We Land Right Where We Need To: Trail Running To Life

I went on a trail run this past Sunday as I prepare for a 30K trail race, Cradle to Grave, here in North Carolina.  My legs were feeling wobbly as I started on the trail.  I knew this meant that I needed to go a bit slower and pay closer attention to the trail so as not to fall.

With caution, I was enjoying my run and waved to a fellow runner who was running in the opposite direction.  I was going down a set of logs steps when I gained momentum.  I was feeling exhilarated.  This momentum led me up another set of log steps with my legs feeling like jelly, when all of the sudden I found myself laid out on my stomach with my iPod flown to who knows where.  I couldn't fight the inevitable, a fall.  Actually, there was nothing to fight.  It all happened so fast.  One minute I was feeling exhilarated and the next I was laid out with no recollection on how I got there.  

On a beautiful Sunday morning, there I was, on the Blue Ridge Parkway flat on my stomach face down on a set of steps.  As you might say, "I ate it" on this fall.  In shock, I laid there for a moment doing an internal body scan then I slowly got up, a little sore and dirty, and followed up with a physical pat down.  I was okay!  My finger was a little jammed and I had a massive bruise a few hours later but other than that I was able to continue, with extra caution, on my run.  I began to think to myself, how could I have landed so perfectly?  It could have been much worse, from a busted lip to who knows what.  But there I was, I fell exactly where I needed to fall.

Many life lesson come to me on my runs.  I feel like that is how Mother Nature and I communicate about life.  As I have been transported around the globe to land back in the US, there have been moments of thinking "what the hell am I doing?"  Those thoughts then snow ball to the "am I on the wrong path?"  And then it gets bigger and bigger until before you know it my typical sane, confident self has left the building.

As you could expect, I was having one of those days when I went on this particular run.  Sunday, Mother Nature arrived on cue to remind me "you land right where you need to."  And I do, as I always have before with other moves/transitions.

I forgot to say that after I got up from my fall, I laughed.  I laughed at myself and how petty I had been thinking about "was I on a wrong path?"  Of course not, I am exactly where I need to be.  I have fallen exactly where I need to fall.  Here.

Spirit of Greatness

There is a quote that I found while hiking in a cave of rocks in Topanga State Park in California that says “Wonder In Beauty.”  Today I wondered in the beauty of inspiration.  While visiting the US Olympic Training Complex and the United States Air Force Academy, I witnessed individual dreams coming true.  Is there something more beautiful?  Men and women who dreamed of being something bigger than themselves and with courage put their heart on the line thus awaking their Spirit of Greatness.   

In the US Strength and Conditioning Facility, I was fascinated to see what the human body could do.  The movement of the each muscle intrigued me.  How flawless the communication between each neuron must be in order to create the motions for this supreme athlete to perform.  Yet, as I took a closer and past the physical movements, I noticed the focus, the drive, and the determination in the eyes of the athlete.  The sense of focus is palpable, as is the aura of greatness of the past athletes who have trained there such as Dara Torres and Michael Phelps.  You are humbled as you honor the moment as being a guest in the home of those who are putting their heart, soul, and sweat out there to achieve their dreams.

As I wondered further with inspiration today, I visited the United States Air Force Academy (AFA).  One of the 5 military universities that only takes the “best of the best “17 – 23 year olds who are not only interested in studying at a college level but also have a desire to learn how to serve their country at the same time.  As with the other military universities, AFA not only takes the brightest kids but also those who are physically fit and exemplify leadership potential by being in various clubs in high school.   Walking on the campus you can feel the focus of the cadets and are in awe of their desire to serve.  Each of them attending AFA for a unique reason while overall connecting to the greatness of serving others for a reason bigger than themselves.  What makes this so amazing is their awareness of their purpose in life.    

Though on different paths, we can all relate to the Spirit of Greatness that lies within each of us, that essence that calls us to live for something bigger than ourselves.  The US Olympic athletes and AFA cadets are an inspiration because they dared to Dream Big.  They remind us of that Spirit of Greatness that lies within everyone, although at times dormant.  It makes us aware of the power of witnessing such inspiration as it deepens the observer’s connection to his/her higher purpose.  

