Composing this blog on an airplane temporarily parked in Oakland airport. It feels so good to be back on the road, yet the feeling didn’t hit me until about an hour ago when I got my travel journal back out to get down my intentions for this trip to Seattle. In the past week my mind and time have been so consumed with other things that I haven’t had the mental space for anticipation to grow. It was nice to just pack up and leave without the anxiety that comes along with anticipation, and part of the ease of this trip is knowing my mom is joining me and she took on most of the planning.
I was reading back in my travel journal from earlier this year. Just eight months ago I was returning from India. I forgot how ready I was to come home then, and how excited I was to get my everyday life started back up again. I was so excited I forgot how I excited I was and now looking back I am so happy with all I’ve done since then. I set some big goals and they are all now in full effect. It’s exhilarating.
When I returned from India, though burned out on travel, I also vowed to myself that I would never ever give up traveling as part of my lifestyle. I love it too much, and it’s one of the fastest way to learn. I remember my grandma calling me, concerned that my early return home was a sign that my adventurous spirit had been dampened, and I assured her that it most certainly is still in tact. And so I honor that now by flying up to the Pacific Northwest to get a nice buzz from an unfamiliar city. I also honor my efforts to find balance. Travel or adventure does not have to mean flying across the globe. I certainly learned that last weekend at a seminar by Dr. Brian Weiss.
Just have to give a quick mention to something funny I just thought of. Sara was over yesterday morning and we were enjoying green smoothies and good company. I was telling her my plans for the day which included going to buy a suitcase. She replied, “you are a traveller! how do YOU not have a suitcase??” That IS strange. And I still don’t cause I’m borrowing hers. For some reason I very amused by this.
I’ll end here with a peaceful thought to the lovely Bella Ringgold who passed away on Monday. Bella was born in May of 2009 with a rare skin condition called Epidermolysis Bullosa. She and her family built mountains of love as they showed up and did their part the best they could. Her father is my mentor, music therapy colleague, and friend. It should not take something as extreme as death to shake us up and wake us up to how beautifully precious life is, but as humans we do forget at times. So in this moment I have much gratitude to both Tim and Bella for sending me off to Seattle with a reminder that life is happening now- say it now because you never know, take action to follow your heart, and love your best.
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