DATES WITH MYSELF: OCTOBER IN THE MOUNTAINS

Another week, and another Date With Myself– in the mountains again!

I particularly love this place. It is in the mountains above Lake Como, not far away from where I live, and I find it very comforting and uplifting to come here often to witness the passing of the seasons. Camera in hand, journal and watercolors in my backpack, scissors in my basket, fire in my heart.

Yet again, this was an ordinary, extraordinary excursion. Each and every one is, each and every day of your life is, no matter the outside circumstances, when you are conscious and awake. When you live with your eyes and heart wide open.

The things that I want to remember about this trip are the firm intention to focus on my Truth, no matter what other people believe and no matter their triggers when I live my Truth. The conscious “unloading of my backpack” from the negativity of other people. I call this “The Art of Lightness”.

I want to remember the JOY of seeing proof of Abundance everywhere, in Nature and all around me. Consciously and intentionally looking for it, and seeing it reflected back at me with an abundance of landscapes, colors, lights, textures, shapes, trees, berries, leaves, grasses, flowers, pinecones, mushrooms, and all natural elements. And feelings and emotions and thoughts and ideas and enlightening epiphanies.

I want to remember the feeling of anticipation, the thrill in my chest as I drove closer to the mountains, the excitement for a full day of playing and adventure ahead of me, the sighs of relief, the incredibly decadent croissant melting in my mouth, the kindness of strangers and the lovely chats, the presence in the moment- noticing everything. The spark in my eyes and smile across my face, that I could feel from the inside out.

The comforting song of the cowbells, the early morning light, the changing colors, the steep path, the filming of my “Dates With Yourself” online course and happiness in doing what I was meant to do, the discovery of a new, hidden path, the fabulous views that made my heart open up wider, the last bellflowers, the scent of damp earth, the first mushrooms of the year, all the pinecones on the ground that made me squeal with delight!

The JOY of a picnic- simple and uncomplicated. A sandwich, a plum and a pear, plus a fruit juice and water. You don’t need to stress yourself out in order for a picnic to be a picnic. Perfectionism is no longer part of my life.

And then the watercoloring, the journaling, the fun in standing with my arms wide open in front of that magnificence, to take self-portraits with my camera, give thanks for that Abundance, and to receive it. The lightness in my heart, the wide-eyed wonder, the wildlife droppings :), wondering which animal they belonged to, the quick brush strokes in my watercolor journal, playing with abandon, doing what I love.

Just an ordinary, extra-ordinary day in the mountains in the Fall.

xoxo,