And if these athletes and cadets dare to put their heart, soul, reputation, and sometimes their finances on the line in order to have their dream, what can I do to learn from their example.  What actions can I take?  Can you take? 

Wondering in the Spirit of Greatness…... 

Sacred Choices

Synchrodivinity:  

Everything we need is waiting for us, 

if we simply take the time to listen to our spirit.  

In the book Sacred Choices, Christel Nani uses the word Synchrodivinity to highlight the beauty of living in alignment with our spirit.  In yoga we call this our inner teacher, Atman.  It is that little voice inside you that yearns to do something different.  The voice that says, "what if I....."  Yet there is the opposite of that voice, our limiting beliefs, that quickly tells us, "what are you thinking, you can't do that!"  And we stop in our tracks and push the mute button on our spirit.  The good thing is our spirit, Atman, is resilient and never ceases.  Our light always wants a chance to shine and will keep giving us signs of those Synchrodivinity moments where we can bring true alignment, thus authenticity, into our lives.  As Christel Nani puts it, we are called to make a Sacred Choice to listen to our spirit and let go of those limiting beliefs.    

Along my journeys, I have mentioned that I have been listening, with no sense of expectation, just ears wide open.  It is much easier said than done.  It is tough to take time to listen.  And, I even contemplated, how does one actually "listen?"  Returning to the US has offered a mix of emotions from happy and glad to be here to facing somethings that need a personal sense of closure.  Rather than listening, I have found myself escaping and reverting to my dear friend, "action mode."  My to-do list have been taking over and thoughts of starting a life here have begun to plague my every attempt to listen.  And with thoughts swirling in my head, in combination with urgent action, I have created the recipe for my limiting beliefs, keeping me from a Sacred Choice.   

I realize this is all part of the process, learning the art of listening while also living.  Being aware that there is a Sacred Choice in the simplicity of a moment, a breath.  Mind you, it is wonderful if you have a chance to do a retreat that is dedicated to listening.  That really helps those of us that tend to keep our to-do lists in play.  Still, it is about the art of connecting to the opportunity in each moment to align ourselves with our spirit.  Paolo Coelho calls it stopping to look at the horizon, meaning taking your gaze from what is right in front of you to all the possibilities that are around you.  Our Atman is always sending us alerts, we are just too busy to notice.   

The thought of listening can feel scary and unfamiliar, as we might be timid to make the Sacred Choice to listen to our spirit.  Who knows where it could lead us?  It creates a sense of vulnerability....Am I creating another limiting belief here?... Regardless, I am thankful for this time of listening and the lessons I am learning in balancing quiet time and action.  Although it does leave me in an unfamiliar place within myself in a country that used to be familiar but now not so much, I welcome the liberation quietness brings because from vulnerability with arise strength.  And that is my Sacred Choice.  

No, I'm Not On My Honeymoon!

As I topped off my journey in Bora Bora, it was a true treat for both Garnett and I.  As we planned this part of our trip months ago it was thought of nothing more than a pure bucket list item in an already fun adventure.  I longed to see the beautiful beaches, swim in the warm sea, and maybe catch a little R & R before hitting US soil.  All of this and more was definitely achieved on this last leg of our trip.

The one thing I had not anticipated in Bora Bora was the repetitive question "are you on your honeymoon?"  If I had a dime for every time someone asked us that question, our trip would be paid for and then some.  I really didn't care that we kept getting asked that question.  I was actually flattered that we looked young enough to be considered newlyweds.  I was more surprised by the response that kept coming up in my head, which, no, I did not put a voice to except only to my husband.  So, the question "are you on your honeymoon?"  My internal monologue of an answer, "thank god we are not!"

