feel, think, dream

Last week, while reading the chapter on Cultivating Calm and Stillness in the book "The Gifts of Imperfection" for an online course, my assignment was to find a place (or places) that allow me to feel, think and dream. and then come up with three words that these pictures symbolize.

At first, I knew my "place" would be the beach. I love the ocean and the waves and the sand. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that my places are not far from home.  I don't need to be "on vacation" with my feet up in order to feel, think and dream.  I can do it anywhere, anytime...  I came up with three pictures (that really represent a place for me, not necessarily that particular memory of the day I took it.)  All of these are brought to you by my instagram account.

#1- if you know me, you know I'm in love with a good sunset or sunrise.  Lucky for me, I can see them both from my front door.  I've got an amazing view of hundreds of acres of dirt in front of my house, but with it brings the sunrise and sunset.  I am amazed everyday at how gorgeous it is, even when it's not breathtaking-- just a regular old sunrise.  This is my calm place.. and I usually see it while exercising which is really how I feel, think and dream.

#2- this is my family stargazing last year on an anniversary getaway weekend in a little city in southern utah.  There were billions of stars.  I LOVE stargazing.  As a girl, I spent many nights sleeping in my backyard or out on my parents deck counting shooting stars.  One of my favorite things to do is go camping-- to sleep outdoors and enjoy the quiet evenings with my family.  Stargazing brings me so much peace and joy.  I feel so tiny and also powerful at the same time.  This is one way I can feel, think and dream.  I need to do it more often (unfortunately, Vegas is not the best place for stargazing, but I still LOVE spending evenings outside with my kids on the trampoline.)

#3 I was a little surprised this picture came to mind, which represents every time I've ever driven in a convertible and let my hair blow in the wind.  I am in LOVE with driving with the top down.  I really don't care to get a "fancy" car, but buying a convertible is on my list of things I must do in my life.  I wish it could happen now.  I didn't realize what it was I loved so much about the way I feel when I'm in a convertible until this exercise.  It brought all three of my pictures together and made me see what brings me joy and allows me to breath and feel alive.  (btw, it doesn't matter if it's day or night in a convertible, I still get the same sense of freedom and adventure.)

So here are my three words:

SKY, LIGHT, OPENNESS

I am totally obsessed with the SKY.  It's not just the sunset or sunrise that I love, it's the SKY.  I love the sky.  Being outside brings me so much joy.  I am always aware of what the sky looks like everyday.  I am totally obsessed and didn't even know it until today.  I love hiking so much and I always thought it was because I could see the view below, but really what I crave is a better view of the sky.

I've always been a sun worshiper and I thought that maybe that SUN would be one of my words, but I realize that what I love is LIGHT.  I love the contrast between day and night.  I love to watch the moon and stars come out.  I seek the light and let it fill me up.  I breath it in.  It doesn't have to be bright and overpowering, there just needs to be light.  And the change between day and night always leaves me in awe.  It's the movement and contrast that I love.

Being in a convertible allows me to enjoy the sky and appreciate the light that the sky brings, but there's a sense of freedom while driving with the top down.  I realize that I need OPENNESS to breath and feel peace.  I don't want a ceiling, ever!  I hate having boundaries and feeling like I have to cover up.  In order to feel alive, I want to be FREE.  To me, openness symbolizes the ability to be myself and enjoy what I have to bring to the world.  It allows me to think big and dream without limitation.  The endless horizons and the light in the sky gives me the freedom to ask deep questions.  It connects me to God, nature and allows me to see my full potential.  SKY.  LIGHT.  OPEN.  

When I am feeling blue, I need to get outside in the open air and see the sky.  That is what makes me feel alive and allows me to feel, think and dream.  I didn't know this until today.  The sky is my medicine.