Adventure
My Quest To Celebrate Life
0May 12, 2013
After coming home Thursday evening and finishing my blog post about the passing of my grandma and celebrating life I found myself going through the motions of preparing for another workday to finish out the week. I had the feeling of “Hold on! Wait a minute! How can I write all of that and yet not do anything to celebrate life??” I was torn because although taking a day off of work is easy for something like this, I wouldn’t be attending a funeral or any of the other typical bereavement day type of things. After batting the idea around and with the encouragement of a friend I went for it. I was taking a bereavement day. But I wasn’t taking any ol’ bereavement day. No, I was doing it my way, Buzzbomb Style, and I was going out to celebrate life. (BTW, did you know the nickname “Buzzbomb” was given to me by my grandma? True story.)
I woke up early, called off of work, packed my day pack, and hit to the road to Sedona…one of my favorite places in the world. I’m not going to hash out again why Sedona holds a special place in my heart…it just does. To me it’s magical and is my happy place. The perfect place to celebrate life. I had somewhat of an idea of where I was heading but no exact game plan for the day. I was rolling with it. Just under 2 hours into my drive I rounded the bend and the beautiful Red Rocks came into view. That’s always the moment when I feel my eyes light up and the smile spread across my face. By 9am I was on the trails surrounded by mother nature and all of her beauty.
Nothing like the red rock and blue skies of Sedona
I have yet to be on a busy trail in Sedona but given that it was also a weekday it was pretty empty. Other than a few couples here and there I was by myself along with my thoughts and memories. Happy memories. While speaking to my friend Dave the night before he gave me a few trail ideas. I chose Brins Mesa which was absolutely perfect. Not strenuous, but a nice climb it get my blood pumping. When I reached the mesa I found what remains from a 2006 wildfire. The mesa was ravaged, which was pretty sad to see. As I trekked through the damage I happened to stumble upon a group of wildflowers growing out of a bunch of tousled rocks.
So often I see metaphors for life of my trail hikes/runs. As I stared at the wildflowers the thought that came to my mind was, “Through death, there is life.” A perfect metaphor for the reason I was out on the trails. After the wildfire I’m sure there were no signs a life. A dark time, if you will, for the mesa. But here we are, 7 years later, and the mesa is slowly coming back to life. In no way will it be the same as it was before, but life is present. Here were these wildflowers, the minority in their surroundings, yet they were providing so much sunshine and positive life to their surroundings. In life, I want to be those wildflowers…positive energy and light.
After a quick lunch I decided to search out a location I’ve had my eye on since we moved to Arizona, Devil’s Bridge. Devil’s Bridge is a pretty iconic location for Sedona which also means it’s a bit popular. Unfortunately for those without a high clearance vehicle, or not on a Jeep tour, it’s a longer hike for the average Joe. I drove our Jeep Wrangler to Sedona and got to do a little “off-roading” to get to the trail. This meant less of a hike and a new experience for me. We’ve never really taken our Jeep off-roading and I was going at it solo. Needless to say I had some belly laughs as I set out on my adventure. It was pretty rad.
I arrived at the trailhead safely and once again took to the trails in search of Devil’s Bridge. Given that I got to drive in meant it was a pretty short hike.
Some hardcore hikers often say Devil’s Bridge isn’t as exciting as people make it out to be. Blame the novice hiker in me, but I thought it was awesome and worth it.
The second half of my days also lead to yet another metaphor…One that I’ve experienced before, but still a nice reminder. “Some of the most spectacular views require taking a rough road.” What if I wasn’t willing to go off-roading to get to Devil’s Bridge? I would’ve missed out! Even more, what if I chose to go down the rough road with a scowl on my face? Sure, I would have gotten there but how enjoyable would that adventure have been?
Although fun, celebrating life doesn’t necessarily require living an adventurous life or always being on the go. More importantly, it’s about recognizing what has been given to us, being grateful, and celebrating it all…including the ups and downs. Because after all, it’s those ups and downs that ultimately make up this thing we call life.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
Making Dreams A Reality
8April 18, 2013
We moved out to Arizona for many reasons….one being to seek adventure and the other one to go for our dreams. I think it’s pretty obvious that I haven’t necessarily found what my “dream” is let alone attempting to go after it. But it is safe to say that I’ve been enjoying the adventure aspect of our move. In the meantime D has been hard at work pursuing his dream.