I say this with all the love in the world.  We had a wonderful honeymoon 5 years ago but I am glad the honeymoon is over.  I wouldn't trade the ups and downs over the past 5 years for those first hours, days, months, etc of our marriage.  And I think it took being asked if we were newlyweds to really appreciate how far Garnett and I have come as a couple and how close living abroad has made us.  It's like the aging processes.  If you see someone everyday, it is hard for you to notice if he/she is aging.  Not until you take a moment to step outside the picture do you notice how the person you see each day has been changing right before your very eyes.

I take a moment and realize how we both have changed over the years.  How young we were when we first met and how young we both still are.  How our hopes and dreams change and how we can respect that constant change in one another.  How we can even love, even hope for, the stupid things that happen in a marriage, usually done by the male (let's be honest here).  Case in point, within the first 8 hours of being in the US as I am waiting for Garnett to pick me up outside of a yoga studio in Santa Monica at 7:30 at night, he is fast asleep in the car at the Santa Monica Pier leaving me with nothing more than my skimpy yoga clothes on and no way of getting in touch with him.  I can laugh now but at the time I had no clue what happened to my dependable husband and was truly praying that he did something stupid.  Luckily, my prayers were answered to find out that he just fell asleep and it wasn't something serious like a car accident.  Just add it to the adventure!    

But that is what I love about our marriage.  Our adventure isn't just over the past 5 weeks traveling across Southeast Asia but it is the daily adventure.  We are still unclear about what is ahead as we transition back to the US but we both embrace this unknown.  Really, the best part is just knowing that I have someone to share this journey with and of course to remind me that it is okay to not always know my next step.

One thing we do know, cell phones are now in order....you know, in case of those "stupid" moments.  Here's to the unknown and to those with whom we share it with!

PARADISE!

I have arrived to what I can only describe as a place so beautiful that you will wonder if it is fake, St. Regis Bora Bora, Tahiti.  I have never seen water so clear and felt weather so perfect.  When I close my eyes and think of an island paradise, this is exactly what I picture to a T.  I was filled with so much excitement as we landed in Bora Bora as this is what I had in mind when Bora Bora went on my bucket list a few years ago.  

Even though paradise may make you want to chill and relax, this environment always requires a little effort on my part to actually slow down.  I started my time in Bora Bora with a swim right outside our back door.  Most bungaloos are overwater so we can treat ourselves to watching the fish swim under our feet in the living room and bathroom.  AMAZING!  But even better, I have a great swim right out our door in the crystal clear water.  I have also made use of the water activities by paddle boarding (with some yoga on it as well) and riding while Garnett steered the hobie sailboat.  I ended my first day in paradise by watching the sunset over Mt. Otemanu.  This was just the day I arrived!

My first full day, I started by rising early to catch the sunrise over the ocean.  I went on a great run on the island and snorkeled for 2 hours.  I have become a big fan of snorkeling over the years.  I got to see some of the most beautiful fish.  I felt like I was swimming with Nemo and his friends.  Then I took the boat over to the main island to see the shops and little of how the Tahitian people live.  The people of Bora Bora truly live the island life.  I can only compare it to what I saw in Fiji in 2010 when I visited a local Fijian community. The Fijian community did not have much and did not live very well.  They were a happy people but you could tell that the money the tourists were spending in that country was not being properly handed down to the employees in the tourism industry and that who is made up most of this specific Fijian Island.  Thus, it was a relief to see that the people of Bora Bora do live a rather modern island life with all the modern day conveniences.  I loved seeing the fresh mangos, pineapples, and tomatos sitting outside of people's home on a table with an honor code, pay as you take one, system as I have seen in New Zealand.  I love that idea and think it is so welcoming!

I have enjoyed my time talking to the Tahitian people and find them very intelligent.  They learn almost four languages as they grow up:  French, English, Tahitian, and the language of whichever island they live on.  As they are a french colony, French is expected.  Also, since tourism is so big, English is a must.  And they do their job to make sure their native tongue is spoken and preserved.  I have also seen a lot of similarities between the Tahitians and Maori culture of New Zealand, the island people who were the original inhabitants of NZ.  I have noticed some culture traditions to be similar such as the specific dress attire of the rituals and symbols.  Also, some Tahitian words are similar to the Maori language, such as "hello."  I will have to research this more but it is neat to see how throughout the pacific island culture you can notice similarities that evolved as people migrated many years ago.  

