Never die Easy…. Life is a gift…. Work as hard as you can to stay alive…... Think about it…………. Elegant in its simplicity. Credit is due to a man named Dag Aabye, whose wisdom I feel lucky to have stumbled upon. Thank you Dag.

This story begins a little late. It’s not quite 5/26/18, but close enough to write a second edition to a story I shard one year ago. May 26th is my other birthday, which is the only one that really matters to me anymore. This year marked five years. Five years after a treacherous journey that forever changed my life, and one I’m still grateful for to this day. The alcohol addiction that was - still exists - but with perspective and work it remains locked away. Only I hold the key. To say I’m cured is not being fair to this disease. Ever lurking in the shadows, one can learn to keep it at bay through respect, honor, and learning from our past. There is no magic pill, we (and I say we because I do not walk this path alone, 'we' are all of those who suffer from addiction be it directly or indirectly) must discover a suite of tools and use them to build towards an undiscovered future. Lessons learned, I choose to never regret, and only reflect.

Reflection: Dripping in stillness

I’ve been saving this picture for the right moment or message, and here we are. Ironic as I reflect back on a wondrous experience on the Kilcher Homestead in the summer of 2017, and one of my favorite pictures was captured in the stillness of a cup of coffee as I sat at a computer on a brisk summer morning. The reflection of leafy tree, then beyond the tree lies luscious grass , glaciers and endless adventure…….., yet captured in a moment, the stillness of a reflection intrigues me every time I see it. Dripping with memories, it brings me back to Alaska, but also back to the idea of a reflection. No longer regretting decisions of the past, I choose to instead reflect on the past in order to learn, live long, and prosper. I encourage others to do the same. We cannot change the past so why dwell on it. We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust our sails. You either learn from the past, love it, or move forward. Regret is wasted time. That is my opinion.

Moments often strike us AFTER we’ve experienced them. Fortune favors the bold, but it also favors the philosophical. I believe if we open our mind beyond the realm of perceived reality…… we become more aware and knowledge finds us. Not because we are smart, or we read a great book........., it finds us because we are open to (whatever you believe in) the universe, or fate, or a higher power to instill knowledge. If we lead an examined life, then life is the gift that keeps on giving. I believe in this because I’ve experienced it. The addiction nearly took my life 5 years ago. I may never know why I was spared….., but each sun that rises, every gust of wind that whisks through my hair (this is a PG story so I won’t detail the hairs I speak of)......, I’m grateful to be alive. I’ll never forget the rough moments….. the fear, the frustration, the unknown……. But with the power of reflection, I know where I don’t want to be in life, and that’s back in a world of addiction. I would rather share life, spread joy, work hard at life, and see where this roller-coaster takes me. I write to help ease my mind, it is a tool, but I also write to share. Sharing doesn’t always come easy, but in this year long journey of writing and sharing more, I’m humbled by positive feedback so I’ll continue. Life served me a lightning bolt, but if I can survive the strike, anyone can. Believe in yourself and believe in others……… and good fortune can find us all!

Reflection: A cliff is only dangerous if you are afraid of what lies beneath

I see myself, reflected on a cold winter’s glass in Glasgow. Having just experience some wonders of Scotland, I stared out into the night at this bright white shiny nose. The nose of an Aeroflot (Austrian word for airplane) who’s commercial aviation name made this cliff less daunting. Easy + Jet = EasyJet and it was my gateway beyond Glasgow. In early 2018 I undertook the notion of my own European Vacation. The Griswold’s will always have the best European Vacation, but we should all try to dethrone the champions. When I planned my trip, Scotland was on the agenda, and I wanted to leave some room to wiggle. Scotland showed me Glasgow, the Highlands, and the Isle of Skye! I rented a car for a period of time to help me pursue my destinations, then with no definitive plans in sight I returned the four wheeler to the car park (Scottish), where I then found myself at the edge of a cliff, teetering on a next decision. With interweb and laptop in hand, Innsbruck appeared. Hmmmmmm, I’ve always dreamt of the Alps. The word alpine was derived from this place (a word that conjures up imaginative wild places filled with mountains, rivers and trees oh my….. )…… Stop daydreaming and start moving…… I mashed a few buttons, heart racing, checked some numbers…… heart racing……..re-checked and with a final leap...... ignition confirmed..... a last minute flight to Innsbruck, Austria because of the snow, the Alps, and the who the hell cares……. The mountains are always calling, and I will always go. John Muir talked about wandering the Sierra’s for a whole summer. I believe his message was also to wander oneself and the world in general, and we must learn to leap a little……........ ahhhhhhh........... the leap....... as the quote goes, “leap and the net will appear.” That leap, led to this: A perch to reflect and mountains to meander. Belinda Carlisle was right;♫heaven is a place on earth ♫.

Reflection: A Hopeful Wanderer…. Never lost, but sometimes looking to be found

For any music fans out there, you might have heard of a little known band called Mumford and Sons. They have a song called Hopeless Wanderer and I’ve always wanted to recolor the song to be, well…….. more hopeful. Why be ‘less’ when you can be ‘ful’ and be full of whatever it is you seek on your wanderings. Wanderings don’t have to be in the physical realm, the word reflection invokes a journey within, where we can find symbols or metaphors to keep us grounded. Within the last year I discovered something could have been calling from ancient roots, baked in the lore of Nordic Ancestors. May I please present the Vegvisir. Shown in the image, the Vegvisir was used by Viking and Norse sailors to show them the way back home and protect them from storms. A spiritual (perhaps literal) compass to show you the path that will bring you back if you’re lost or lose your faith. Protection and guidance, who doesn’t want that? I carry ii close to my heart.

Reflection: A holy shit moment when you witness something soooooooooo beautiful, no words are needed! (Courtesy of Upper Twin Lake – Sierra National Forest – and in good company on 5/26/18)

Thank you Universe for granting me another year of passage. Thank you for opportunities to grow and share this gift we have called life. Please help those in need, encourage those who stand at a cliff’s edge, and let them know help is out there. Grant them courage to grow into their true self, to be trailblazers and mold breakers. Work as hard as you can to stay alive, and don’t forget to go outside and play!

Wander on my friends.

#whisper #wander #courage #discovery #reflection #eclectic