After taking a long swig of a tasty micro-brew at a local watering hole the other evening, I naturally released a great sigh of enjoyment-a quintessential long drawn out "ahhh." There was a golden moment of complete relaxation, mind clearing clarity and the stress of the day immediately evaporated into thin air. That's when I discovered my new philosophy. In my view, life is a trek through treacherous pitfalls, testing climbs and exhilarating moments of rejuvenation. Through it all, there's always the true, raw moments of satisfaction, revelation, relief, and ecstasy, which are all expressed in a perfect simple sound as the breath rolls off the tongue- the "ahhh." While there also may be the frustrated "arghhhh" or confused "uhhh," which you may think are simply interchangeable, they don't encompass all the positive expressions in the "ahhh" moment. Nothing compares and nothing can embody the natural euphoria and inspiring consciousness of a person in their "ahhh" bliss. So, if you view it all, every moment of your trek through the lens of those perfect few seconds- the raw release of endorphins illuminating the peace and beauty in our world- then it's all worth it, everyday is a gift.
My summer in Vermont has been string of "ahhh" moments at every turn. Yet, that very necessary moment of clarity through restful reflection has not presented itself in my wild world amongst the Mad River. With an array of Yestermorrow workshops spanning from every scale of ecological design application and theory you can possibly imagine, beginning an internship at an ambitious nonprofit organization: 1% For The Planet, weekend trips here and there....and everywhere, moving homes twice in a matter of 6 weeks, and a stint in the Pacific Northwest for summer celebrations, my life has not facilitated a moment for reflection, let alone rest. And now finally, with the change of the seasons, comes my window of opportunity to tap into the healing powers of nature, embrace a moment to childish joy, take a deep breath, and look back on the past 4 months with astonishment, critical engagement and gratefulness for a life of endless adventure, inspiring company and simple pleasures. Through this reflection, (which will be a VERY long drawn out "ahhhh") will come my moment of clarity, and along with such a moment, will be an extensive new collection of blog posts. So, hold on loved ones, I am deep in the process of taking a rest, thinking, breathing, taking it all in and slowing writing it all down, every last "ahhhh."