Quite honestly I don’t know what all I’ve shared on here about D’s passion. To cover my bases I’ll lay it out for ya’ll. D has been playing drums ever since his early teens. Since then it has been his passion. During high school he auditioned for the bands of multiple branches of the military and ultimately was accepted and enlisted in the Marine Corps as a bandsmen. I know I have documented is his jacked up experience while in the service and to this day he credits music and me getting him through that time.
Receiving His Custom SJC Drum Set with Saluda Cymbals, Which Has Since Been Added To
From performing with a symphony, to putting in MANY hours as the volunteer drum instructor for the high school band in our hometown, reaching out to a local high school band here in Arizona and volunteering there as well, and touring around the US playing polka….it’s safe to say he’s well rounded. Like any musician he’s had his fair share of “garage band” start ups that flopped as well. I think it just goes to show that music isn’t just something he likes, but loves, and what drives him day in and day out.
During the short month of preparation prior to our move D hit up craigslist in search of local bands and had auditions set up for our arrival. You name it, he auditioned for it. 80s, country, metal. All of the bands were impressed with his skill level leaving him to make the choice of which direction to take…which was a no brainer. Metal. He loves all music, but metal is where the passion lies.
I haven’t shared much about this journey on the blog because there hasn’t been much to share, but I have been keeping a little secret….
Already being established, his band has multiple albums and has even been on tour in the past. As you can imagine things are moving faster than I ever expected. Within a couple months they were in the studio recording, taking photos, and recently talking about going on tour. Honestly, I can’t even keep up with it all.
Just a couple weeks ago we were heading to bed and he calmly said, “Mushroomhead just texted me.” Wait, what just happened?! Me: “Is that normal? Isn’t that sort of a big deal?” A few days passed, contracts were signed, and D’s band, Corvus, will be heading out on tour with Mushroomhead soon.
Their finished album arrived this week. CD, case, cover art, UPC, and all. Like, a legit album.
Once again, crazy for me to see this actually happening.
D has always been realistic about his goals/dreams and has always said, “I don’t want to be some old guy trying to make it.” But he’s not that old…yet. Keeping it real, this doesn’t mean they’ve “made it” but at the same time it is a pretty big deal. And it’s definitely catapulting D in the direction that he has been working toward for so many years. Pretty rad to watch it all unfold and see what has happened simply from taking a few chances, like moving across the country. Wonder what else is in store. Only time will tell.
Want to know more about Corvus? Stop by their Reverbnation Page, Facebook Page, or check them out on Twitter.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
What’s The Best Way To Teach ‘Leave No Trace’?
7March 26, 2013
This past weekend I had yet another hike that didn’t go as planned. Seems like that’s been the trend lately, eh? That’s alright. Just makes our experiences that much more adventurous.
This time around Leann and I headed out to the Superstition Mountains to conquer the Siphon Draw Trail to the Flatiron. Leann is veteran of the trail but this would be my first attempt. The trail called for a decent elevation climb along with distance and climbing/scrambling, all rolled into one. I’ve been eyeing this hike for the past month or so since being introduced to the idea. Leann warned me that with the closing of Camelback for renovations this trail has been pretty busy. I was forewarned. As always, we were on the trail by 6:30a and on our way.
At approximately 2 miles we came across a rambunctious troop of boy scouts I’m guessing were near 5th grade in age. They seemed to be having a meetup so we passed by with in hopes of staying in front of their crowd. Unfortunately for us that didn’t happen. They followed behind us and just as we were about to make the initial climb they were on our heels. None of the boys were wearing appropriate outdoor gear. I’m not one to say you have to wear/have the most recent trends but wearing canvas boat shoes do not qualify for good hiking gear. Each had a small water bottle but that was not enough for this climb. Then the fact that several of them looked like they were about to pass out and the dad’s channeling their inner football dad by yelling, “Go! Go! GO!” repeatedly, it was insane. Add to that the screaming, running everywhere, kicking/throwing rocks. Oh my. As they made the initial climb not paying attention to their surroundings, making rocks tumble down, causing concern for our safety, we tried to stay back.
But I was rocked. I wasn’t mad per se. I was more concerned. Concerned for their safety. Concerned for nature. My mind was all over the place and couldn’t focus. If I wanted to complete this hike I had to be on my game. Thankful that Leann understood my thoughts, we ended up turning back. Sadly, as we made our way back we witnessed the wake they left behind. Froot Loops and Skittles on the trail, along with random trash as well. Ugh.
