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28 days of "What's Best?"

4/19/2014

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Inspired by the theory; presented by Robert M. Pirsig in his contemporary classic book "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance"; that the common social question: "What's New?" "...if pursued exclusively, results only in an endless parade of trivia and fashion, the silt of tomorrow."  The silt of tomorrow referring back to old channels of consciousness "that have become silted in with the debris of thoughts grown stale and platitudes too often repeated."  He proposes that the question "What's Best?" loosens the silt, moves it downstream, and deepens the channels.  It is this deepening of channels that inspires me to share my 28 days of "What's Best?" 

Day #1; What's Best?: The shear reality that I am able to get into my RV and wander about for 28 days.  It is contained in a state of wonder, curiosity, and adventure. Rather than blazing down I-25 to reach a destination, I meandered (as best one can in a 32’ RV towing a jeep, bikes and kayak).  I’d say I don’t even meander; it’s more of a lumbering…slowly up and gently down, ascending and descending Colorado mountain passes reaching upwards of 10,000 vertical feet.  The grave reduction of speed on these uphill journeys offering enough diversion of focus from the road to allow me to snap photos while I drive.  It is duly noted that this brings little comfort to my infrequent passenger.  Dolce, on the other hand, views my narrow focus (through my 18-200mm lens) as a distraction from broad awareness of what’s going on around me and sneaks close by, face up over the front dash - for the best view - leaning her head on the massive coach steering wheel.  Do not be alarmed, I am keenly aware of the utterly unsafe driving condition which I am describing yet assure you; it’s not quite that dramatic.  It parallels a young mother of the ‘70’s driving her car, lit cigarette with dangling ash in one hand, reaching into the backseat to smack her unruly child with the other, screaming at the top of her lungs “if you don’t leave your sister alone and stop crying I’m going to pull this car over and really make it hurt.”  This was pre seat belts, and a true story…I was the unruly kid.  The fruits of my endeavor (great road photos) far outweigh the probable lung cancer of the 70’s mom or poor kids who suffered the real deal second hand smoke with the car windows all the way up.  The health fanatics, anti second hand smoke, and count to 1, 2, 3 instead of hitting your kids crowd of the 90’s being the 30 somethings that resulted from the smoked out backseat beatings.  Can anyone relate? 
The road
The road
The road
The road
The silt being thick and necessitating major excavation, I won’t limit myself to one “best.”  Best is a word suggestive of competition and limitation by hierarchy.  I instead invite the notion that one best can stand beside another best in equal esteem.   

Day #1: “What’s Best?” ~ Dolce and I visited Great Sand Dunes National Park (GSDNP) in Colorado.  I am parked in an RV park just outside the entrance, am the only camper, Dolce is completely off-leash and content chasing tennis balls, and I am blessed with mountain views in every direction, quiet with the exception of the wind blustering against the side of the RV (let the record stand that I count that as quiet) and I have time…nothing but time.  I have nothing I “have” to do today.  Here are my 12 “best” shots from GSDNP. 
I close this evening in excited anticipation for what best tomorrow will bring.

Namasté

I honor the place in you in which spirit dwells ♥ I honor the place in you which is of love, of truth, of light and peace ♥
When you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me, we are one
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A journey within

1/14/2013

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Hi friends, family and followers…my update leaves heaps to be desired in the way of travel unless traveling into myself is a considerable endeavor in your opinion.  I am parked in San Diego at Mission Bay.  It could only be better if
San Diego wasn’t experiencing what everyone continually says is “the coldest
it’s been here in my recollection”.  So much for my aspirations to be a surf bum. I went into the surf one day.  It was big, I was squirrely, and after 45 minutes, I was so cold I required the assistance of a friend to remove my wetsuit. That’s happened once before, whitewater kayaking on the American River in December.  I prefer Costa Rica!  Dolce would not even go into the ocean today. 

Nonetheless, in two weeks, I have experienced some great stuff!  I have reconnected new and timeless friendships that will last a lifetime.  In pursuit of material for my book on healing as well as my long-term consideration of SD as my future home (with a condo in Sedona?), I have attended numerous integrative healing events.  The highlights include a Native American drum circle, a Reiki energy share (I am embarking upon Reiki Master status with level 1 accomplished), a crystal bowl mediation wherein I rested upon the floor and experienced both the beauty of the sound as well as the vibration, and perhaps my favorite experience: dance church! I attended what is often referred to as “ecstatic dance”. It was 2 hours of moving meditation in a safe, non-alcohol/drug environment. I’m hooked! The upcoming weeks before departing for New Mexico are full of similarly exciting things.  This week I have interviews with several healers for contribution to my book, a couple of photo shoots (La Jolla pier and a bird of prey exhibit), and a visit with two children that I adore.  Next week, I embark upon my course to legitimize this inspirational blogging and will soon be a certified life coach.  My transition from my previous experience as a successful architect has been impactful.  I know I will not re-enter my world as CA Associates.  I am clear that God, my inner voice and the world is asking me to contribute on a more intimate level.  Here I am…Thank you for supporting me, loving me and being a part of my life. 

Namasté

Namasté: 
I honor the place in you in which spirit dwells
I honor the place in you which is of love, of truth, of light and peace. 
When you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me, we are one.

