Two Years and What Have I Got to Show for It?

The joy is the journey and I am having fun! 

I'm living happily ever after as I go.

There’s a song I’ve been enjoying lately and I’d like to share the lyrics here. It’s called, Go For It by Sidewalk Prophets:

Life is a starting line 

it can happen anytime

this is what you’re made to do 

just let your heart believe

give in to your wild dreams

live ‘em like they’re coming true 

on your mark, hey

on your mark, hey 

ohhh

ready set, hey

ready set, hey 

go! 

you’ve got to go for it, go for it

show up and swing for the fence

call your shot, give all that you’ve got left

and go for it, just go for it 

‘cause there’s no way to rewind 

time to lay it all on the line

don’t give up, don’t ever give in

you’ve got to go for it

eyes on the prize, no doubt in your mind

you’ve got to go for it 

no we’re not looking back 

find us on the fast track 

nothing’s gonna stop us now

we’ll make ‘em wonder

listen to the thunder when our feel hit the ground 

and go for it 

It repeats the chorus and there’s some nice oohing. 

Two years on the road and what have I got to show for it? I’m happy, I’m glad to be alive, and I’m proud of myself and the deliberate life I’m living. 😀

I'll Paint You a Rainbow

by Grace E. Easley 

I’ll paint you a rainbow to hang on the wall, 

to brighten your heart when the gray shadows fall.

On a canvas of joy outlasting the years,

with a soft brush of sweetness to dry all your tears.

I’ll paint you a rainbow with colors of smiles

that glow with sincerity over the miles. 

On a palette of words I will tenderly blend

Tones into treasures of sunlight and wind. 

I’ll paint you a rainbow that reaches so wide, 

Your sights and your sorrows will vanish inside,

And deep in the center of each different hue,

A memory fashioned especially for you. 

So lift up your eyes, for suspended above,

A rainbow designed by the fingers of love. 

Last night, as I was walking the beach, I looked up at this beautiful sight of the moon, the clouds, and the pink lighting over the glorious ocean waves and soft sand. The number of times I’ve walked the beach and looked around, no other person nearby(sometimes even in sight), where I smile and appreciate the beauty of it, the magnificent colors and textures and sounds and feelings- it’s such a common and wonderful experience and I so enjoy it. When my Great Aunt transitioned from the physical, this poem was on the cards at the funeral. It was so lovely and fitting and, as I looked up last night, I recalled the words, “I’ll paint you a rainbow.” It wasn’t a rainbow I was looking at. It was natural beauty and I watched the coloring as I walked and the sun set, changing from the pink to grey and then darker and darker night. It was all beautiful and the ocean was calm. I wanted to share this here. 

I’m doing extremely well. Life is incredibly good and I am excited and eager for more while also finding so many moments like these, where I am so content and happy right where I am. I update Instagram more often, though I will be back here with more soon enough. Inspired posts are far more favorable than anything else to me and so I update when and as it feels best to. Regardless, I continue to notice and appreciate a great many moments and experiences in my days as I trek on. The journey is the living and I am savoring every step! 

Come Rain or Shine: Some Perks of Rain as an RVer

I'm parked in a lot filled with stores and restaurants in a very heavy rain storm. A drive was appealing so I've headed down a road I'd been curious about for a while. What better time to explore than in a downpour? Obviously this is a popular opinion as you can see by the view from my dashboard:

There was more traffic in the intersections and town areas. There were also trucks which are fairly common to see, carrying trees from the forest along here. 

I thought I was heading North and it turns out it was South! Anyhow there are many benefits to the rain from my perspective. You really can't rain on my parade in the proverbial sense because I love it. Aside from the hydration for the land and such, here are some of the reasons I appreciate it as an RVer: 

1. It washes the RV! Especially the sand from being by the beach, or the dirt or leaves or what have you when in other places. 
2. It's a great way to check for leaks. No need to freak out if you find water inside at a window or fan vent. Make sure they are fully closed tightly because the wind and rain can make its way in if they aren't. 
3. It cleans the under body to drive in the rain and have the water splash up.
4. It's likely cool enough to cook in the daytime. 
5. It's cozy and comfortable inside and I can watch the drops moving along the windows and hear the various sounds of it hitting the fiberglass and metal and glass and other parts, all creating unique and beautiful sounds. 

I mentioned recently that from the warm location point of view, it's a pleasant change to have a stormy day amongst the usual sunshine. Part of why I enjoy it is because it is different than the norm. There's so much about the rain I love and throw in these wonderful claps of thunder and brilliant flashes of lightning and what a great time it makes for! 

As I've sat here, I've heard some funny sounds from people dashing in and out of their cars. I also fixed lunch for myself. It'd been a long time since I'd had a burrito and this was easy: tortilla, cheese, pinto beans, mild sauce. One cast iron skillet and a few minutes later, I was set. Yum! 

The forecast suggests the storms will continue for hours. Come rain or shine, you know I'll enjoy it! 

It Doesn’t Matter Who the Next President Is

Yesterday as the day became night.

I recently found myself paying too much attention to what is, the news, opinions, and negativity. In order to even see all that, I had to have had it active in myself some, too. I woke one morning with insight and a reminder of what I know to be true: It doesn’t matter who the next president is.

As an American, I used to think of myself as being freer than I would be in other countries. In various states, I would think there was more freedom or less, depending. I thought of freedom as something granted to me from outside of myself, to a certain extent. It’s not.

I’m free and I know it and I feel excited for others to remember and know they are, too. No one has control over us or greater control over our experiences than we do ourselves. My feeling of freedom comes from knowing I’m free, not because of a president or a constitution.

On this election day, I am glad I voted. I’m glad there is a candidate and a party (Libertarian) I am FOR and I didn’t feel like I was voting for the lesser of two I didn’t care for. I’m glad that this can be a big election in terms of change as the duopoly of a two-party system will shift with the addition of a third major party. There's some great momentum. I’m glad that people have so much contrast with growing clarity of what they want and do not want so that truly only good will come of it, regardless of who wins. I’m glad I know that it doesn’t actually matter and that anyone has the potential to be and do great things. I’m glad that I know this and choose to feel good no matter what.

I’m free. You’re free. Wellbeing really is the nature of all things.

One of my favorite films is Labyrinth. Unlike Cinderella, where the lead is looking outside of herself for conditions to change in order to feel free and happy, the lead in Labyrinth eagerly takes on the journey ahead. Much like with Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, the man behind the curtain is perceived as in control. Yet Sarah knows this isn’t true and the line she keeps forgetting comes to her in the final moments. “You have no power over me,” she says. He flies away for he must. He can’t control her when she knows she is in control herself.

To the next president, whoever you may be, I wish you the best. May you live in alignment with your true self and act out of that inspiration for "one who is aligned with source is far more powerful than millions who are not" and there are millions who are not who will benefit greatly. We will benefit from the contrast created as well.

And to all others, may you feel empowered to also live aligned with your true self, knowing you are free and can be happy right now and for the next four years and ever more. You are in control of your life. I wish you the best, too.

It really is all good.

This was not long after the first picture above. It appeared to happen suddenly, in maybe 15 minutes or so.

When I woke this morning, I put on Jon Secada's "I'm Free" and felt the excitement of hope, optimism, and relief from today.

Some lyrics to focus on:

"Do you see what I see?
a rainbow shining over us
in the middle of a hopeless storm
we'll be safe and warm

I'm free, I'm free!
things are only as important as I want them to be
we'll have a breath of sunshine when the rain goes away"

I hope you enjoy the day!