Some would ask, “Why didn’t you say anything?” I thought about it. Really, I did. As everything was going down I was trying to formulate the best course of action and I couldn’t come up with anything. The boys weren’t at fault. Yes, they were being crazy, but they can only be as good as their leaders. As for their leaders, it’s not as though they were out to do harm. They were doing what they know…not that it was right. I couldn’t come up with a nice or effective way to communicate my concern so I kept my mouth shut, although it may not have been the best or right thing to do,
Just the day before on Twitter the topic of #HikerChat was Leave No Trace….and here it was, people paying no attention to what they’re leaving behind, happening before my eyes. We are all guilty of taking advantage of Mother Nature’s offerings. I have no more right to be on the trails than the next person. Trust me, I’ve had some deep thoughts on this. For instance, should I even be out there causing further wear and tear or erosion? Should I hike less traveled trails or stick to the more traveled trails? I dunno if there really is a real good answer. However, just like anything I can do my best to preserve what has been loaned to me.
As we made our way down the trail we noticed a sundial and bridge along the path. Both were Eagle Projects from boy scouts over the years. How apropos that the bridge referenced “Leave No Trace”. We also came across another much more subdued boy scout troop. Not only were they enjoying nature but brought out their rakes and shovels, working to preserve it. This gives me hope.
What would you have done?
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
Yoga Rocks The Park Phoenix – Right Where I’m Supposed To Be
9March 14, 2013
I’ve been eyeing Yoga Rocks The Park Phoenix since late January. Unfortunately I hadn’t made it to one of their weekly events because I had been out adventuring in another way. Having no set plans this past weekend I went ahead and decided to finally register.
What is Yoga Rocks The Park? I’ll let them explain:
Yoga Rocks the Park is a weekly live-music and yoga gathering held seasonally in beautiful parks across the United States. We gather like-minded people to connect through yoga, wellness and music to discover our shared enlightened nature. Each event offers a 1.15 hour all-levels yoga class, complete with a wellness-vendor area including massage, acupuncture, sustainably-produced apparel, organic food and drink and so much more.
Right up my alley. As always, going into a new situation alone can seem a bit intimidating, especially being a newbie. But having already successfully ventured outside of my comfort zone by going to the Sedona Yoga Festival I had peace of mind knowing I’d be fine.
I had no issues finding the park where the event was being held. I had no idea the park was such a large and active area. It was excellent to see so many people enjoying the outdoors. I easily found the Yoga Rocks The Park Crew from their tents, matching shirts, and abundance of vendors. After being warmly welcomed, I received my wristband and goodie bag, and then made my way to the field where we would be practicing.
I set up my mat and was ready to go. Plank Yoga Mats are known for the ability to connect with the body. It’s funny because every session it takes me about 5 minutes before getting that connection, but when it does, “bam!” it happens. I was anxious to see how my mat would do it the midday warmth.
I really don’t think I could have chosen a better week to attend. The weather was mild yet sunny, providing the perfect warmth. In addition, the instructors were Anton Mackey & Gina Marciano. Having already met Anton and sitting in on his session at the Sedona Yoga Festival provided a reassuring sense that I’d do just fine. To top it off DJ Drez provided music for our flow. As Bob Marley’s voice came through the speakers and the park began to fill up, the energy was electric. By the time it was time to get started you can only imagine the positive energy that I was feeling around me.
We began by lying on our backs, feeling the breeze flow around our bodies. And that’s when I heard the beginning of “Easy” by the Commodores, with Lionel Ritchie. I found myself smiling and felt the tears fall down my cheeks. You see, I had just been talking about Lionel a few days earlier on my Facebook page. Something so simple, and actually quite funny. But hearing those notes flow was just yet another sign reminding me that I’m on the right path.
Photo Credit DJ Drez
Given I’ve only practiced at home I really have a lack of exposure to such experiences as being in a studio surrounded by fellow yogis. The overall vibe and instruction was somewhat similar as the Yoga Jam Session at the Sedona Yoga Festival….yet different. Of course I’m always aware of my surroundings, yet this time around It was the sun, the breeze, the instructors voices, my mat, and me. Centered. I felt as though anything could happen and I couldn’t be swayed. That’s not to say my asanas were perfect or not challenging. I was in my happy place….just flowing, falling deeper into the asanas than I have ever done before, connecting with myself and my mat. The connection to my Plank Yoga Mat along with the elements around me was out of this world.
