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We are ALL in this together!

3/24/2012

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Why is this song at the top of the music charts?                                              
 
I think I understand it…In fact, is he singing about me…?

Everyone I know loves the song. People who are in marriages, single people, people newly dating.

What that says to me is: We have all either personally felt, held compassion for another who has felt it, or are intellectually aware of the empty, incomparable, brutal feeling of loss of love, of rejection. 

Have you noticed that people from all walks of life are listening to this song?
Do you think this song knows political party lines?
Do you believe this song cares what religion you believe in?
Do you feel this song only touches middle class white people?
Do you think gays don’t quite feel the pain in this song as much as straight people?
Do you think only educated people hear the message? 
Do you feel if you buy enough stuff the pain will go away? 
  
Do you really think we are that different?
 
I don’t.  

This is a social example of how we are all in this together and one more proof to me that if a Creator exists, then there is only one - unless the others are copy cats.  

Just once today, look at and engage with another human (especially one you might otherwise judge) through the lens of belief that at their very core, they are just like you. That perhaps they have the same deep hope for love and the same fears that limit their access to it.
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Prelude 05

3/20/2012

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Late into the night packing my every belonging.  Not to move it to some new destination, wherein I lovingly unpack it, cherish its meaning and place it anew – giving it yet another life.  No, packing my things to sit in boxes.  As I gently wrap each item, I recall where it was acquired what it meant then, and ask: does this have meaning today? The answer seems muted by the roaring wave of unknowing.  While I am having moments of feeling like I am racing into the unknown throwing all caution to the wind and taking risk beyond measure, it’s not the truth.  I recall creating an intention for my life two years ago. I realize, I asked for this in full awareness.  I set the intention to walk away from what I perceived as comfort: a settled life on a gorgeous property, family, friends and familiarity abounding around me.  With deep appreciation for every blessing of love I have here, in my unraveling current life, the call to live and adventure more fully in the moment is undeniable.  With that call comes a demand to be in profound integrity with myself – each aspect.  My physical self and its cries for being playful, adventurous, daring, free and graceful.  My mental self and its desire to express more creativity in the form of photography, writing and engaging with others.  My spiritual self and it’s calling to heal –myself and others.  Finally, my emotional self – the least developed, immature aspect of my being.  My emotional self is looking through the open door and knowing that sometimes we will encounter sunshine and sometimes we will encounter storms. With faith in God and myself, there is no reason to meet out my emotion with caution.  Life is a delicious gift and I choose to live knowing that nothing and nobody can put out my fire.  I have hopes that the flames will at times rage; other times, burn with a soft consistent glow; and even sometimes, give reprieve from the fire in cooling embers.  

The legacy I want to leave is this: being an example of living passionately, authentic, and free.    

Whatever created us (I call it God but that matters not), wants us to thrive, not survive.  
 
I am impassioned tonight by the knowledge that a colleague passed away without warning.  He was a distant friend, one that I respected and cared for.  I am angered that his dreams to live fully –finally embarking upon his retirement – were stripped.  The past few times I saw him, he was excited, talking constantly about training for marathons and double-century cycling events.  He invariably arrived at my office with his wife who he was clearly thrilled to start sharing more of his newly claimed time with.  He, like many, had waited until his later years to start doing the things that called to his heart.  
 
With all due respect to all the responsibilities and adult obligations and things we are “supposed” to do and accomplish in life, I think we got confused somewhere along the way. I know I did.  I have made mistakes for the sake of money, status, pride, and ignorance.  And worst of all, I have lost love because of fear of being vulnerable.  
 
The thing I am most grateful for in life is this: we choose.  Today, I choose something different.  I choose to listen to the still voice inside and live to the best of my ability in accord with it.  
 
Don’t waste another day my friends.  Do, think, say, feel, or BE what calls you at the deepest level.  Forgive, forget, and love.  This is not a call for irresponsibility.  I am advocating for accountable authenticity.  It is the greatest gift we can give to ourselves and others. If you don’t know what you want, ask yourself and be open.  The answers will come.
  
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Prelude 04

3/11/2012

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Since my January post, every intention and desire I held for this travel journey/life change has come to fruition.  Every single one.  When I advocate for positive thinking, for expectancy of good, and for belief in oneself and the true calling from one’s heart, I do so with a modicum of experience.  I also talk with others, read stories confirming my theories, participate in seminars and generally surround myself with people who choose to direct and be accountable for the state of their lives. 

My property is leased for a year.  With the exception of two, each of my six cats has a new home.  Friends and family are stepping up to borrow and use my things on long-term loan. Clients are responding to my departure with grace and enthusiasm. Opportunities have arisen in the field of photography and writing that were otherwise unexpected.  Friends are regularly contacting me to let me know that they have a friend or family member that they want me to meet along the way.  Packing the house is occurring with ease.  In the act of giving things away, I am again reminded of the frequency with which we may be touching another’s life and the infrequency with which we recognize, acknowledge and learn from it.  I see these moments as opportunities for healing.    
 
A brief story: I have 5 whitewater kayaks.  That may sound ludicrous but I assure you, I have friends with double and triple that number!  Whitewater kayaking is a sport drawing a unique range of people.  My experience of the common qualities suggest the willingness to be in the unknown and most often great passion for the sport or the overall river experience.  A river is never the same.  No matter how many times you have run a particular stretch of river, you cannot know exactly what it will do and when.  The water is a dynamic force that can be predicted but certainly not guaranteed. Spotting a bald eagle on the American river is an infrequent treat and one recalls the days this occurs as particularly sublime.  The reluctance to sell or give away a kayak is due to the emotional attachment to these experiences.  
 
I posted one of my 5 kayaks and some outdated gear on the local kayak club website.  Within minutes, I had 10 hits.  I offered the gear “free to good home”.  Being fair, I contacted the first person who responded. After several emails and phone calls to coordinate the transfer, a chance to get to know this person and his family has arisen.  In our last conversation, he asked how my packing was going.  I sincerely shared that I was struggling with time management (which is not a familiar issue for me).  My conflict lies in an erratic desire to repeatedly do all the activities that I have been engaged in while I have lived here.  I want to ride my mountain bike on the local trails that I love, I want to run the river that I have run hundreds of times, I want to play tennis with the same girls, and I want to plant a garden even though I am leaving.  This feels at once logical and illogical.  The young man I was talking with said he experienced my desire as childlike, sharing his opinion that as adults we give little appreciation to the familiar experiences and constantly seek more/better; whereas children find abundant joy in simple things they have done or do repeatedly.  This led to deeper conversation and theory about quality of life vs. quantity.  At the end of the
conversation he shared that he needed our conversation that day, that he was emotionally drained from the demands of his corporate position and our little time talking had uplifted his life.  Without prompting from me, he asked if there was any packing or moving that he could help me with when he came to pick up the kayak as he wanted to spend more time together and for his wife and children to get the chance to meet me.

Sharing this with you is not intended as a shout out for my ego.  It is intended as a reminder that our behavior, our words, our very lives have impact – my mission is to recognize  mine and use it for the highest good.  I call you to do the same.  I am brought to tears at the idea that fear and limited or competitive thinking causes us to miss out on these opportunities to care for another person, to engage fully and honestly, to love another for a brief moment and to trust that healing love to be spread.  We have a choice.  I choose to be bold and audacious, trusting that I am the only me and that everything I think and do has impact.  I choose for that impact to be healing.  I invite you to join me.
  
     

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    Carin G. Aichele

    Carin Aichele

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