An evolving journey, this life

I’ve been writing meditations and doing lots of meditation-related posts the past few months. And truth be told, it has helped to niche my site a bit. I was feeling the effects of having put so much energy into building a course this last winter, scheduling my haikus and posts on social media, coupled with the desire to teach meditation, I knew I needed a little break.

These last couple of weeks have been just that. If you are on my email list (you can always sign up below), then you got an email the first week, talking about a way to take my meditation course for free, and how I was going to take the next week off.

Last week was my birthday week. I’ve entered a new decade and with it came the quintessential thoughts of evaluating my life so far, the difference I want to make, and to make sure to live life to the fullest. I decided – with the gentle nudging of my husby – to spend five days at the beach. It was glorious.

Here’s the video version in case you want to listen instead of reading. It’s slightly different than the text here.

Technology at the beach

I knew that my beach trip would entail a lot of “being” and not “doing.” I brought some stuff to draw with, and even a book. If I read or drew something, great. But I didn’t really care if I didn’t. I brought my little Zoom microphone to record the ocean waves. I never took it out of my backpack before returning home to the mountains. I just let myself do whatever came to me in the moment.

The tech-fast

I tech-fasted (I think that’s going to become a word, y’all…kind of like “break-fast” did). I brought my computer for emergencies – such as if the websites I monitor went down, or if other websites I’ve built for clients had any issues. My computer came in handy for another reason: my phone was charging in the car and overheated. It resulted in the lower part of the screen not functioning. (Life lesson #29,767: Don’t charge your phone in the heat of the day in your car. You might damage it, even if it’s not in the sunlight.) I was able to use my computer to text, email and general communications.

Disconnecting

Rather than focus on the frustration and the expense of replacing my phone, or the fact that I couldn’t really use it, I chose to see it as an opportunity: an opportunity to disconnect. I called my family on my birthday using my husband’s phone. I headed to the ranger station two different times over the five days to respond to text messages and emails, but otherwise didn’t have much screen time. It was good not having reliable internet because it forced me off my screens. I occasionally brought out my Kindle to read more of “Becoming Supernatural” by Joe Dispenza, but since I’m on the second read-through, I didn’t get it out that much.

Time away from technology does wonders for the soul. I always gain insights on these trips. When I cannot use my phone or computer as usual and I’m gently forced to abandon my normal routine, good things happen. This post, pretty much, is a result of those insights.

“Time away from technology does wonders for the soul. You gain insights and in the silence, you often find the answers.” – Cynthia Sageleaf

Just “being” on this evolving journey

I napped, listened to the birds, spent time riding my bike, walked along the beach, and enjoyed the present moment.

I remember smiling giddily as I rode my bike along the boardwalk, just feeling gratitude for the wind on my face, the opportunity to take time off work to camp and “be”, for the warm sun, for the little lizards that would scamper as I approached, for yummy grilled camp food – for so much!

We met because of patchouli

I biked one morning to the beach. I met a woman named Sally who worked the fees station. Since I was camping, I pulled up to the window on my bike and told her what I was up to – I didn’t have any ID or camp information with me. She wasn’t concerned and immediately smelled my patchouli essential oil that I’d applied earlier. She remarked how everything on the island had to be ordered and it took forever for the mail to get there. (Note to self: if I ever want to exist in “another time that goes by more slowly,” the beach – where there’s hardly any internet or cell service – is one way to do that.) She closed her eyes and smiled as she took in the dual scents of my lavender and patchouli – which I wear every day.

I was so touched by her love for the scent of patchouli that I decided to bring her my little bottle of essential oil later that day. I hadn’t used it that much but I felt moved to gift it to her. I stopped at the gate and took out my small container of the prized oil. I had no idea who she was, but in that moment, she stopped everything to give me a hug and express her appreciation for this unexpected gift. She dabbed a drop behind each ear and then fanned herself to waft the scent all around the little fee station.

I share this story because it brings a smile to my face even now as I tell it. Just a little act of kindness goes such a long way. Not only that, had I adhered to some “schedule,” I wouldn’t have had the time to bike back out to the beach to make a new friend. In the moment, it just felt right to do that.

evolving journey

Poetic missives

As I re-energized in nature, I pondered the direction of my meditation teaching, my website, and all the things I do outside of my regular “work.” Last year, I completed my meditation teacher training with the intent to teach.

Funny how life works. It is an evolving journey.

I have started MeetUp Groups, built a meditation course as you know, and I’m trying to teach in my community. I’d sort of always envisioned that I’d do all this stuff mostly online, however. I tend to love being behind a screen (which is why I build and maintain websites in my other life, along with other digital marketing).

But it’s funny how life works. It is an ever-evolving journey.

After months of trying to “sell” my course, and create classes, I have met all this with not-so-much success. I’m taking it as a sign to change direction slightly. Oh, I’ll still continue to teach in the community. But there’s more to this story. You ready?

Wanting to spread love and light

When I got certified to teach, I envisioned creating retreats and inspiring people to find the light within themselves. As part of that, I thought I’d help folks out in the community: teach meditation in prisons, or to those folks who desperately needed it. In effect, until I had a business coach urging me to create an online course, I never really thought about creating one.

Now that I have, the course will always be there. I’ve had a number of folks go through it – for free. I’m not so good at charging for it. At least not yet. I’ve come to realize that do not feel good when I try to sell. I just don’t. I enjoy teaching. And whatever happens from that, I know the universe will take care of me.

I will continue to add classes in my community. Life seems to be steering me in that direction.

I have longed to do more artwork and create more books – coloring books, meditations, all those things.

And so, while I will teach in my community – I have a couple classes coming up at a local yoga center, as well as more that I’m creating with my MeetUp group – I want to do more with my mandalas – both for meditation and as artwork, in general. In addition, I want to do more with all the haikus I write.

A new routine, perhaps?

Because everything’s evolving, I will continue to create guided meditations, and write about meditation. But I will also probably create posts on mandalas and create more free stuff, in addition to creating an I & S Zazzle store, or perhaps just post completed mandalas for sale here.

I also find myself missing places like HubPages and Medium where I used to write all the time. My heart is calling me back to these.

Plus, there’s my own evolving journey with meditation

My own meditation is also an evolving journey. I am constantly trying new meditations, chakra meditations, and investigating more about heart-coherence. I honestly want to see how far I can get with it. I continue to meditate an hour minimum each day, sometimes up to two hours.

I wanted to share some of the insights from my beach journey, and some of my thoughts about where I feel I am going. I love this journey. Thank you for being on it with me.