As we were in Shavasana and our session came to a close I once again felt overcome with emotion. A good emotion. I quietly made my way to my car to head home. And that’s when it hit me like a ton of bricks. High on life and the positive energy I once again found myself crying, smiling, and laughing. I literally said, “I am right where I’m supposed to be.” I know I’ve sounded like a broken record lately, with “Be Here Now”. When I say it it’s not just a reminder for those reading it, but myself as well. It’s not always easy. The thing is, we are all where we’re supposed to be. Yet it’s whole different thing when we recognize and accept it.
What an awesome experience.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
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Grateful To Be An Inaugural #Omniten
3
I’ve basically already talked about this a couple weeks ago, but just the other day I realized I glossed over something that deserves more attention. Being chosen as one of Columbia Sportswear Inaugural #Omniten. (What’s #omniten? Find out here.)
Back in late 2011 I won a jacket and base layers from Columbia through twitter. I always want to share my views on products and brands I believe in so I went ahead and did a few blog posts about what was sent to me. Columbia never asked me to do this nor did I expect anything in return for sharing my thoughts. In early 2012 I received an email from Columbia asking to speak with me via phone. I was stoked but had absolutely no idea why they’d want to speak with me. It was during this conversation that the idea of #Omniten was discussed. They explained that it was in the early stages of planning, gave me a few vague details, but wanted to know if I would be interested if it came to fruition. I couldn’t say, “Yes!” fast enough. Knowing that there was a 50/50 chance of it actually occuring, I didn’t get my hopes up. And then it happened.
In early March 2012 I received my first box of goodies and accepted my place among Columbia’s Inaugural #Omniten.
Over the next 6 months I acquired some amazing gear (including a GoPro), was whisked off to Sedona for their 2013 Spring Preview, was present when they revealed Project Z as their new technology Omni-Freeze Zero, rubbed elbows with some of Columbia’s head honchos (and didn’t even know it until I was well into my conversation….ha!), sat among some of the best magazine editors, practiced a little vortex yoga, and hiked into the Grand Canyon with 20 people I had met only 48 hours before.
To say the whole experience with Columbia has been life changing is an understatement. The gear has been absolutely rad, but in reality it comes down the experience and the people. I was told by one of our Grand Canyon guides that my life would be forever changed. Little did I know he would be right. It was out there in the Arizona heat that I realized there was so much more to life. I literally went home and told D, “We have to move.” And so we did.
The inaugural #omniten season officially wrapped in mid-late 2012 signaling it was time to make room for a new crew. However, it wasn’t the end, only the beginning. New adventures await and I can’t wait to see where they take us.
Photo Credit Will Rochfort
I have no idea why I was chosen to be part of the #Omniten. No idea whatsoever. What I do know, is that it happened for a reason. The experience brought out of me something I never knew existed and lit a fire in my life. And for that I am truly grateful. If you would’ve told me in during my initial phone conversation with Columbia, just a year ago, that I’d be where I am, doing what I’m doing, I’d say you were crazy. And yet, look where I am.
Columbia took a chance on something that they didn’t know would be successful. In the end it has proven to be successful, and it’s pretty kick ass to say that I was part of the inaugural #Omniten crew. Thank you Columbia for choosing me and proving that some of the best results come from taking a chance.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
What Is My Passion? I Think I’m Figuring It Out
15March 7, 2013
Something I’ve asked myself many times over the past year is “What is my passion?” I’ve gotten frustrated. I’ve beaten it to the pulp. I’ve felt defeated. How can I find a job that has to do with my passion when I don’t even know what that passion is?! I tabled the idea and went about my life, revisiting it every so often. And yet the same thoughts would enter my mind. I love running. I love photography. I love social media. But love is different than passion. Could I see myself doing these as a job. Yes, but only if I put in some effort….a lot of effort. Some may say, if you want it bad enough then you will put in that effort. Very true. But that just proves to me that I don’t want to do any of those as profession, because I have no underlying drive to put in that effort. At least at this time in my life.
I’ve taken the next steps with attempting to officially jump into the world of social media and found that it wasn’t for me. Or how about when I’ve tried to make my blog a bit more “commercial” and not followed my heart? Anytime I’ve shifted something I enjoy into something closer to work I’ve found that and becomes a burden and less enjoyable. Do I really want to do that with something that I like?
