You might ask, how do you find the center of the soul?
It’s not the same as asking,
“How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a tootsie pop?”
No, it’s much deeper.

Below the mind, beneath the body
Lives the soul--
Yet the body’s armor
And the mind’s chemical storm
Make the soul seem far away.

How do I dig deep enough to find the center of my soul?

In the softness of a brushstroke
In the rhythm of music,
In the curve of clay,
In the dance of words,
I meet myself again and again--
​Pulling pieces of my soul into the light

In the stillness of making, my soul awakens
In the courage of creating, my soul begins to rise.
And in this rising, I find my center.
​
The sweet center of the soul

February...
A month of birth
A month of love
A month of loss
February
You show up slowly
Gently nudging me on my path
Your sky calls me out of the darkness
Out of the stagnant
Out of hibernation
February
You are a call from the Divine Mother
Waking me to more
More presence, more compassion, more peace, more love
February
You have faded, but your sky remains 
A gentle promise,
A whispered beginning,
Leading me toward the light

Part 1
“Tomorrow is not promised and there are no do-overs. To live is to experience each moment at its fullest.” ~ Jeannine Lindstrom
​
Traveling solo is a journey that goes beyond just visiting new places; it is about discovering oneself through a different lens. It offers the enriching experience of exploring the world on your own terms. Whether wandering through a city steeped in history or immersing yourself in vibrant cultures, there is a unique freedom and flexibility to solo travel. But beyond adventure, solo travel encourages self-discovery, gratitude and empowerment.
My journey into solo trips happened organically due to life changes. When I became an empty nester, travel was at the top of my list. Then becoming single at 49 made the travel choice interesting. I had two options, wait around to meet someone to travel with, or pick up and go! I decided to JUST GO! I had spent the first part of my adult life married and raising two active boys. Travel wasn’t a priority, but it had always been a deep-seeded desire to explore and see the world. So, I made the promise to myself that I would make travel a priority in my life, beginning with my 50th birthday trip.
My first trip was “semi-solo”. I thought it would be less daunting to ease myself into this journey by heading out to Arizona to visit my parents and then driving to California to visit my first love and BFF Chad. We met when my family moved in next door to him when I was three and he was two. Growing up we were inseparable, but we hadn’t seen each other for over 30 years, and I couldn’t wait to catch up. I decided that I wanted to drive myself from Phoenix to LA, which really isn’t a big deal, but I needed to experience that drive alone. I wanted to blast the anthems of my newfound freedom proudly as I drove across interstate 10. It was a time for me to reflect on the previous year and where my life was heading. This was a new chapter, and I couldn’t wait to write it. I had a new perspective on what I wanted to experience in my life. Little did I know that the world would drastically change following my return. I was back home on March 10th and the world shut down the next week due to Covid.
That first trip awakened that deep desire, and I wanted more. Even though the world had shut down, I was inspired more than ever to keep my promise.  “Where could I go next?” I felt this sense of urgency to make up for time that passed, so I committed myself to three trips each year. I started to research different places to go and what adventures I wanted to experience. I envisioned myself as an explorer with an uncharted map laid out in front of her.  Active trips became extremely appealing. It was more than just traveling alone, I wanted to push myself beyond my comfort zone.
Since that first adventure, solo travel has brought profound benefits that I’m not sure I would have experienced traveling with a companion. Whether trekking through the beautiful mountains of RMNP, paddleboarding in the ocean off Costa Rica, kayaking down serene rivers, or finding hidden gems across small-town USA, I’ve been captivated by the beauty of the landscape and the people in it, but I’ve also uncovered new depths within myself. These journeys have gifted me a deeper sense of gratitude and an ultimate connection to my true self.
Traveling solo may seem daunting to some, but it provides a unique opportunity for solitude and reflection that I believe we all need in our busy lives. Watching the sun set over a mountain or savoring a quiet moment listening to waves crash can certainly be enjoyable with a companion, but there is something very cathartic about experiencing these moments alone. It reaches inside to a place where there is nothing else. No efforting; just being. It brings about true presence, enriching the body, mind and soul. Remembering that the greatest journey you can take is the one that leads you to your true self. 
Stay tuned...
J~