know.  I appreciate her, I cherish her and we had the best visit ever.  It got me laughing when I introduced her to folks.  We look nothing alike, but I introduced her as my sister.  You see, my biological sister is someone that I have nothing in common with except being born to the same parents.  I haven't seen her in person in years and I know for a fact that she probably gets her information about me from my niece who is on Facebook with me. My niece rocks, she is an interesting young lady who appears to have more of my traits than my sister.  I pray that someday soon she moves out West so I can get to know her all over again.

Family these days, according to most of my neighbors and friends, is a mix of biological and self-made.  I love my Park City family (friends).  They treat me with more respect than I get from most of my siblings.  I cherish the time I spend with them.  I enjoy it.  I have more in common with them than I do my own family that I have known all my life.

I once read a book called, "Why Do I Love These People" by Po Bronson.  I highly suggest it.  It is a great read.  The sub-title is Understanding, Surviving and Creating Your Own Family.  It's like he wrote this book just for me.  Now don't get me wrong, my family has it's good traits.  But I am the "different" one.  If you are that one in your family, you will know what I mean.  I am the one who is out there seeking the answers to why we operate in certain ways.  I ask the questions that nobody wants to talk about.  You can imagine how well that goes over.

As I get up there in years, I have come to the realization that society imposes quite a few "rules" for how a family operates.  I think that Norman Rockwell's famous painting of family dinner probably did a number on a lot of us.  Holidays are now defined by this painting.  How many times does real life look like this?  I know for a fact, that it's been a very long time since mine has.

It's taken me a long time to get to the realization and knowledge that you pick your family for a reason.  Some folks even say that this happens prior to birth so that you can come into this life and learn certain lessons and hopefully correct some things.  I am a believer in this.  There are days where I go, what the hell are they trying to teach me?  It all gets back to the basic messages of unconditional love and letting folks live their own journeys. It takes patience, and giving up the need to be right.  Just because I operate one way doesn't mean that I should expect anyone else to operate the same way.

There are days where I get sad because I don't have one of those families that pack up and meet all in one destination for a week of fun. In fact, a few years ago my sister tried to make that happen and 98% of us said no thank you.  When I was speaking with my "sister" this week, I said that I have resigned myself to knowing that it's going to be one of those see everyone at the next funeral type of operations.  However, I also remember that I do have a "family".  I have assembled my own with child, friends, neighbors, etc.  I have gathered a tribe with similar interests who boost me up and encourage me to be my greatest self.  I love, love, love this.

“But none of that really mattered. I had found my tribe. It felt like a family reunion for the family I'd never really known, a homecoming at the place where I was always meant to be but hadn't known how to find.” ― David Levithan, Hold Me Closer: The Tiny Cooper Story

Until my next adventure,

P.A. Walker

As always, please connect with me on my Facebook Page - The Second Half or on Twitter!

Living My Own Reality Show

Sometimes it's hard to think about life when it throws you a curve ball.  That's kind of what's happening to me right now.  Life as I had imagined it would flow decided to show up and tell me that it has other plans for me.  I could do one of two things, lay down on the couch, watch television and wait for it to pass me by.  Option B would be to stand up, look life in the face and say, "I've got this!".  I am deciding to go with Option B. When faced with these two options, sometimes I do have the urge to go with the first one. Boy that couch looks way too comfortable.  I could click On Demand and cue up a reality show, but instead I'm deciding to live out my own reality show.  I'm going to take those lemons and make lemonade.

Something became very apparent to me this weekend.  I am licking my chops and deciding that it is time to move on.  Move on from relationships, previous ways of life and my life in general.  How will this look?  Not quite sure yet.  However, I actually put on Pandora and sang to myself in the shower.  When I came out, I was excited about what the future holds.  I can do anything I want!  How's that for un-nerving?  I have the right to make my own choices, live my life on my terms and move forward to provide an exciting future for my child.  I want to give him the best role model that I am capable of.

We get plenty of opportunities in life to hit the re-set button.  Self-care is huge during these moments.  Take time for meditation, salt baths, nature walks and self-love. Without our energy supply on it's highest, we won't have the stamina to make it through those times when life throws you curveballs.  Take a moment to collect your thoughts, look around you and be grateful for what you already do have.  As long as you have a roof over your head, food to eat and good friends, you can do anything!

Selway River, Idaho

How have you, the reader, made a different decision?  What choices have you faced and how have you handled them?  Again, I look forward to an exciting future.  I know my angels are hanging in there with me and will be there every step of the way!

“So what do we do? Anything. Something. So long as we just don't sit there. If we screw it up, start over. Try something else. If we wait until we've satisfied all the uncertainties, it may be too late. - Lee Iacocca”

Until My Next "Adventure" - P.A. Walker

As always, you can follow me on my Facebook Page - The Second Half or on Twitter!

Time to Let Go of Your Old Story!