Over the past several months I’ve obviously been trying new things. Trail running, yoga, hiking….I’ve literally been embracing every opportunity that comes my way. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t trying to find my passion(s) in the process.
From twitter chats to blog posts, this past week I’ve had so many different experiences that lead to an aha! moment.
Like my gratefuls, my passion isn’t as specific as other people’s passions. It isn’t an item or something you can really touch. It’s a state of mind. It’s the seeking of peace, happiness, adventure, all rolled into one. That passion allows me to seek out new opportunities and experiences. Hence why I’m always ready, willing, and able to try new things…or why we decided to move across the country.
How in the world would I make such a passion into my job? Ya know, I have absolutely no idea, and quite honestly I don’t know if I’d want it to be given my previous experience attempting to do so. For now I’m loving my job and am grateful that it allows me to pursue my passion. At this time it’s something that doesn’t burden me nor do I bring my work home in any way. In turn I have the ability to focus on planning new adventures and experiences…living my passion.
So I guess you can say that I’ve found my passion and it’s been right under my nose the whole time.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
Life Lessons On The Trail
14March 3, 2013
I make every point to be in the moment while out on the trail. In turn I feel my senses become heightened and my internal thoughts clarified as I have random “Aha!” moments. I have quickly realized that many of my experiences on the trails are metaphors for life.
Don’t rely on others to do all of the work. This won’t come as a surprise, but I’m a planner. I plan everything down to the second. Over the past year I’ve worked on letting this go…sometimes too much. For instance, the past several hikes have been planned by someone more experienced. Instead of doing my own work of researching, printing out maps, and familiarizing myself with the trail I have literally just show up and expected it to be done…which is has. However this is selfish of me and not real smart. I need to be aware of what to expect.
Some things are worth doing more than once….you’ll find them easier the second time around and see things you missed. With Spur Cross Trail being an out and back hike we made our way back the way we came in. We found that going out was much easier than going in simply from being aware of the trail that we had already hiked. And even though we had seen the same surroundings it was from a different perspective…everything was the same, yet totally different. In addition, there were many things we missed heading in that we caught on the way out.
Be aware of your surroundings. Some of the best things are often overlooked by looking too far ahead. One of the goals of the Chalk Canyon hike was to view petroglyphs made by the Hohokam Tribe. Being so focused on moving forward I totally missed them. Thankfully my friend caught sight of one, which lead us to others. How many things am I missing in life that are right under my nose?
At some point in your life you’re going to need assistance. Accept it graciously. As I approached rocks to do a little rock jumping across a creek I realized the rocks were farther apart that I initially thought. Thanks to the kindness of a friend and the reassurance of their hand I felt secure crossing without any qualms.
It’s okay to accept help but don’t depend on others to constantly hold your hand. Realize when you need to stand on your own and do it. After my friend offered his assistance across the creek we both released hands thinking I was secure. I was still relying on his non-existent hand and into the creek I went. How often have I still been trying to hold on to “helping hands” when it’s time for me to move on independently?
Laugh at yourself. After I rebounded from my fall into the water I could have been negative as I walked away with a wet bum, squishy shoes, and soaked gloves. Instead we shared a good laugh.
Technology makes things easier, but don’t forget your senses. With none of us having experience with the Spur Cross Trail to Chalk Canyon, along with unclear/nonexistent trail markers, we kept finding ourselves unclear which direction to take. (One more reason for me to do my own research) With the assistance of strangers that were using a GPS we stayed we made our way. Ultimately this was a means to an end but upon making our way back out of the trail we found we hadn’t necessarily followed the trail as planned. If we would’ve been more patient and evaluated our surroundings and sense of direction, instead of jumping to a quick fix, things may have flowed a bit better.
Expect the unexpected. You never know what’s going to happen out on the trail…or even getting to the trail. As we made our way to the Haunted Canyon Trail this weekend we found ourselves on a rough dirt road. Needless to say the big ol’ rocks (more like boulders) weren’t too kind to the truck tires, leaving us with a blow out. A bit of a setback, but it’s all part of the adventure.
Adapt and overcome. From terrain, elevation, or weather, every hike I’ve been on has been different. Sometimes different also means more difficult or dealing with more of the unexpected. Either way, instead of complaining, it’s best to accept it and move on….and more importantly, enjoy the difference.