As you can see, I have had a tough time pressing the "stop" button in paradise.  You can't change who you are even when you are in paradise....good to know.  Luckily, my husband is here to help with that and reminds me to chill out and enjoy.  So this morning, I started at a slower pace with some  yoga on my deck and then a swim in which I saw an eagle ray (looks like a sting ray and I freaked out like I saw one too).  Thus, I continue my time in paradise.....at whatever pace that may be.      

Living Wednesday Twice Plus An Apology

Have you ever lived the same day twice?  I got as close as you could making the 2 day trip from Koh Samui to Tahiti.  As I closed out my detox in Koh Samui, on my exit consultation, I found out that there is a special and proper way to come off of a detox.  It was something that didn't cross my mind until that moment.  The naturopath told me that I needed to stick to raw foods, with no dairy or meat for the next 4 days post my detox.  How was I suppose to pull that off while on a plane for 2 days with long flights and layovers?  I didn't want my hard work and this wonderful clean feeling to go to waste so I somehow managed to comply although it took some finesse on my part.  Luckily, we had a 9 hour lay over in Singapore which let me stock up on nuts and fruit for my next few flights.  

After living in New Zealand for 3 years and having long layovers in LA and San Francisco, I have learned the art of maximizing your time outside the airport during layovers.  I had some help planning out my 9 hour plan by randomly running into the same person twice on my travels.  Her name is Jeanne and she is the owner of the yoga studio in Singapore that I did Earth Yoga with at the beginning of my trip.  I ran into her again as she is a silent owner of the Yoga/Detox retreat center, Absolute Sanctuary, in Koh Samui, and happened to be there helping out with a teacher training while I was there detoxing.  Once more on my travels I am shown just how small a world this can be.  I am also learning how when you run into someone twice while traveling abroad, in 2 different countries, it may happen for a reason.  In Jeanne's case it was for great conversation about yoga and owning a studio and retreat center.  She was also a wealth of knowledge in getting us to a yoga class, grocery store, and to a salad place during our layover in Singapore.  I also must say that as I have these long lay overs the best cure for the time and my body/sanity is some form of exercise be it yoga or a run.  Yoga, preferably, as it does wonders for relaxation, breathe, and stretching the body after sitting for so long.  With Jeanne's help, I was a happy girl with my yoga practice complete and healthy, raw food setting me up for a great flight to Auckland.  

But before I leave Southeast Asia I realized I have some apologies to make.  I must apologize to the sewer companies in Cambodia and Thailand.  As their systems are not that sophisticated even for the simple act of peeing. I did not adopt the habit of tossing the toilet paper in the waste basket instead of flushing it and I just could not get myself to pick up the water hose next to the toilet to use post bathroom, either.  I am sorry for any troubles this may have caused your sewer system but my bathroom habits come from 32 years of experience and I just could not adapt.  And the times I remembered, it was too late and I ended up just wasting paper by balling it up and putting in the trashcan just so I could say "I did it."  That habit I could seem to pick up but the other.....sorry about that.  For this, my honest apologies, but to the bathroom gods....thank you for sparing me the embarrassment of blocking one of these "gentle" toilets while I was in there.  I was scared a time or 2 but you came through for me as you knew I honestly tried but could not seem to pick up these new bathroom habits.  I know I will face these "gentle" toilets again and I promise to make a better effort in the future.      

Now on to Thursday, I am once again in Auckland for a layover that was rather quick.  I took time on this stop to take in my last few moments on NZ soil.  I couldn't believe that it had been almost a month since I left.  Where did the time go?  I realized that it hasn't fully hit me yet that I will not be returning to New Zealand when this trip is over.  All the logistics point towards my move but for some reason out of habit of always returning after a trip over the last 3 years I can't grasp it.  I guess this habit will die hard as well with my Western bathroom

 while in Third World Countries. 

