Last night, we watched the sunset over Lake Erie from a park in Westfield, NY. This area is known for growing Concord grapes, the kind that are used for the grape jelly we enjoyed as children. It’s also known for the Barcelona lighthouse we passed on the way to the campground. But most importantly- this part of New York is known for bordering on one of the Great Lakes.
I did some yoga at the park, using the reflection of the sun on the lake as a focus of attention and direction. It was very pleasant to watch it turn from white to purple and then to shades of orange and red. Eventually, the width of the reflection got thinner as the sun made its exit behind some clouds.
The ride here was 4.5 hours, so I felt deep relief in my muscles as we joined hands and walked back across the street to our camper. Yoga is certainly one of the most meaningful practices that life has to offer. I’m very grateful for it.
What I miss most about not traveling to the Southwest is the spiritual connection that exists in beautiful, natural environments. I was ready to involve all of my senses and to feel emotions linking me to the land and, I hoped, the Navajo people. To me, the land, sea and sky are more engaging and magical than what we humans have created.
I am aware, though, and thankful that the device I hold in my hand, the Starlink that connects me to a satellite and the internet all play a role in me connecting with you. I do hold some gratitude for that aspect of our relationship and thank you for tuning in, too.
What I hope to achieve by being in nature does relate to how I interact with my fellow humans. After an adventure, I want to share it. I want to add the stories, feelings and discoveries to the toolkit I bring to our work with children and teachers. As a creator, I am moved to reflect back what I have experienced to others.
In place of the tranquility I thought we would find, I am returning with something else: a story of how adversity, grit, surrender, partnership and grace formed new synapses in my belly and in my brain. Like the Colorado River that created the Grand Canyon, I have been re-formed by my experiences.
I cannot see it all clearly, though. Maybe you, the reader, recognize what I cannot yet name. At present, I am still quaking with the aftershocks of fear and survival.
Stay tuned. More than ever, I enjoy knowing that my friends and family are only a satellite jump away.
Playlist
Amy Poehler’s podcast interview with Annie Lamott, Dionne Warwick (I’ll Never Fall in Love Again), Stuart Stotts’ podcast, How Can I Keep From Singing