Choose your friends wisely. Since I never know what’s going to happen, it’s pretty important who’s out there with me. I’ve made sure to surround myself with people that share the same adventurous spirit, provide a helping hand or encouragement during those rough moments, know how to change a flat tire, and are willing to swap gear and knowledge…all while we enjoy each other’s company.
Photo Credit – Wilderness Dave
Takes chances. When distinct markings of the trail diminish I’ve found that sometimes you need to hike up a cliff to see where it may lead. Sometimes this holds the answer, other times it doesn’t….but we wouldn’t have known if we had never taken the chance.
It’s the journey, not the destination. Sometimes we don’t always arrive at your expected destination. This seems to happen quite often on the trail. Life is a all a huge learning experience and no adventure should be considered a waste.
There’s never a wrong way…only better options. So often on the trails I find myself saying, ”Is this the right way?” Just as often I find that our group heads the wrong way and gets a bit turned around. Yet, in the end we always find our way.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
My Journey Through Blogging And Life
8February 21, 2013
I have a bit of a confession to make. I’ve been debating a hiatus from blogging. With everything that’s been going on in my life, with all of the changes, I almost feel like it’s time to step back. I talk about “be here now“. I really believe in it and yet I’m not living it because I get so caught up in everything…including my blog.
Over the past year my blog has taken many twists and turns. I’ve dabbled in video, attempted to find my “niche”, and even done work with brands on sponsored campaigns. For every experience, I am grateful. But ultimately, I’ve found that road isn’t really for me.
It’s no secret that I have a history of over analyzing almost every aspect of my life. I’ve gotten much better at accepting things as they come and going with the flow. However, I think it’s also very important to ask questions and assess myself, my journey, and my surroundings. In other words, greet everything with curiosity Looking at my blogging situation is no different. As I questioned whether I wanted to continue blogging these are the thoughts and questions I found swirling around in my head….
I love documenting what I’m doing but compared to many people my life isn’t all that exciting. I get up at 4:30a, do yoga, work, come home, make a simple meal, blog, and then go to bed. Some days I may mix up my workouts/activity, but that’s about it.
Weekends tend to be more adventurous, but I feel that I cannot appropriately put into words all that I’ve experienced because the words don’t seem to come to me or the emotions I experience are too hard for me to express. I feel like I’m not serving my experiences justice.
Lately I’ve had the same thoughts/experiences going round and round me but who wants to hear about the same blogs time and time again….even if they seem important to me.
I’m spending too much time thinking/mulling over my posts that it’s been causing me stress and anxiety. Whatever happened to simple blogging? Now I link back posts, make sure there’s some sort of photo, or even add video.
Video is easier for me but I have an even smaller following to my vlogs and most people who read my blogs have no interest in watching vlogs. I myself am not a vlog watcher. Not to mention, I have a hard time doing only video as I feel I still have to supplement with writing.
As an athlete I’m mediocre at best and have no speedy or high mileage achievements. I’m not one to post workouts or give advice, with the exception of some basics. How can I be a “fitness blogger”?
As a vegan I’ve also covered some of the basics, but I’m not one to preach from the rooftops. When it comes to cooking and eating, I’m real basic. Sure, I’ll eat out, but I rarely post recipes because I hate to cook and 95%+ time I eat whole, raw foods, or keep it VERY simple.
What about my connections with brands by taking a break, walking away, or changing things up? No doubt, I’ve had some amazing experiences and connections all because of my blog, and it’s great to get “free” items, but really, what are those things worth?
Where does this leave me? What do I have to offer? Myself. I’m not a world-class athlete or chef, but I am a student of life. I’m a lover of adventure and trying new things. Someone that’s willing to try something new, even if it means stumbling, falling, or taking a few steps back.
As for finding my “niche”. I’ve never been one to fit a stereotype or label so why force myself into something now?
Will I lose opportunities with brands? Time will tell. Something I pride myself on is the genuine sharing of brands I believe in. Sure Columbia Sportswear, Mizuno, and Road Runner Sports have been great to me but I was a supporter of them prior to my connections. More importantly, I really do love and use their products. My promise to you and myself is that I only align myself with brands that I actually use and/or that fit my life.
One thing about life is that we are constantly evolving. Oftentimes I feel like my life is evolving faster than I can keep up. If you’ve followed along, even for a short time, you probably have witnessed this. I wouldn’t change it for the world. That idea alone is one of the main reasons I began blogging…to share my journey.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
My Social Media Friends Are Actually Real. Really!
