This is where I was last week. At least, this is one of many gorgeous places I visited on our family vacation. We were gone for two weeks, mainly camping in national parks in Minnesota. We saw ancient sandstone formations in the Wisconsin Dells, waded across the headwaters of the Mississippi River, and hiked out to five majestic waterfalls. We had a close-up encounter with a doe and her two fawns. We backpacked 3 days on Isle Royale, hiking for 10 miles per day to reach our camp by dark. We visited some of the most energetically powerful and healing places that I have ever experienced. Places where one cannot help feeling close to the earth and the power of nature.
Coming back into the flow of city life in Baltimore has been a bit of a shock. I am reluctant to let go of the peace that I found during my two weeks away. While camping, we woke up with the sunrise and went to bed with the sunset. We were living in harmony with the natural cycles and we all felt what a difference that makes. We were more energetic. We smiled more often and laughed more easily. Our hearts were light and our bodies happy.
Just before we left, I had begun to see the signs of fatigue on my face. In Ayurveda, we assess the condition of the inner body by looking at lines on the face. My face was showing warning signs of adrenal fatigue and a brewing thyroid condition from too much work and too little sleep. Despite being a practitioner, sometimes life circumstances challenge me and push me into temporarily unbalanced states. I was holding out for what I knew would be a rejuvenating vacation.
Returning home, I looked in the mirror and saw that all the lines on my face had gone! I looked rested and healthy. As I have moved through this first week back in my daily routine, I have been looking for ways to keep that feeling of deep connection to the universe, as well as the peace that accompanies that connection. So far, we have been going to bed earlier and waking up earlier, which helps us to feel more energized. I have avoided diving into my work all at once, spacing out my times for email catch-up and call-backs. This gentle transition back into daily life is a luxury that I realize most people don't have, and I am grateful for it.
I have come home with fresh eyes that see the things I missed before about ways that I invite chaos and clutter into my life. I feel a powerful flow of energies inside myself, ready to engage in my healing work with new vitality and insight. This vacation truly changed me. It was a time for our family to grow closer to each other and to our natural world. We all became empowered by realizing our strength after backpacking. I felt a lot of spiritual, physical and emotional cleansing take place during our three days in the wilderness. I had many insights about myself and the world at large. I am going to continue that cleansing process by doing my annual fall cleanse next week.
As I negotiate the balance between holding onto my newfound connection and running a successful healing practice, I hope to be a beneficial presence for those around me. I am convinced that these things are possible.
Coming back into the flow of city life in Baltimore has been a bit of a shock. I am reluctant to let go of the peace that I found during my two weeks away. While camping, we woke up with the sunrise and went to bed with the sunset. We were living in harmony with the natural cycles and we all felt what a difference that makes. We were more energetic. We smiled more often and laughed more easily. Our hearts were light and our bodies happy.
Just before we left, I had begun to see the signs of fatigue on my face. In Ayurveda, we assess the condition of the inner body by looking at lines on the face. My face was showing warning signs of adrenal fatigue and a brewing thyroid condition from too much work and too little sleep. Despite being a practitioner, sometimes life circumstances challenge me and push me into temporarily unbalanced states. I was holding out for what I knew would be a rejuvenating vacation.
Returning home, I looked in the mirror and saw that all the lines on my face had gone! I looked rested and healthy. As I have moved through this first week back in my daily routine, I have been looking for ways to keep that feeling of deep connection to the universe, as well as the peace that accompanies that connection. So far, we have been going to bed earlier and waking up earlier, which helps us to feel more energized. I have avoided diving into my work all at once, spacing out my times for email catch-up and call-backs. This gentle transition back into daily life is a luxury that I realize most people don't have, and I am grateful for it.
I have come home with fresh eyes that see the things I missed before about ways that I invite chaos and clutter into my life. I feel a powerful flow of energies inside myself, ready to engage in my healing work with new vitality and insight. This vacation truly changed me. It was a time for our family to grow closer to each other and to our natural world. We all became empowered by realizing our strength after backpacking. I felt a lot of spiritual, physical and emotional cleansing take place during our three days in the wilderness. I had many insights about myself and the world at large. I am going to continue that cleansing process by doing my annual fall cleanse next week.
As I negotiate the balance between holding onto my newfound connection and running a successful healing practice, I hope to be a beneficial presence for those around me. I am convinced that these things are possible.