Our Journey called Life

I had walked this path so many times, and have learned so much along the way, yet never was I open to receiving as many blessings as I did this last time I walked this path. Nature is one of my greatest teachers, always has been, and I hope that you can grow and feeling blessings through my eyes and my sharing.

I parked my car where I always park it, along Indian Valley, where I realized lesson 1: whatever grounds I'm about to walk on is indeed filled with wisdom, age old sage energy and sacredness.

This time, however, my car was the only one there; it must have been because it was raining; when I realized lesson 2: when it's "ugly" outside people don't want to come out.

I got out of the car and stepped onto the gravel road when the most amazing smells hit my nose and my entire being. I was overwhelmed with smells of rain, various kinds of trees, horses, flowers, and all kinds of other smells, when I realized lesson 3: when it gets "ugly" is when our senses are especially receptive to our surroundings (provided we have the courage to open our eyes and are willing to "get wet").

Feeling especially blessed being on my hike alone and in solitude I realized lesson 4: it's good to be out in solitude and alone to soak in all Mother Nature has to offer.

As I came up to the first fork in the road I realized that I had a choice to take the first right or I could walk on a little and take the second right. Both paths eventually connected and looped around to come down to the main path where I was standing. The major difference was that the first path would go up a very steep hill that most people avoid. Taking the second path up the hill would offer me a longer trip up hill but not even remotely as steep. However, because the two paths connect I would then have to come down this very steep hill. I had a choice to make, which is when I learned lesson 5: all paths in life are just detours and will eventually lead us back to our main path. And lesson 6 was right around the corner: if we knew how steep our detour paths were, would we still take them? Which one would I take, the steep one or the longer but less steep one?

I decided to take the steep one. I wanted to feel my heart pump today and I knew that if there was anyone else out today in this rain, I would certainly not encounter anyone on this steep path. I longed for solitude!

The path is steep and windy and my heart is pumping and my lungs are burning. Every bend leaves hope to be the last turn before the path has got to flatten out (please!). And so I learned lesson 7: just because your path seems too steep, too burdensome, too lonely, and getting you out of breath too fast, doesn't mean you should stop and turn around when the going gets tough. Hang in there, even if the path around the bend doesn't flatten out right away.

At one point the path had gotten so steep that too much rain had carried away good chunks of the road and it was easy to visualize how gushing water took loads of dirt with it downhill. And I learned lesson 8: your path can be forever marked with ridges by the gunk that comes washing down towards us. Don't give up, keep going.

Finally I arrive at the top of the ridge where the path flattens out and I learn lesson 9: it's good to feel my body and heart pumping and my being so alive, I made it to the top! It's time for just a little reflection.

I look around and suddenly see the most amazing gifts. Lesson 10: When the going gets tough don't stop; stop when you've arrived at the top, to take a breather, to take inventory, to enjoy your success!

Lesson 11 was here as well: what gorgeous views when you've hiked a mountain that took your breath away. What beautiful life up here that remains untouched and yet Mother Nature feverishly works with all she has to bring balance to her backyard.

I continue walking on level ground surely expecting the path to go downhill soon. But oh not so fast - another hill ahead of me. And I learn lesson 12: just when you think you've made it to the top and it surely must get easier now is when life throws you one last hike up hill. Go for it, don't get frustrated.

As I continue walking up the hill I count my blessings and look forward to making my final ascent. And when I get there the path narrows and suddenly a puddle covers the entire path. And I learn lesson 13: Just because you're on the top doesn't mean it's all smooth sailing. You have a choice to walk through puddles, go around them or hop over them (or you could return down the hill because you're too scared to get dirty).

Finally arriving at the top I find a post with a sign that says: "Restoration Area - Please keep out." And I realize lesson 14: When you're exhausted do give yourself rest and "keep out" from areas in your soul that need rejuvenating, restoration and rest. Do not force yourself to do anything that doesn't feel right. Give yourself a chance to grow.

On my path down the mountain the path becomes windy and narrow with many rocks, bolders and trees roots blocking a smooth path. And I learn lesson 15: Just because you think you're on an easier path now doesn't mean you don't have to watch where you're going. Road blocks and obstacles will accompany going both up and down hill.

