Day 18, priceless moment

On the bow, sitting atop the spinnaker bag I meditate. Hearing the soft flow of water finding its way past the hull, the sun’s warmth and brightness setting my eye lids a glow and simply breathing. Day 18. Day 18. I sit here wondering about the first two weeks a float and the 2 weeks prior and find myself with many thoughts. My mind flooded with which way to concentrate my energy, which facet I shall allow to surface, to become my center. My mind is like the burst shot on a camera…quickly flashing many incremental images. But I sit, breathing. Being at present with my present moment. Feeling the caress of wind upon the soft hairs on my face and arms, feeling nature surround my senses. Not thinking forward, not thinking backward. I like this moment. And in this moment I was not expecting to find a new realization about this trip, possibly a new way to receive this trip…other than our original reasons, which was to create a space to connect with our family, to find new deep connections with our sons, as well as, with one another. Time, during this change in scenery, that will ignite us and allow each of us to see each other anew, to possibly find in our hearts a softer connection to the beings we have become. That part of ourselves we ignored while distracted by the everyday land locked ‘normality’s’ society molds us into. Just as our boat Nemetona in Celtic means create a sacred space to connect with the divine; in our case this is the space to connect as a family. With all the months of preparing, moving, packing, and provisioning for this trip, I forgot the simplicity of my soul, the centering of my being, I was that without a center, a time not spent bettering my personal journey…but making sure. Making sure we budgeted, making sure to make enough money, making sure kids were where they needed to be, making sure we could find renters, making sure we purged un wanted stuff, making sure everything was packed, making sure I understood what was needed on the boat (having never grew up around boats), making sure bills were paid, making sure all accounts were set up for travel purposes, making sure this, making sure that. During that time, I failed to make sure I was moving forward, that I was moving in a direction organic to my being. One that internally reflected a direction akin to me. So I am happy to say….sitting on the bow today a real flash of desire to connect with my surroundings each and every day, came to me. Then the realization that this trip will exponentially facilitate that desire… lightened my heart and gave rise to a hope I did not know I needed. It is not a new desire to connect with my surroundings, it is an ever present want, but because of the hustle and bustle of land life, it does not always get realized. So the thought of being in the moment - even if ONLY for A moment, and that it can be attainable everyday just by being on this vessel; is priceless. I am excited to think on this, to meditate on this. Gaining strength from nature and allowing it to flow through my being at any given moment, gave me great joy and peace. I am so blessed to have found this thought only 18 days in…not 24, not at 180 days, but now, today. I am blessed, I am centered and it feels good.

View of the bow and the spinnaker bag in beige!

They were sooo excited.

We met in NYC - and went to the top of the world trade building on one of our first dates.

Dolphins following us!  Beautiful Nature.

Our family!

My next post will catch us up on the actual physical journey!

A Shift...

This past Wednesday my friends mother passed away.  She was 96.  She lived many years raising a family of 6 kids and spent the last few years with Alzheimer's.  I found out about it via facebook while at an event I was working near Boston.  During the ride home late that night and into the days following many thoughts drifted in and out of my mind.  Similar to when you find out friends are getting a divorce....it makes you question your paradigm.  Your framework.  Your life.

Most of my thoughts and realizations about her loss made me think about my parents and that time when they too shall pass.  It made me reflective.  Made me look at all the amazing things they have done for and with their children and how I would handle that day.   THAT day when they are no longer a phone call away, a mere drive away, a mere flight away.

The word that kept coming into my consciousness was SHIFT. 

A shift of Thought.

A shift of Family.

A shift of Caring.

A shift of Giving.

A shift of Loving.

Made this for my friend Sue.

A Cairn marking the milestone of her mothers life,

the Alzheimer Flower Pin she gave me in support of her mother

and the 2 shells representing her life and her daughter Kate's.

So the loss is for those who remain on earth....or should I say the Shift is for those of us who remain. It is us who carry on the legacy, to write about it, to share it, to embody the things we learned from those who touch our lives.  Shifting our energies from the thoughts of loss to the thoughts of how we intend to live our days here on earth.  To embrace the beauty that is all around us (if we look), to touch the lives of those who enter our sphere (if we are open), to go within and shift our wants and desires to reflect the soul we have within.  

May we always be this way - even outside of death.  We have a short time to be effective human being here on earth...soften your heart, open your soul and touch upon the spirit we all have within.