Alright, alright, alright !!

Well this is the last day of our normal conformist lifestyle. I figured I would make my first entry
here on our blog and you will certainly be able to tell before you finish why I don't do more entries.
Linda is the wordsmith in the family and I am glad to let her handle those duties. I will have much more
mundane responsibilities as we head out to meet the world and all the remarkable places and people we are
sure to encounter.
Let me start by saying this is SCARY, I have been a slave to the "system" for 40+ years so old habits
are hard to let go of. We have spent the last week selling and giving away everything we own and I mean everything. If it don't figure into our survival and fit in the Camry then it was jettisoned. So here we are
both of us unemployed (first time since I was 14 years old) also no permanent address, just a PO box so that there is some sort of anchor to allow us, in some form or fashion to maintain "roots". With the money
we made in the "great sell off" I think we can last about 2 weeks maybe 3 without changing our lifestyle.
So in addition to all the other sacrifices we are making for what we are sure is a spiritual soul awakening
we are both going to have to also jettison our cigarette and diet coke addictions (this scares me the most)
if we are going to make the money last as long as is necessary to effect the changes and enlightenment we
so desperately seek.
If the creator had not spoken clearly to both Linda and I at exactly the same time with exactly the same message when we were miles apart in location I would probably be at work today and still in that same 'ole rut for years to come. So with that said, yes we are crazy but this decision is going to be one of the sanest I have made in all my 56 years, it is with that conviction that allows me to do this very quickly and with all the confidence one soul can have in this life. We will be alright,alright,alright!
Earlier this week as the chaos and uncertainty set in with my beautiful wife Linda, you see she has always been a nester and this most certainly put those instincts to the test and it was difficult for me
to watch her struggle with this, me not so much. I have had to start over from scratch a couple of times in this life so, if, and I use the word "if" loosely this does not play out like the universe(GOD) so clearly showed both of us that it would then I have experience at picking up the pieces and starting all over again. Linda on the other hand has always had security when it comes down to an income and a home. I know she is capable of amazing resilience and determination I just hope that we don't have to rely on those traits to jump back into the "world" should this all turn out to be lesson in humility and we come back tail between our legs,hat in hand and die as unfulfilled as when we were blessed with this calling.
I don't know about Linda but for myself, and I alluded to it earlier, some sacrifices are going to have to be made by me to give this mission of ours all the legs it is gonna need to be life changing for us as well as EVERYONE we encounter along the way. But I am not looking at them as sacrifices but more like tools I can barter with to help facilitate the change needed on this planet. In an effort to be succinct I will list just 3 of the most painful things I am going to trade with the Universe for things in return that I will gain along this journey that will help not only me but Linda and anyone we are blessed with spending time with along the way. OK Universe, tomorrow morning I will give up my 2+ pack a day cigarette addiction,my 5-6 diet cokes and then there is TV, damn that might be the hardest of all. In return Universe, I am expecting to get love,laughter,peace and hopefully some spiritual maturity that can only be obtained when you finally realize that there really is only one religion and one law, that is LOVE.
Please do not let me mislead you, what we are doing is selfish. WE know that if everywhere we go we give GOOD then we will in return, get Good. So folks that are out there following our progress or lack thereof, if you would on occasion look to the heavens and ask that our journey be everything and MORE than we envisioned. Thank You, Namaste' and God Bless to you and yours til our next installment from the road.

This is me today, one content SOB and appearing happy

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This is me after we embark on our path. Bliss=peace

A Message From the Future

In 7 years, I’ll be 60. I hope (and expect) that the 60 year old version of me is wiser, more at peace with herself and the world. I hope she is looking back on me as I am today- the 53 year old me looking for the next step in my life and thinking “that’s the moment when everything changed”.

I can just imagine and hope the future me will be pleased with the choices I’m making today.  I hope a conversation with the future me sounds something along the lines of:

“Ahhh, at 53 I was at a crossroads- Unexpectedly fired from my job. I had grown to resent the company for the hurtful-insensitive-self-serving things I had witnessed from the CEOs and upper management. The company was completely at odds with my personal philosophy of putting people ahead of dollars. But the pay was more than I had ever made in my life. Steve and I were comfortable. But I was miserable-depressed-sick-crawling through each day. Being released from that job was a huge blessing but also a huge financial sacrifice, I didn’t know what to do. There were jobs all over the area but was that the answer? Just get another job and jump right back into the system that was killing me? The last thing I wanted was repeating the pattern of trading hours of my life for dollars- especially when a large part of those dollars went into the pocket of people who DID NOT share our respect for life. I was fearful yes, I was so thankful and I worked hard at staying in the moment- to enjoy being at home every day- walking the dogs, writing, cooking, crafting-the things that made me blissful. Every day I prayed & meditated & began learning-seeing the Universe at work- everywhere I looked.  I had not been this happy maybe in all my life.  

