Free To Be Lovely

How’s your life going? It has been a while since I checked in. Are you living a life of joy and passion? Are you living your values? There’s nothing like shaking up your routine or getting out of your comfort zone or confronting your demons to get you back on track to living your best life. On August 26th, Karl and I, and five of our dearest friends, finished the West Coast Trail hike in British Columbia, Canada. We started the hike in the north at Pachena Bay and ended at Gordon River across from Port Renfrew. We walked 75 kilometers over 8 days. And, EVERY SINGLE day was a challenge of mind and body. I’m pretty sure if I asked each person in our group whether the hike was hard, each person would say a resounding YES. But, I’m guessing the challenges would be slightly different for each person. Some confronted their fear of heights as they climbed up tall ladders with missing or slimy rungs and walked over tree trunk bridges one foot at a time. Some might say trying to figure a way ar...

These last few weeks have been an emotional storm as COVID-19 struck my relatives and parents. My mom had been sick for four or five days before she was taken to the hospital, where she remained for 12 days.  Today is day 17. She is now at home recovering, but very tired with little energy. Despite everything, she is back to her positive, smiling self.  My mom had extreme flu-like symptoms, massive body pain and aches, and trouble breathing. At her worst, the hospital had her on oxygen. She didn't need a ventilator and she never lost her sense of taste or smell. My dad, on the other hand, stayed at home with mild symptoms. He did tell Karl that he wasn't able to taste his food. Because my parents are in Canada, everything will be covered by their medical plans. Thank God! In the early days, I not only worried about my mom’s health, but I worried about the medical bills. Being in the States, we think about the medical system a lot. My medical plan is tied to my job. If I lose m...

With Halloween approaching and Halloween decorations everywhere, I am reminded of a fear I have. While I can watch zombie movies and sleep like a baby, I have a hard time with haunted houses. I'm pretty sure this was because I was lost in one as a kid (or at least it felt that way). I think I was 8 years old. I had taken about five steps into the haunted house and barely turned a corner when I became so frightened that I turned around and ran out of the front door. Every year I ask myself if my feelings about haunted houses are worth overcoming. And, every year I tell myself that it is a good thing that I'm afraid of people jumping out at me in the dark...this is healthy. But, I still wonder if I should try to get over it. Fears and phobias are strange things and can develop overnight. Normal fears can actually be healthy and help protect you from danger. Phobias, on the other hand, generally are not and are often excessive, irrational, and get in the way of normal l...