I stop next to a beautiful Manzanita tree and realize that it's skin was peeling and I learn lesson 16: Not only snakes shed their skin, even trees shed their skin; so what makes me think that I don't need to transform and shed "old skin" too?

I come around a bend and realize that a small bridge had been built to get over the creek that flows underneath it. And I learn lesson 17: Even if you're on an easy path sometimes your path gets blocked by another force wanting to block your downward road. Build a bridge and continue on your own path, don't get side tracked and don't let yourself get turned around or pushed off your path.

A little ways down I realize that park rangers had come in to fix a section of the path by inserting small tree trunks every few yards to keep the path from flooding downhill during a storm. They filled the section between the trunks with new dirty that now was wet and heavy from the rain. As I walked over the dirt the mud stuck to my shoes making it very difficult to walk because my feet became so heavy. Not only was the mud full of clay, but it was also slippery (see the clay on my shoes in the picture?). And I learned lesson 18: Just because someone rebuilds a path to make it easier doesn't mean it will be easier for you to walk your path. Circumstances (in this case the rain) may make it more difficult, and that's okay. Keep on walking!

I come around the next turn and realize that the most beautiful little creek was directly crossing the path. And I learned lesson 19: I could walk through the water and get my feet wet, I could try to hop over the stones or take a huge leap trying to avoid the water. Or I could do what I opted to do; bend down and stick my hand in the water while saying a prayer for the water to carry my unconditional love to the rest of the planet. Surely all rivers flow into the sea and then back to the mountain tops, and so my prayer would certainly affect all beings. So when you're feeling down, say a prayer for others and ask it to be returned to you a thousand fold. It felt blissful to feel the water rush around my fingers - what joy!

And just as I hop over the rocks I hear an intense buzzing sound up above me. Looking up I see a hole inside a tree about 5 yards above me, and hundreds of buzzing yellow jackets surrounding the hole. And I learned lesson 20: Just because I'm the only human being in the forest doesn't mean life isn't everwhere - we just tend to miss it and think we're the only ones when we keep ourselves from enjoying all life everywhere.

I say a prayer of gratitude for the buzzing sound they make and for getting my attention in this way and walk on.

As I walk down the hill I see all kinds of gifts, dead trees that broke off during a storm that now seem to grow branches and leafs again. Broken down trunks that are full of fungus featuring all kinds of different colors and serving as food for insects and life everywhere. Simply beautiful. And I learn lesson 21: Art doesn't have to be hung in my living room as a permanent fixture, nature features art that is most colorful, moving and passing, inspiring and yet never dull or boring.

And even further down I see these two trees that seem to lean to the side at similar angles. It's as if they're a couple and they hold each other's space by pointing in the right direction while staying close. And I learn lesson 22: it's okay not to stand erect at all times, someone will lean with you when you don't have the strength to stand up straight.

Moving down the path even more I come to a part of the path where the path becomes about one foot wide, and on top comes this massive tree root and right behind it is this newly "planted" pile of horse manure and I learn lesson 23: not only can your path feel tight so you need to lift up your feet to move forward, but someone may put some "shit" in your path that you don't like. Hop across and move on anyway.

And just when I feel like life's lesson must come to an end for this journey Life suprises me with the most peculiar tree trunk I had seen. It was as if the tree had been blasted with bullets and the trunk seemed to have these large "holes." And I learned lesson 24: even trees get wounds and they too know how to heal themselves, slowly and over time. Don't rush your healing process, allow yourself to heal and move on, trusting that Mother Nature knows what she is doing.

As I come back to the main trail I start heading back towards my car when I am blessed with even more lessons. I see footsteps of various kinds. First I see fresh horse shoes, then I see a dog's paw print, then I see a print from a bicycle tire and of course hiking shoes. And I learn another lesson, 25: I don't live on this planet alone and there are many creature walking my path with me...

Almost at the end of my path I see some commotion ahead of me and what looks like a bunch of birds turn out to be three squirrels having fun chasing each other and having fun eating nuts. I was sure that they would run up the tree as soon as I approached but life gave me an opportunity to be less than 3 yards away from them and I learned my final lesson 26: have fun, chase each other and let yourself be chased once in a while, eat good and let others get close to you, no matter how different they are than you...

With much love for your journeys all wonderful souls out there!

Note: The pictures on this post are from my actual hike taken that day.