I kept myself in tune with my higher power and kept listening for direction. It was always the same “Trust me. I’ve got you” the very same words as a corporate recruiter I had told people many times when they came to me looking for help. “I’m here to help, I’ve got you.”

Finally I was able to relax and trust the Universe honestly did have me and was trustworthy. I mean what choices do you have really if you don’t have confidence in yourself? When you lose belief in YOURSELF then you’re at odds with the Universe who as we know- is ALWAYS ON OUR SIDE and ALWAYS BELIEVES IN US! That’s a battle that today’s world (we) can never win.

I started to relax into the new role of full time wife-writer-mom-grandma-pet owner- and craft maker extraordinaire! I began to let go of things I thought I had to have-admittedly sometimes these things had to be delicately removed from my grasp by the Universe (namely our home).

But the thought kept echoing through my mind – ‘freedoms’ just another word for nothing left to lose’.  I had been asking the creator for a chance to travel and see the world, to sleep under the stars in the back of our camper van as we travel the country giving back to the earth and planting trees and good vibes – and hope- along the way.

This was the dream we had been nurturing every day for years.

We downsized and then downsized again, yes it was a process! The Universe in her all knowing wisdom- understood that letting go of the things we think of as our security- is separation anxiety of the fiercest kind! So, like the loving mother she is, she eased us into it. We took it one day at a time- to do otherwise would have driven us (me especially) to madness of the unknown future. I was freer than I had ever been in my life. Every option of the Universe was open to me and once I let go of the fear/guilt of failing and falling and the opinions and judgment of others, once I just enjoyed the freedom of living and began to undo the 50+years of brainwashing that had been the voices in my head – “work harder-work faster-earn more” I finally began to un-hear those things!   

Steve and I tiptoed along- literally- not being brave enough to take a giant leap on my own; the Universe had to give me a couple of nudges.  I finally got my wings the day that I felt the fear leave me. The day that I put on music and danced in the house- alone except for the dogs and cat- and I wept for joy at the beauty of that moment. If getting fired was the only way for me to experience that singular blissful moment or any other one ahead- then it was worth it. It had been a very VERY long time since I had wept for the JOY of being alive and it felt amazing! Fast forward- here we are seven years later. Steve and I became Nomads- traveling - letting the beauty of this world heal our souls and renew our sparkle for life. We now have a successful life coaching business, are published authors and an in-demand motivational speakers. We have traveled to every state in the country and have been on numerous international adventures.   How did we get here you ask? It was simple really- you see a person can’t walk around in that kind of natural euphoria and sublime happiness, without other people noticing.  When joy and peace radiate from your life- people will be drawn to you like a moth to the flame. It wasn’t that we were trying to draw attention to ourselves- we both knew it wasn’t anything we had intentionally done- it was the Love of the Universe that others saw in us and they were drawn to it like magnets. They wanted to know how they could find the kind of happiness that would lead them to dance and cry with sheer joy for no reason or maybe it was for every reason. As others began to listen and to follow, our joy- our bliss became even fuller. The words of the Universe renewed our passion and healed us. We wanted to share the message of hope to everyone we met. Investing ourselves into others would become the fuel that would drive that passion and our camper van. Wanting-needing-yearning- to tell others of the things we’ve learned was like a fire in our bones. It was something that drove us even when we didn’t know why or where or how we were going to end up, The Universe was guiding us and we believed it would lead us to the right place at the right time. We went on with complete faith in the plan. We were so certain and the message was so clear and strong that we gambled the entire rest of our lives on it. The truth of the matter was a person can live without trusting the Universe if you want. You can struggle along in your own self made battles, with just enough verve and moxie to live half of a life, or you can risk everything for a chance at the ultimate life. We knew that a half-life was no life at all and it was either freedom or bust for us.  We laid it all on the line- trusting in the love and care and guidance of the Universe to get us to our proper destination(s). And boy, are we glad we did. Life changed forever that day and every day since has been an adventure and a blessing. More than we dreamed and it all started with a hunger for more. Oh I know- hunger isn’t a pleasant feeling- nobody likes to feel hungry. So we stuff ourselves with shit to keep from feeling that discomfort. We snack, graze, pig-out and pork-up on things to stop the hunger not realizing that hunger is what propels us to find nourishment that satisfies. Did you get that? Hunger isn’t a bad thing, listen to what your spirit is hungry for- that’s where you will find your bliss.”

