The Path to Change

    One year ago today I was driving home from Colorado after the final 3 days of my trip took place in nearly constant rain. At this pictured moment shown above, I had seen the sun for the first time in those few days as I exited the regional cloud. Today, I take my leave from the Abazs family's Round River farm, and I think about how this experience has been the sun I absorbed after getting out of my own personal cloud. I have embraced and locked away this special feeling of being submersed in Finland (MN) deep in my heart and I cannot be more grateful for finding my way here. Tears stream down my cheeks because I am so hesitant to leave this magical place. I've even been graced with the opportunity to meet with people of the Organic Consumers Association who work to preserve and restore the environment. I am now following their political campaigns to be a part of their movement. Most of the people here support and are excited about my passion for all of this. This natural environment, this family, and these friends I've made have filled my heart with so much love and happiness that I've recharged my soul to power onto my next destination. I don't know exactly where I will go next, though I do have a beacon of light guiding me East.

    Some say that you only receive love if you give it away, and I have to say, I wouldn't dare disagree. It takes strong will to step out of a comfort zone, but the reward is priceless. Ripping open my comfortable chest barrier to expose a vulnerable, longing, beating heart has yielded some pain, but the amount of love that has been poured into the cavity has been more than enough to swell my whole body and spirit with it. Wookiefoot has a poetic lyric in one of their songs that sings, "I say go and let your sail unfurl. Go talk to strangers and see this beautiful world." I've begun this journey to do just that. It's served me well thus far, and I will continue to do so for as long as I live, in this fashion for as long as I can afford. I may not have a house, but my home follows me where I go. Or rather, I follow my home wherever the paths go. "I'm not homeless. I'm home free."

     My mind reaches out in boundless directions, and much of it dwells on the tragic affairs in this world. Innocent people dying, wars destroying, children starving, it all weighs on my mind. Today, my final breakfast with this tribe included a yoga session hosted by a fellow Kristin, who instructed us to lay in a savasana ("corpse") pose and observe the thoughts that come to mind. Instantly, negativity flooded my awareness, as I imagine those tragedies and become encumbered with sorrow. A moment later, she said, "Now imagine those thoughts getting on a boat and watch it sail away."  It was hard to let go. It was a struggle to keep my spirit from occupying that boat. It didn't last too long, but for a moment, I was brought back into my body and my mind was clear. I saw my path on land and knew that I had to keep walking through this jungle. I have a burning passion to serve others and I must not dwell, for I would become useless. I must meet new strangers and see this beautiful world.