THE NEXT AMAZING CHAPTER

Maggie May at our favorite Michigan cottage - Spring 2015

***** From my voice journal July 8, 2016
8:07 AM
*****

I'm in the process of listing my place and moving, and I've been going back and forth between doing it and not doing it. And I realize it's more a struggle of staying in a comfort zone, that has been quite wonderful actually for the past 10 years, or seeing new horizons.  But I'm in the city and it's not where I've ever really felt I belonged. And life is short. So I'm thinking it's not so much about staying in my home and moving, but about comfort zones and fear and living in possibility. I'm realizing that is much of the struggle in life... is it so bad to really stay in my comfort zone? I'm mean it's good and amazing and maybe that's what life is calling me to do... stay in the comfort zone. But in moments of quiet... at my core, in my heart, in my gut and in my intuition, I really feel that my chapter here is finishing and I'm being called to see what might be around the next turn and to just take the chance. Life has been so good so far and I really believe there will be more good and amazing things to come. So that's kind of where I'm working myself to - to just taking that leap and seeing what the next amazing thing and chapter will be. And it's a bit bittersweet because my sweet Maggie May - my little fur child and kindred spirit and hiking buddy who passed away 6 months ago - was always supposed to be in this chapter with me. I thought I would do this move much sooner, but as she got older and had issues, I realized it wouldn't be fair to her to have her moving to a new environment and that she deserved her comfort zone in her older years. So I stayed put for her. And I'm glad I did. I'm glad she got to stay in the place she knew her whole life. That in her last years, she got to enjoy the place she loved so much... and I enjoyed it with her. So, I'm getting to the point of  appreciating those lovely blessings. I'm so thankful for the gift of  her, and I'm wrapping her sweet adventurous happy spirit and soul up into mine and taking her with me in my heart on this next chapter.


*** Looking back on this voice journal today May 16, 2018 I could never have foreseen, or even imagined in my wildest dreams, the absolutely unbelievable adventure that was about to take place..... and the way my life - and myself as a person - were about to dramatically change forever.  That's just it.... we never know what is waiting... unless we take that first step and look and see.

Maggie running her favorite Michigan beach - Empire, Michigan

BEYOND OUR HORIZON

BEACH MEDITATION

My life is drastically different than I had planned, and that is a very good amazing thing. Because I could never have planned let alone imagined the life I’m living now. We keep ourselves safe, walking through our rutted known path. Living vicariously through others instead of truly living our life and stepping out of our comfort zone. .. never stepping to the edge of our borders and glimpsing what might live beyond. There are amazing incredible things just beyond our horizon. This morning I was wondering what keeps people on their mundane path. People have often remarked how brave I am to do what I’m doing now and live how I am living. But I don’t feel brave. I feel fearless. I began thinking about that ... being fearful or full of fear versus fearless and having less fear. Instead of running away or staying where we are perhaps take one step toward what you are fearful of. And then tomorrow take another step. And the next day another. And you’ll be closer to seeing what lies beyond that horizon and being fearless.

COMFORT ZONES AND LEAPS OF FAITH

A year ago today, I left my fairly predictable life behind when I sat across the table from the people who bought my home. The plan was to have a "safe" adventure, and after spending 2 days at a monastery, go to a furnished rental in Michigan for the winter and then look for a place to rent or buy. For almost a year I struggled with the decision to sell my place, where I had been  for 10 years. I loved my space and setting, and could have been quite comfortable and happy there for another 10 or more years.  I would have been content, but I would have been doing the "safe" thing, the predictable thing and stayed firmly ensconced in my comfort zone. When I listened to my gut, I knew that while I could be perfectly content there, it was time for me to move on to something new... to a new chapter and new place, as scary as that was. So I sold my place to a couple who I knew would love it as much as I had loved it.

When I was at the monastery, my plans fell apart but they also fell together into what ended up being a 1 year journey and adventure that I could never have dreamed of, let alone planned! I'm thankful I said yes to life. I have learned about faith and trust, letting go of control, letting go of expectations, going with the flow, self reliance and resilience. And in the process I met the most amazing people, forged some special friendships and make incredible memories for a lifetime. I've been inspired by incredibly beautiful areas I had never been to. I feel so very blessed and thankful that things didn't work out as I had planned. I'm looking forward to the next year while I continue to travel and wander.