    Ah, my thoughts return back to today, this moment, I am not a young person anymore. I’m older than I’ve ever been and I have fewer tomorrows than yesterdays. I hear the message of the 60 year old future me pleading “Don’t settle Linda…don’t settle Steve. Hang onto those dreams, the Universe has placed them inside of you for a reason.  Have faith that you are exactly where you need to be. Be brave and happy-go ahead and dance- the Universe sees your bliss and is sending you a lifetime supply.  It’s impossible to teach somebody how to be happy and harmonious when you hate your life- I need you, the Universe needs you, people need you to show them how to dance”.   

Namaste’ future me. I’ll see you in a few years.

2 Square Tires- 3 Life Lessons

I love dreaming! I feel sorry for people that say they don’t dream or that don’t remember their dreams. I come from a long line of dreamers! Oh- I’m not talking about the MLK  "I have a dream…” type of thing.  I mean DREAM- like the unconscious state where your subconscious mind takes the lead and shows you things, people, places, lessons!

My dad had a dream in the mid 1970s. In the dream God spoke to him and it changed his life. My dad lived every day of the rest of his life according to the message that God gave him that one night. He believed it and so did I. If you knew my dad for more than five minutes, he probably told you the story, his story. It became his guiding light.

My grandmother had a reoccurring dream that someone in the family caught a fish and every single time she had that dream, she knew  somebody in the family was pregnant or soon would be! True story!

Regardless of your stance on dreams and their meanings, indulge me.  Let me tell you about a dream I had several years ago…

In my dream there were many people gathered at the starting line of a race, some of them were people that I knew- but not all were familiar.  I was there too, getting lined up to run- stretching, breathing, focusing, yada yada yada. We were getting ready for the race to begin when someone began handing out bicycles. Every person in the race was given a bike which they were required to use during the race. It was mandatory. You could not enter the race without it.

 Some of the bikes were seriously great!  New fancy 10 speeds with all terrain tires that would take their lucky rider anywhere!  There were mountain bikes, racing bikes, three wheeled bikes, bikes with bells and lights and bikes with baskets and backseats.   Some bikes had four wheels, some six, some had only one.  There were bikes that were more rust or duct tape than anything else. Some with more missing or broken parts than working ones. Some had no tires, some had flat tires, some had only badly bent or damaged tires.

I looked at my bike. Square tires. Two square tires. Riding that thing across the finish line was going to be horrible!  How was I going to finish the race on 2 square tires?  It would be like riding a pogo stick to the finish line!  I felt defeated before the race even started.and then I woke up.

Dreams like these are so vivid- I can draw them more easily than I can describe them. So colorful and vivid and so full of meaning. Have you already guessed it? The meaning of my dream?

Three things I learned- like 3 Post-it-note messages left for my conscious mind to see.

1.      Persevere. We all have different struggles. Some of us have more gifts than others- some of us have more broken or missing parts than working ones. I remind myself daily. Just finish your race. Use what the Creator gave you- to the best of your ability.  If that means we’ve got to drag –push-carry or ride- to the finish line then so be it. Persevere.

And lesson #2 when I start to feel sorry for myself for the uncomfortable teeth jarring ride on my square tires- look around. In life, as in my dream-

2.       Be grateful. Some have it worse- some have it much worse.  Be thankful for what I DO  have as well as for what I DONT.

 And oh don’t forget the lucky few with the great bikes- their race finished before mine hardly began. Don’t waste time or energy envying others.  We are all different. Our life lessons are as varied as we are. We have each been given unique abilities and disabilities, eases or diseases- that the Creator knows will help us grow during our race. Yes some have it easier- but not all do. Be happy that some experience a more pleasant race but also consider – sometimes the bike only looks awesome on the outside.

3 Don’t judge others. Period.

So, tell me my friends. What kind of bike were you given for the race? No matter where you are in the equipment line-up be sure that you are ok. You are right where you are supposed to be with the perfect bike to help you grow!

Namaste my friends and Peace for every step (or peddle) of your journey! Now back to these square tires!

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