17February 17, 2013
Now that I have weekends off I’ve been making a point to get out and do some adventuring. This past weekend was no different. Luckily for me my friends Katie and Niko were passing through the area on their year-long trip across the United States. We invited another friend, David AKA Wilderness Dave, along for the adventure and hit up South Mountain just south of Phoenix. As expected, it was a great time and as always, the views were magnificent. As we made the trek through our 6 mile hike I couldn’t help but have a thought that continually went through my mind. This thought is nothing new. In fact, as time goes on I have this thought enter my head more often than not. What’s the thought? That I’m so darn grateful.
I’ve talked about this topic a lot lately. I don’t want to beat a dead horse. However, it is what it is and I make no promises I won’t talk about it again in the future…actually, I can guarantee I’ll talk about it again. The thing is, I AM grateful and am becoming more and more grateful by the day as I take notice of everything around me. What triggered the thought this weekend? Being surrounded by awesome friends.
The thing is, I don’t just have awesome friends. Most everyone has those, right? What makes my situation different than many others is that I’ve met so many of them through social media and my travels. From being a member of Columbia Sportswear’s Inaugural Omniten, to attending Inspiration and Perspiration, or just getting to know people through Twitter, I’ve met some amazing people. The cool thing is that they’re not just some random online friends. I’ve actually met many of them in real-life and hope to meet many more in the future. What makes it even more amazing is that these friends are just as adventurous (if not more) as me.
Katie, a a fellow Omniten, and David, a person I’ve met through twitter, are just 2 of these friends that are now part of my life. If you remember back a couple weeks ago, I also went hiking with Rozanne and Leann, who I met at Inspiration & Perspiration.
Over the years I’ve made a conscious effort to surround myself with positive people. As I go through this part of my journey I am literally surrounded by like-minded friends who not only supportive but also encourage me to step outside of my comfort zone and push my limits. Definitely something to be grateful for.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
Who’s Going To The @SedonaYogaFestival? This Girl!
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Sedona holds a special place in my heart. It was there that I practiced yoga for the very first time and fell in love with Arizona. Back in June I made the trip out to Arizona with Columbia Sportswear. We were involved in gear testing, excursions, and even hiked into the Grand Canyon.
The entire experience was unreal. So unreal we packed up and moved out here. Initially we had hoped to move to Sedona. After some research we decided it wouldn’t be in our best interest due to cost and lack of jobs for us. We settled on Phoenix as our current location but I haven’t given up hope that someday we will live in Sedona.
I’ve always been interested in yoga but it wasn’t until my experience in Sedona with Johanna Maheshvari Mosca, PhD, Sedona Spirit Yoga & Hiking, that I knew I had to involve it in my life.
After our move many things got pushed onto the back burner so that we could get “more important things” into line. i.e. finding jobs. After my trip to Las Vegas for Inspiration & Perspiration I was gently reminder that the time is now for me to add yoga/meditation into my live. That’s wat you’ve seen happening throughout the past few months here on my blog. I’m still in the early stages on my transition, but I’m enjoying every step of the way.
Awhile back I was made aware of the first annual Sedona Yoga Festival.
“A Healing Arts Conference and conscious event, SYF2013 aims to share consciousness and Love with humanity through its developing first year program. Our vision is to create an environment to allow the wonderful and healing benefits of Yoga and Energy Medicine to positively uplift each and every individual who is touched by this cause.”
I scoped it out and sadly had to walk away. Although I had so much desire to attend it just wasn’t financially feasible. I bookmarked the site, followed them on Facebook and Twitter, and marked it down in my Book Of Visions for the future.
While checking out status updates on Facebook last Saturday I saw that an old high school friend of mine had 2 free tickets to giveaway to the Sedona Yoga Festival. You see, she used to live out here, has since moved, but is very involved in yoga. Come to find out she is actually presenting at the festival! I sent her a quick message and after a few moments she responded saying, “The day pass is yours.” My mind started spinning and I had no real thoughts other than, “The universe is once again moving.” Not only do I get to attend this festival, but I get to reconnect with an old friend, at such a pinnacle point of my journey. Not to mention, this is all happening where my Arizona Adventure started. So apropos.
Due to my schedule I will only be attending for one day, but to say that I’m stoked is an understatement. I can only imagine what an amazing experience this is going to be.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
