Mt. Washington Shinrin-yoku

 Clearly I found myself lost in the shuffle and stopped blogging for a while. Life became more accelerated. Then, there were days I had the time to write but I just found myself temporarily uninspired, unmotivated, and some days disabled. This is something, as I talk to others, is a common thing during a divided country and pandemic. The state of the world is heavy on our shoulders. In a world so uncertain it creates a whole lot of self-doubt in people. Living in a narcissistic world is a challenge. It's important to practice more kindness and allow ourselves to be vulnerable. More importantly building a safe world that people can be vulnerable and fragile without the judgement of others. Practicing self care and being kind to yourself and others is crucial. 2020 is making this much more of a chore lol. 

My way to cope in stressful times is to try to get a regular dose of "awe." This is different for each person. This boosts healthy "prosocial" emotions such as gratitude and compassion. Finding the little joys in life, even a 15 minute "awe walk" has an impact on our health. For me, my soul craves access to nature.  A little more moments that spark joy and a little more connectedness with the world around us is something we could all use these days.

So, since I took a LONG break from posting. Here is an extended blog to make up for it haha. 
Our last camping trip at Mt. Washington a couple months back. One of my favorite places with the most healing energy ~ surrounded by bristlecone pines under the brightest cosmos in the darkest of skies. 
Both remind me that we are a very smart part of a vast picture. Nature has a way to give us a reality check, deep prospective, and reminds us what it is to be human and be "home." What we are connected to rather than what we are separate from. We came to re-evaluate, rejuvenate, and recharge at high elevation. Mountain air filling our lungs. 

"Look deeper into nature and you'll understand everything better." 
~ Albert Einstein

Call of the wild! "Give children roots and give them wings!" Raising them great in the Great Basin :) 

Nature and my kids encourage the artist in me to come out to to play. My terrific trio oblige my photography requests, for that I'm grateful because they are some of my favorite subjects :) 

Head in the clouds, and deeply rooted. One with nature....

We took a group photo at the summit. My kind of high ;) 
Then, we proceeded to hike down to the grove of all things magical. 

Gretchen gave an interpretive talk and Matthew filmed it. This is how interpretive programs are done during Covid-19. At least people can connect to the natural world and be naturalists, even if it's virtual. 

Journal of Journeys: 

I revisit old wisdom. The Bristlecone Pine teaches us many lessons. It's survived the last 2,000 - 3,000 years and counting. Some perished but their skeletons remain erect for centuries after death. Ghosts as sculptures. They were here for the rise and fall of civilizations. Historic revolutions. Pandemics. Evolutions.
It grows so slow through the brutal wear and tear of the elements. Taking continuous beatings from the forces. These elements shape it into dense knots of twisted wood. Dead limbs are huge support systems for the strips of living branches keeping the tree alive. Touching the tree makes you feel spoiled, teensy, and insignificant. You understand how feeble us humans are at persevering. Makes you realize the value of sticking it out when the going gets tough. 
The bark is beautiful, swirled with colors of the spirit. The roots make you think of love. It's the foundation of beauty, security, and growth. We need love to feel alive! The reverent (almost like you could palpate it) energy helps me feel my soul inside my body. People who understand Shinrin-yoku (Japanese for forest bathing) know this sensation if they choose to plug into it. At this soul level you feel a connection to all things. You are ONE with all that is. Old wisdom (I think of Native American) but new terms on this subject, like "Eco-therapy." 
The purplish cones dance on the ends of limbs. An "Ah Ha!" moment. We should play like a child. Don't take yourself seriously and try not to sweat the small stuff. Let go and let be. Think free. Forgive and dismiss the negative energy, hate, and resentment that is toxic. Being in nature is a vector for that kind of peace. We need this connection to feed our souls and gain perspective. Lastly when I ponder this pine. The biggest thing that comes to mind is adaptability. It's remained grounded through powerful winds of change. 2,000 + years worth. The great outdoors brings us back to something we crave in a swiftly spinning world. Simplicity. Like this ancient, magical grove that carries us back to our roots. Simply amazing. A walk into nature in tune with "our Mother Earth" is going "home." Home is a feeling. The feeling is healing. 

Willow reunited with her bonsai bristlecone friend in 2015 and 2020. Magical magical. 

Watching a sunset on a summit (11,657 ft),  well, that was a large dose of "awe" for me. 

I read a quote recently that stated:
"This year I lost, won, failed, cried, laughed, and loved. But above all I learned."

Hopefully we know we have something to learn at any given time. I know I’m not enthusiastic about hanging out with people who think they know it all lol. 

In strange times, may we all have continuous moments of awe. Whatever they may be.
I know there are days you have to search hard. Or a couple of months or more haha. Or maybe the whole year of 2020.  It's all part of the journey.
In this day and age ~  if all you did today was hold yourself together, I'm proud of you. 

