Sacred Spaces

Seven years ago, I was on the verge of an awakening. Metaphorically, one might compare my existence before a deep catatonic state of consciousness.

I honestly cannot remember chunks of my life from my all too active participation in the rat race of work hard, play hard. Although I don’t know the exact moment when I ‘snapped out of it,’ I do remember that the jolt was so forceful that it inspired a quest to reclaim the only holy grail that mattered: Me.

A special kind of adrenaline comes from engaging in activities beyond your comfort zone and allowing you to step into the world right before you.

Consider that most people live in a perpetual time loop–wandering from home to the gym to work. It’s only recently that people have taken note of how to live a better life.

Now, I try to live my best life- one lesson at a time. I’m a work in progress. But aren’t we all? 

When I turned forty, I learned to surf on water and volcanic ash. Well, I chickened out on the volcano surfing, as it involved thunder, lightning, and a metal sled. I tried my hand at samurai sword fighting and burlesque, where I discovered a love for boas, cheerleading, and the shimmy. I fulfilled a lifelong dream of visiting India and experiencing a Bollywood-like wedding. Sadly, no livestock was in attendance. 

When I lost my corporate job, I bought a one-way ticket to Southeast Asia. I tested my mettle by traveling solo through developing countries for five weeks. I studied yoga at an ashram in Angkor Wat and woke at dawn to revel in the solitude of its temple complex. Humbled by the sights and sounds of Viet Nam, by the time I got to Indonesia, my heart was wide open. All I could do was take in everything:

• The generosity of the people.
• The spirituality of its healers.
• The musings of the sea where I learned how to be a mermaid — which is a lot harder than you might think. 
• The dichotomy of Bali when compared to Java.
• The magnificence of Borobudur at sunrise.

When I came home, I was finally ready to start my own business and journey toward finding myself.