The first good day of the year.
I wanted to begin the year by continuing the practice of living my life deliberately. Like most other people, there are a never-ending amount of things I have on my “to do” list at home and while completing some of those things may bring a level of satisfaction and perhaps even some joy, I wasn’t feeling at all passionate about spending the day at home working on them. In fact, I would speculate that had I spent the day at home, those items would have remained undone and I would have directed my attention elsewhere, likely on far more trivial things. But, alas, I chose to get busy living.
I moved to Arizona nearly four years ago and I had not yet visited Monument Valley, despite it being barely five hours away. I can’t say for certain what I was waiting for to go, but in a way, I think I was waiting on other people or the perfect conditions that I’d built up in my mind for me to go. In my perfect daydream, I hoped to share the experience with someone who would be amazed as I was and I also wanted photos of myself sitting in the middle of the road (where Forrest Gump stopped running) and perhaps some of me gazing out over the vistas. Those aren’t the kind of photos you usually get when you’re visiting somewhere alone.
Those also aren’t the types of photos you get when you don’t go at all.
I’m not a stranger to adventuring, exploring and traveling by myself and I don’t necessarily mind it. I’ve found it to be much easier most of the time because I can move at my own pace and take all the detours I wish. Sometimes though, there are situations where it would be nice to have someone else there who is invested in the moment like I am to say, “hey, do you see this?”. And, of course, to take a photo of me when a selfie just won’t cut it.
The timing just hasn’t worked out for a companion on a visit to Monument Valley and I didn’t want to wait anymore. And, oh man, am I glad I didn’t.
I wasn’t prepared for how deeply this place would affect me or how humbled I would be by the experience. I feel like there is an immediate sentiment of tranquility here and, of course, amazement. I am deeply fascinated by Navajo history, culture and traditions which is apparent everywhere on the Navajo Reservation on the drive to and into Monument Valley. Plus, how can you not be awestruck by these rock formations that defy gravity and have been created by earth events that happened 65 million years ago?
I feel like visiting here on the first day of the new year is somewhat symbolic for both the way I am cultivating my life and for what I want to creatively cultivate here and hopefully help others get clarity on how to manifest their own dreams. Life is happening now and waiting just isn’t an option. I spent a lot of my life living for other people instead of myself and I feel as though I missed out on digging into some of those juicy moments and delicious experiences because I was too worried about other things. I’m so different now with how I think and the things that I value. I feel as though I spent so much time numb and focused on things that don’t really matter. And that’s not really living….that’s existing.
That’s the purpose of this site is for me: A reminder that life is happening now and I had better live my dreams, take risks and never ever NEVER allow waiting to become a habit.
I am interested in LIVING. Travel is certainly a part of that but I have many other goals and experiences on my Life List that are not travel related. I am interested in feeling everything with authenticity and humility. I am interested in being so astonished taking in the beauty of a place that words escape me. I’m interested in being lost on a street in a strange place, where I don’t speak the language and the smells and sounds and unique beauty consumes me. I’m interested in helping others however I am possibly able to do so. I’m interested in sharing those rare, sterling, moments with another person where I can be my vulnerable and true self and where my heart is so unprotected and raw that it feels almost as though someone else is literally holding it in their hands.
Yeah. That’s LIVING.
I absolutely will not wait around to live this life.
I experienced Monument Valley on the first day of the year because I didn’t wait. I chose to get busy living – – to live deliberately. And you know what? It truly surpassed every idea I could have ever dreamed up. I don’t have any photos of me sitting in the middle of street or gazing out over the vistas but I do have photos of my experience. I captured the way the light changes and makes every formation look completely different than it did a moment before. I captured the colors and snow and brisk cold of the day (24 degrees!). I captured the beauty that absolutely took my breath away. As I was driving back home, I contemplated the idea that if today was my last day and I didn’t make it home that I was so grateful that I saw this place.
Happy 2020! My hope for all of us is that we choose to live deliberately and go after the things that bring us joy.
The happiest time of my life is NOW.
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