Seattle, Olympic National Park, and San Juan Island



Hobuck Beach, Washington

   The Pacific Northwest is the perfect destination for outdoor adventure, inspiration, and re-evaluating priorities in life.  The fresh air and natural beauty are truly awe-inspiring and for me, spending time out here has helped to renew my commitment to living a life of purpose and priorities.  
   My purpose is simple: to live every moment of this gift of life with great joy and gratitude.  That's a pretty broad, nondescript statement, isn't it? But somehow, I'm managing to do just that. Every morning, I breathe my first wakeful breath with gratitude for another chance to find joy. I've pretty much come to terms with my inevitable passing; not because I've been given a diagnosis of impending death, but because we all have a short journey here on earth, in this body, with this soul, and with the people who have come into our lives.  So let's not waste the opportunity to experience this life with mindfulness and gusto! Get up, get moving, get going...all after a morning coffee, of course.
   It's a lot easier to live a life of purpose, once you have defined and visualized your priorities.  This takes some reflection and time in solitude, and Hobuck Beach (picture above) is the ideal location for me, but it could also be a local hiking trail, or a favorite spot along the river.  Stillness allows you to hear the desires of your own heart, and those desires are your priorities. These priorities bring you joy.  Everyone has different desires, but the important thing is to define them, and then visualize what that will look like in your life.  
   For me, family and friends are first. So how do I honor the family and friends that I have, and how will I draw people to me that I will one day call friends? That's when I begin to visualize what that looks like: a back porch gathering, meals around the table, two kayaks on a lake, sunsets over the ocean, a vacation, sharing a campfire and a glass of wine.  Then I come up with ways to create these opportunities.
  The second priority for me is being active outside in nature. When I visualize this, it's me on a trail, in a kayak, climbing a rock, doing yoga in the woods, or paddle boarding on still water.  Well, that means I have to be strong and healthy enough to do those things. I'm not a fitness junky, but I eat well and do enough cardio and strength training to make sure I can live my priority of being active in the outdoors. Do I have a bit of a belly? I sure do. Could I be more dedicated to physical health? Of course. But moderation is the key here!  
  I wish you the best as you find what it is that helps you live a life of joy and gratitude. Identify the desires that are written on your heart, and then visualize how to make those desires a reality for you, every day.  Namaste. 
Melissa






   


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