How do you say goodbye?  How do you say goodbye to one phase of your life and move into another?  It's hard to let go of the past, but by doing so you say hello to the future. Letting go of your old stories makes room for the new.  Everyone has stories that they hold onto for dear life.  What does holding onto your story get you?  It could be comfort, it could be not having to step into the unknown, and plain and simple it could be fear - raw, deep fear. Moving from our old stories can be a mixture of things, but think about what your life will look like if you do move from your stories.   It's the individual who makes the choice to move ahead that makes the most life changes.  Making these changes gives you the opportunity to step into your most amazing life ever.

Do me a favor sit down and imagine what your best self looks like.  What are you wearing?  What are you doing?  Where are you working?  Take some time and see how this feels in your body.  I bet it feels pretty good.  If you are like me and can't get the thoughts out of your head long enough to make these pictures in there, write it down on paper.  Do some journaling.  Journaling is a great tool for you to get these ideas out of your head and into your heart.

When you have that best self feeling in your body, continue on with the process.  Write down your willingness to do the work to step into your best self.  What would this look like?  Would it be hiring a coach, exercising, going to a therapist, eating healthy, moving away from family drama?  In order to move into your best self, taking that first step is the most important.

Most people believe that it is an all or nothing proposition to step into that best self. However, let me tell you that baby steps are the way to go.  If you make a list of three things to accomplish in one day and you successfully do that, just think about the feeling of accomplishment you will achieve.  For example, your goal is lose five pounds this month.  How about going out and walking for 30 min. three times a week?  If it's more than you are doing now, I bet that it will spur you on to move it up to 35-40 minutes the next week.  Little steps add up like you would not believe.

I have seen a lot of times that when folks don't continue on with their self-improvement it is because they get frustrated.  They will go all out and start a diet. Let's say they decide to eliminate sugar, fats and carbs all in the same week.  What are the chances of success?  It will be pretty much next to nothing.  Start slow, eliminate one thing a day or change up one thing a week and look how far you will be in a month. Most likely a lot better than when you started that month.

Making the decision to make some changes in your life is a brave move.  It will sometimes start as the result of no longer being comfortable in your dysfunction, or getting tired of living the same life.  However, I applaud you if you were drawn to read this blog.  It means that there is some part of you that wants to make a change!  I say go for it!!!

"Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." - Lao Tzu

As Always,

P.A. Walker

Are you ready to say yes to your soul by shifting your perspective to create something extraordinary? I invite you to contact me via email at trish@thesecondhalf.us to schedule a complimentary 30 minute consultation to discuss how we can work together to make your second half of life better than your first.

Please also follow me on my Facebook Page: The Second Half or via Twitter (Patricia A. Walker@50foraYear).

Sometimes It All Just Clicks!

Today was one of those days.  What I mean by this is that it all just clicked and I became very clear on what I was put on earth to do.  I am here to help people see their true selves.  I am here to walk them to their greatest self by using several modalities (more on that later). I have been working on myself quite a bit the last couple of years.  It's been a rough road, but would I have expected anything else on a healing journey?  You may ask what prompted me to begin such a journey.  It was a culmination of a few things.  To sum it up in one sentence, I was getting uncomfortable in my dysfunction and was ready to have some different outcomes.  I am here to tell you that it truly can be done.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not done processing.  It's a life-long journey but one that I can now more easily traverse.

When one starts feeling that being caught on the gerbil wheel is no longer acceptable, that's usually when we start to desire a different outcome.  What is that saying, "If you want something to change, you have to change something?".  How simple but true.  You simply have to change your reaction to something, someone, or some situation.

How do some folks have the capacity to start their healing journey while others don't?  I truly believe that it has to do with mental attitude, capabilities and quite simply wanting to get out of their old stories.  What story do you keep telling yourself that is holding you back?  What would your life look like without this story??

Ask yourself two simple questions:  1) How would my life look in a year if I don't change anything?  or 2) How could my life look different if I truly did change some things? Which answer do you like better?  Which one resonates in your body and soul?  These questions have been very pivotal for me to come to my next chapter.  Where do I want to be in a year?  What do I want to be doing?

My goal for this life is to help people find their true selves.  What does this look like? This will be a combination of modalities such as coaching, energy work, intuitive healing, channeling, etc.  I'm offering a free 30-minute consultation if you are interested in hearing more.  Please click on the page above titled "Coaching".

Listen, we have but one life to live.  I'm sure you have heard that dozens of times, but what will it take for you to believe it, live it and be proud of the legacy that you will leave behind?  I would love to walk this journey with you.  I would love to show you how my world opened up as I entered a new decade instead of shutting down because I thought it was "too late"!

“Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there’s love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.” —Ella Fitzgerald

As Always,

P. A. Walker

For more information about saying yes to your soul, please check out my Coaching page here on this blog or go to my Facebook page:  The Second Half!

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