What Is Living?

Midwest USA

What constitutes living?  The night I walked away from my father’s hospital bed on what ended up being his final day on Earth, I remember the words, “live life while you can,” coming to mind.  Almost a dozen years later, I ask, what does that actually mean?  Having the privilege to meet a group of friends and family members who are in their eighties and approaching nineties, I listen, observe, and ponder the question of life and what that represents for each being in the diversity of living states. I can only live my own life, so is it walking in alignment to this growing inner state of awareness and moving with the form through the experiences and requirements that arise? Tasting, sampling, and having fun with all of the opportunities the Earth plan offers? 

Stories and memories appear to be what is left towards the end until the mind even loses this connection to one's history. Which expires first--the mind or the body?

Stayed here over 30 years ago with my horse, 1982.

Spring--31 year old mule who won the President's Cup. Living in retirement now. 

Diversity in 1,500 Miles

Amazing to drive this far and have the terrain change every few hours, minimal traffic, open road, unpopulated, and mechanically sound vehicle.  Photos are difficult when it is the feel of pure expansiveness and not in the details.  Ok, there are A LOT of snow fences and potential road closure signs to turn around, so I am thinking this is the time of year to drive this stretch of landscape, (California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, and Missouri.)

Elk Mountain, Wyoming

Snow fences, snow fences, and snow fences...

Driving meditation. Learning about scaffolding on vs. minimized. Fascinating to watch life from such a different perspective at times and still see the body operate.  Pushing the shopping cart of the body down the road with only eyes, but actually performing tasks. Staying out of the falling under the elephant state while driving, but it is present--learning.

Road Trip

Two hour loop around the neighborhood.

Going to drive to the Midwest/St. Louis, Missouri area  to visit friends/family, see the countryside, and then circle back through Las Vegas/Southern CA to pick-up clothes from my storage unit, hopefully see Jaz/Janelle, and head north to start work on Monday, July 21st.  It has been a very long time since I have had an official job with a pay check and benefits.

Continuing to learn every day from the feedback of living.  Playing with new exercises at the gym.  Plan to resurrect my bicycle and buy a swimsuit for additional cross-training.  The state of joy in my daily life is astounding.  Feeling very child like and gleeful with the simplicity and lack of attachment  to controlling what happens in a day.  Plenty seems to line up, but just having fun with the diversity. The book is coming along steadily and I am learning a lot from my editor/writing coach as well.

I was sorting through the photos with the thought of entering a few in a photo contest and it was so lovely to visit Gurudev and the ashram even if it is virtually.  Not a day goes by that I don't marvel at what I learned from Gurudev and continue to watch it appear to have a life of its own with it growing and spreading into every aspect of what I touch in a day.

Excited to take a road trip before digging into the new job.    

Living In Being

Transparency

Awe of living in being.

Another day walking on the beach...

Human Commodity

Glorious, warm, sunny day at the coast.

An interesting new direction is emerging.  What is it like to work as a human commodity?  The treatment of horses as a commodity was what sent me on the intensive phase of the spiritual journey. As I step aside from the horse world, I am learning that the human component of many businesses is treated like a commodity. The first step of developing a resume to walk through the door into the two-legged's work world is fascinating. How to create a resume based on transferable skills. Odd that the past three years of what I would consider to be the most remarkable and precious skill set of awareness that I could ever have contact to is "not to be highlighted on paper." Is this the mindset and thread to what leads to war, rape, and more?

Last Stop In The Walk Of Daily Life

West Coast, Pacific Ocean, Northern California

Sitting in the sound of the ocean.

Final stop while working my way south. What a treat to sit at the ocean and reflect upon the journey of life and the journey of travel.  Remembering sitting at the Pacific Ocean on the other side of it in NZ.  As I met with friends and family, the beauty and depth of what I have learned in the past three years is beginning to sink in.  What a different capacity for listening from a less scratchy point of presence, compassion, and patience.  Pranam never feels like enough, so all I can do is to try and live in alignment with what I know today and what continues to unfold. The walk of daily life is a wonderful teacher.

3,000 Mile Loop #1

Thank you Karen for the nice shot!!  Not standing near that edge...

The 3,000 mile driving loop through the Northwestern US is winding down as I find my way along the California coast. Driving on wide open roads with minimal traffic is a wonderful venue for reflection.  Life is about change and how not to hold on as it is happening. What is next?  Nice timing on the Bowl of Saki.  " He who with sincerity seeks his real purpose in life is himself sought by that purpose."

Columbia River (massive as it winds through many states.)