 Yet I can say almost a month later back in the Auckland something feels different.  Something even felt different when I was in Singapore since that was were this trip began.  I am reading the book Blink by Malcom Gladwell and he speaks about the concept of "thin slicing."  The thought of this is the fact that we can grasp a lot about someone or something by only a few moments of time although we may not be able to explain why or how something is. In the those few moments something inside of us tells us exactly what we need to know.  For me, I had 2 of those moments, once in Singapore and another on my flight to Tahiti when crossed the international date line officially drawing the momentum of the trip towards the northern hemisphere and US.  As with "thin slicing," I can't fully explain how I am feeling but something in me tells me that I am one step closer to the full realization of my move back to the US and that something is in fact different.  

I am not yet there though!  I have another bucket list item ahead....Bora Bora!  My second to last flight got me into Papeete late into the evening, on Wednesday, again, reaching the 36 hours of traveling mark.  After 3 days of detox, approaching 2 days post detox with nutrition intact, and 2 days of travel, my body was ready to sleep while actually laying down to get a full nights rest.  I got to bed exhausted but still am reminded of how blessed I am to be one step closer to my dream of visiting Bora Bora and how wonderful this journey has been....apologies and all.  As I lay in bed, I hear the clear water outside crashing on white sands and it is calling my name.  I can't answer yet.  One more flight in the morning to paradise.  Papeete to Bora Bora here I come!!!

   

My Mothership: Yoga And Detox

This trip has offered much variety from transition to service to exploration. Now I reach my Mothership of this trip, yoga and detoxing. This couldn't come at a better time post sickness. I have practiced yoga in each country I have visited but it was not with the same consistency that I have been used to. My body, breath, and mind were really beginning to notice. Not to mention all the cooked food I have had to have. My acupuncturist and Chinese medicine friend, Sally, would be proud of me because she says from a Chinese medicine point of view, my body needs more warm, cooked food. Although I do see the benefits, this chica has missed the raw, natural food.

This detox has been nervously anticipated as I have never done a full specific detox routine as set by a professional. The purpose of this part of the trip was to experience a pure cleanse offered in a country known for their spa and detox routines. With the help of my Thai friend, Jirayu, I found Absolute Sanctuary in Koh Samui, Thailand. I am partaking in a 3 day living (raw) foods detox. Over 3 days I experience a raw food lunch and dinner, 3 detox drinks/day, 2 shots of green juice/day, a few detoxing treatments that include massage and colonics (yes, it is plural not a typo), meditation, and yoga. All of this to help cleanse the mind and body.....right up my ally!

The food has been absolutely amazing! I have already purchased the cookbook and will share some recipes later. The food has offered much needed raw and natural nourishment to my body from all the rice and noodles throughout my travels. But this has thrown my body for a loop.

The first day of the detox was just fine and all roses. I thought, this is great! Then day 2 set in and I was tired, moody, agitated, and suffered from severe headaches at night. All signs that your body is detoxing. At this point, I am glad this is just 3 days. When I went into the town of Koh Samui, I felt like a zombie walking on the streets with no personality or zest for life. Not to mention trying to go through this with your partner who is addicted to food. I am still amazed we haven't torn each others head off. We are making it through!

The yoga has been absolutely amazing! I have been so spoiled by the caliber of teachers in New Zealand that it has been tough to find something similar on my travels. What I have really missed is the heart and soul of the practice that brings it all together, leaving it more than just physical movement but a union of the mind, body, and soul. Absolute Sanctuary has come very close and my day 3 instructor, Kez, really helped get me out of this detox funk.

Even on day 1 my body was feeling very sluggish from just eating a few greens and the detox drinks. The yoga practices have been gentle and restorative to help accommodate the detox but on day 3 after my class I found the energy to do another. The practice was so engaging and what I have been missing that my body and mind switched from a lack of zeal to more energy and clarity than I have had in days. I felt my mind, body, and breath join together as it did in the beginning of my travels. This center has offered me the much needed peaceful space on this, at times, crazy journey. By coming to my Mothership of detox and yoga I received exactly what I needed to reconnect to me....to the heart and soul of it all.....