Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways,
champagne in one hand, strawberries in the other,
energy thoroughly used up, body totally worn out, and screaming,
'WOO HOO - What a Ride!!'
I love this quote & it gives my blog its name. To me, it means 'live life to the fullest.'
This plus, 'do unto others' are the words I try to live by.
I reflect upon all of this as I sit at my father's kitchen table, listening to the rain & contemplating leaving tomorrow to the United Kingdom for a solo-journey along Offa's Dyke Trail. I find the night before I travel--especially if I am traveling internationally--I am too excited to sleep. Who will I meet? What adventures will I have that I could not have planned? What will I learn & how will I grow through this journey?
Summer of 2009: A horrid economy. Job status feels tenuous--I'll really believe I have my job when my students are sitting in my classroom on the first day of school. Obviously a horrid time to travel.
Summer of 2009: A horrid economy, job status...etc, etc, blah blah blah. Obviously the perfect time to travel.
I begin this blog--my first blog--not even knowing if I will have internet access on the trail or have the desire to write.
When I did my first solo-journey in South East Asia in 1995-96, I left the US a green traveler with many more butterflies then excitement. Through the joys & tears of travel, I learned that I had the most meaningful experiences & people-connections when I could get into the flow of travel & be open to experiences unfolding rather then planning out every detail. I found this to be the true magic of travel. This lesson took me many months to learn.
Tonight, I am pleased to already feel myself in this space.
For the next three weeks, I know I will walk upon a 177-mile trail through the British/Welsh countryside. I know where I am sleeping the first three nights. I know I have a plane ticket back to the US on July 18 @ 1:05pm.
The rest will unfold...
This plus, 'do unto others' are the words I try to live by.
I reflect upon all of this as I sit at my father's kitchen table, listening to the rain & contemplating leaving tomorrow to the United Kingdom for a solo-journey along Offa's Dyke Trail. I find the night before I travel--especially if I am traveling internationally--I am too excited to sleep. Who will I meet? What adventures will I have that I could not have planned? What will I learn & how will I grow through this journey?
Summer of 2009: A horrid economy. Job status feels tenuous--I'll really believe I have my job when my students are sitting in my classroom on the first day of school. Obviously a horrid time to travel.
Summer of 2009: A horrid economy, job status...etc, etc, blah blah blah. Obviously the perfect time to travel.
I begin this blog--my first blog--not even knowing if I will have internet access on the trail or have the desire to write.
When I did my first solo-journey in South East Asia in 1995-96, I left the US a green traveler with many more butterflies then excitement. Through the joys & tears of travel, I learned that I had the most meaningful experiences & people-connections when I could get into the flow of travel & be open to experiences unfolding rather then planning out every detail. I found this to be the true magic of travel. This lesson took me many months to learn.
Tonight, I am pleased to already feel myself in this space.
For the next three weeks, I know I will walk upon a 177-mile trail through the British/Welsh countryside. I know where I am sleeping the first three nights. I know I have a plane ticket back to the US on July 18 @ 1:05pm.
The rest will unfold...
woo hoo for adventure! yes, please blog about your journey - you're a great write :)
ReplyDeleteBon voyage, Adee! Looking forward to reading about the journey. Vaya con queso, amiga
ReplyDeleteAdee, you DEFINITELY have to write your story for ALL to ready -- your prose is poetry and I am so glad to be able to read this along with your Dad -- I'm at maryview1@comcast.net and would love to know what you are up to/into at this point in your life -- and I'm very proud to know that you took this journey and made it world-shaking for yourself, and those who read your blog -- you're a great gal and I look forward to being with you as soon as I can -- Marcia Kernes
ReplyDelete