A collection of my favorite photos from the past weeks:  


 
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Guided by Curiousity and Wonder

12/5/2012

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When I embarked 7 months ago I described my plan as a travel journey.  I inherently knew it was spiritually initiated and that the activity and outcome was healing.  The travel has just begun as I am finally outside of CA and the familiar embrace of family, friends, place, and experience. I am tempted to judge the events that changed my plan. Pausing though, I am grateful for the slow pace at which things have unraveled and know that had it gone as I attempted to plan it, I would be different than I am now.  Better or worse off? Not a question meriting attention.  What is worth considering is the utter harmony and ease that can be our actuality when we engage in our life with curiosity and wonder instead of controlling and judgment. That is my current experience; that is healing. 

Transforming the way we interpret ourselves and our participation with the world from judgment to curiousity is a paradigm shift that affords heightened joy, connection, relatedness, and peace.  It assuages our tending to us vs. them and right vs. wrong.  It is fundamental to unity.  Unity is a broad reaching state that includes infinite more personal states we desire. Do you want to get along better with a co-worker? Become curious. Ask them a question about who they are or what they like.  Do you want more free time to feel more united with yourself? Become curious about how you currently spend your time.  Most of us can find at least one thing we do that doesn’t genuinely nurture us but that we believe makes us more important or connected.  An example for me would be attending a social gathering when what my soul is truly longing for is quiet.  I don’t want to “miss out” – I sometimes have this silly condition I call “FMS” (Fear of Missing Something).  If I am curious, I will notice how I feel when I don’t heed my own inner voice and perhaps find the motivation to choose more wisely for myself next opportunity.  If I judge the situation, the appearance that others seem to be fulfilled doing this activity and question why aren’t I or even judge myself for not being authentic, there’s little room and empowerment for awareness and choice - I’m just irritated at that point and incapable of imagining something different.
 
Curiosity and wonder are streams that help guide us down the river of our life.  Like rivers, each of us is pouring into the infinite sea of life. Are you
polluting or purifying?  It matters not your current answer.  Your next
action, however, is the one that defines the state of your experience.  Become curious, wonder a little before you come to a conclusion, choose wisely!   

"When we look with an open heart, we see the unexpected."   ~ Carin G. Aichele

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Arizona 11/28/12

11/29/2012

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Highlights of the past few days:
  
The 2 motorcyclists I talked with at the gas  station – waving like crazy when later passing me
      
Arriving on desert BLM land in AZ and having endless views
        
Hours of sunset and moon photography
  
Nature at work: Having time to watch ants dismantle a piece of Dolce’s food and carry pieces 5x their body mass.  I tried to follow one ant to its destination and it ended up snared in a web by a small spider. 
  
Having and taking time to meditate
    
Feeling connected to the earth and God at a depth that affirms my belief in the possibility of world peace and freedom for all beings
        
Awaking to the sunrise reflecting off the RV
    
Dolce safely returning after chasing a coyote at dusk and the man camping ¼ mile away roaring up in his jeep with his gun prepared to help me. The impetus for her return:  me shouting that I had her ball. This experience is causing me to pause and consider the risk vs. reward of freedom. 
I won’t jump to immediate conclusions
. 
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The Tempest

5/10/2012

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Tempest: A violent commotion, disturbance or tumult (a highly distressing agitation of the mind or feeling).
 
I received a phone call from my mom this morning.  She wanted to remind me that people are waiting for my blog “…just a few paragraphs a day even if it’s not deep the way you typically are” she said.  I told her that I knew I needed to get to it but that I was still unraveling from the tempest. 
 
The tempest was the entire process of packing up my home, my sanctuary.  The tempest was saying no to viable architecture projects, watching clients hire other firms to complete good work that I could have been readily handed, it was saying goodbye to the business that afforded me this opportunity to explore myself.  The tempest was
holding a ten year old child in my arms and letting her weep with sadness over my departure. Tears flow now as I write that.  The tempest is knowing that I won’t be
dropping by my parents for dinner when I’m hungry and just finishing up teaching
a spin class.  The tempest is even the realization that so many people will miss me, that I have an impact on so many lives.  And isn’t that what I write about all the time? – about paying attention to our impact.  
  
For the past week, I have been relatively AWOL.  I have given myself time to refuel my
emotional tank.  I watched, with childlike curiosity, the behavior and patterns of people around me. Some questions I am contemplating: Why do we love to watch the sunset?  What is it that drives us to set out a lawn chair, afford the precious time, and whip out our camera for a sunset? It happens every day for crying out loud!  There is a litany of other things that also happen every day that we don’t give one iota of thought to. I’ll report back on this sunset thing later. Another big question is: Why do we let fear stop us from following our heart’s desire? It’s so socially acceptable to feel trapped and limited by “things” that are truly in our control – assuming that is that you agree that we are in control of fear – which is my friends, just one among many emotions we readily and naturally feel.  These and so many more questions to explore…later, I want more time to find my balance.  
  
So, I live in an RV…some days, I cannot decide if I’m having an identity crisis or  chasing the dream. The real learning is in accepting that dichotomy. The lesson for me is not trying to control the outcome either way.  
 
Week One: Where have I been and what have I been doing?  I will let the pictures speak! (Click on a photo to see a description)
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    Carin G. Aichele

    Carin Aichele

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