Daze Go By

The 2020 slogan ~ "We are all in this together." We will not forget this year.
It's been a turbulent ride with a pandemic and a historical revolution. People's true colors have come out with Covid -19 and Black Lives Matter. I read a statement that that resonated with me. "What if 2020 isn't cancelled. What is it's an evolution we've been waiting for? A year so uncomfortable, so painful, so scary, so raw ~ that it finally forces us to GROW. A year that screams so loud, finally awakening us from our ignorant slumber. A year we finally accept the need for change. Questioning the status quo. Declare change. Work for change. Becoming the change. A year we finally band together, instead of pushing each other further apart?"
In order for that to happen, we have to lose our ego. That's really difficult to do in a divided country. How about instead of making America great again we make America compassionate?

Back to Black Lives Matter, the message is clear "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

The Black Lives Matter is a movement whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy. An anti-racist advocacy. An organization that builds power to bring justice, healing, and freedom to Black people across the globe. The 2020 protests made it one of the largest movements in U.S. history.
The people in our town also felt "moved" and wanted to show support and have a discussion about being anti-racist. We not only had one, but two, protests. I understand that everyone's lives matter. Everyone knows that "all lives matter" but not everyone knows that Black Lives Matter. Black lives have been treated as lesser for the entire history of our country. Seen as threats and criminals because of traditions passed down through generations. Martin Luther King said "Riots are the language of the unheard." Many people in the country are sad, angry, hurt, and desperate for change. Change is not happening where white supremacists feel comfortable coming out of their cave, so to speak.
We are living through a time where citizens are coming to grips with the deeply embedded historical legacy of racist structures, institutions, and ideas. When you do your research ~ books, podcasts, documentaries, events they don't teach you in school, personal experiences (you know we ALL have stories)  ~ you see the blocks stacked up. If you don't know, it's OK, there's always time to learn. Being anti-racist is turning inward to our own thoughts and actions, and in a lot of cases being uncomfortable in conversations. Yes, they are uncomfortable conversations to have. People talk about their dislike for small talk. Cut the chit-chat! That they are longing for deep, meaningful dialogue. Long walks on the beaches... ok, I'm being sarcastic now Haha. Point is, this is a important conversation to have. I never felt so much judgement in my life (on social media by white people) than I have supporting Black Lives Matter. That's when I knew it was a conversation we should be having!
I am really grateful and proud of the town of Baker and the peaceful protest. A little more than 60 people showed up in support of Black Lives Matter. The best part was a dialogue, talking about what people of color go through. The willingness to listen and have an open mind and an open heart. It all starts with hearing experiences of others and trying to educate yourself on why things are the way they are. Really listening. One of my favorite quotes by Jim Carrey, who fought depression like Robin Williams, is "We are living in a society (intentionally created this way) and people are starting to recognize that the reason they feel like they are mentally ill is that they're living in a system that's not designed to suit the human spirit." For Black people, they have been living in a socially constructed world of whiteness.
There is a lot of trauma and pain in a country that needs healing. The world needs more empathy and willingness to listen and change. The message that Black Lives Matter is the change that needs to be heard.  In the story of "Alice in Wonderland," the caterpillar sits on a mushroom, smokes the hookah, and speaks to Alice, then directs her the magic mushroom that allows her to shrink and grow. "You" he said, "are a terribly real thing ~ in a false world, and that, is why you are in so much pain."

I know that I could feel the love in our community. The conversation helped us learn and gain direction on how to be better humans. We want to make the world a better place.
What the world needs now, is love sweet love; and for people to be treated equally. With great change comes great growing pains. We are feeling the weight and the pain of the world right now.

My friend Gretchen did a great blog post about the event (Here) held in our hometown.

These rally's got the attention of other parts of the state when Gretchen wrote a great article and it was featured on the front page of  The Ely Times and the pages of  The Sierra Nevada Ally. 
I would highly recommend reading it Here.

These are the days of our lives. Going to a birthday party makes you forget about the woes of the world. Charlie turned 13. Big transition in a young person's life. These are the peeps we usually hang out with. Outdoors is the name of the game during Covid-living. Home Farm pond is such a treat.
How are our kids turning into teenagers already? *Sniff*

I've been enjoying more blooms in my yard. Carousel of colors poppin' into dark days when we need it the most.

Father's Day arrived. Special occasions are planned differently this year. We are living in the moment. Can't plan much in a world of uncertainty. We celebrated Father's Day with a steak dinner and beautiful sunset. I thought about my dad. I'm not going to lie, we are emotionally charged and this year was more difficult for me on Father's Day. I looked up into the cotton-candy cloud formations and it made me feel child-like. Child or not, I'll always miss my Dad.

I'm proud of this father right here as well as the men who raised him  :)

The clouds at the end of June have been dramatic, creating beautiful shows at 8:00 pm....

I like to listen to and find the lessons nature teaches us. So far, in 2020 we have a pandemic and historical revolution. Happening at the same time, it's a hard pill for society to swallow.

1. A virus no one saw coming can wipe out a population, and an empire they built. In a blink.
2. The sky regularly expresses it's artistic canvas at sunset, reminding us to celebrate the color in our world :)