When you love a place so much, stop and notice. Let the feelings fully penetrate your body and mind. Relish the ease of knowing that you’ve arrived. Recently as I exited the airplane into the fresh Jackson Hole air, my heart burst. Tears began to fall. Gratitude and sadness mixed intensely into an emotional concoction. … Read more
The amount of stuff mattered. On this ten-day hiking adventure we’d carry a forty liter backpack with “needed” whatever. Not known for ever packing light, choosing what to bring would be arduous. Practicality over indulgence must “reign the day”: that special hair conditioner…forget about it; the cute evening dress…not necessary. Our things … Read more
A lone traveler on a bike, examining his wrinkled, printed maps, unsure about the route to Fort Collins, traveling with time on his hands. A German-speaking Italian from the Dolomites, Heinz started in Mexico City, met a companion then biked until reaching Colorado. Other than visiting a Hutterite community in North Dakota and Chicago, his … Read more
You’ve already imagined the cancerous spot. The long-anticipated trip to France won’t happen and the money invested will be gone. Even with chemo on the horizon, will you live? Then, in contemplating these dire circumstances, you cognitively decide to create a super tough coping mechanism, fight until cured. You will “win” no matter … Read more
Slow Down You Move Too Fast…You’ve Got to Make the Morning Last Perhaps Simon and Garfinkel witnessed traffic on the NYC 59th Street Bridge and wished for the frenetic energy to wane just a bit: “Slow Down (people); You Move To Fast (up and down the streets, seeing no one, always in a … Read more
Going almost anywhere for the very first time is Exciting…Fresh…Hopeful. We’re stepping out of everyday life into the unknown of our own choosing. Whatever it is, the “adventure” is decided. Plans curated and time set aside. “Explorer” is our upcoming title. Anticipation is high. Extra effort is required to “get out of Dodge”, … Read more
A profit and loss statement helps a company guide decisions based on how the “Net”, the bottom line, looks. Reflecting back on a recent family weekend, the “Net” was an extraordinary experience, a weekend packed with F and E, Fluidity and Ease. Besides type-A personalities coming together (me included), we felt some apprehension about the visit. It … Read more
Coffee in hand and a quiet table at a favorite cafe greet me on a Monday after a week away. It feels like mid-afternoon. The day is in full swing, perhaps time for an afternoon “pick me up”. Truth be told, it’s actually 7:30 am and the day has only begun. Despite jet lag, the … Read more
We arrive. Perhaps it’s for a meeting at an office building we’ve never visited before. We circle the neighborhood to find a parking space. Or we’re traveling again to a favorite city such as New York and Paris. This time we’ll use the subway aka Metro. Maybe it’s a brand new destination. We’ll rely on … Read more
Handing out food and warm clothes and then enjoying dinner at a cozy restaurant, two different neighborhoods within a span of four hours, a breadth of experience endearing us to Denver and the people who live here. Both activities engendered care and comfort, kindness and friendliness, neighbors helping neighbors, Mr. Roger’s ethos in action: … Read more