500 miles

is there room enough for both of us, both of us apart? - e.v.

there comes a time when all of us must leave....leave friends, family, love, routines, work, plans...leave it all behind and go off alone. it is a time to look within, to discover new experiences, things that will grow you, enable changes in the circle of life. this is a path that has been followed by many for thousands of years. you hear it calling to you. pulling you. a new challenge. a new place. another window to look through, to view yourself, your surroundings...reflect on who you are. who you want to be. what you can give, where you can heal and most importantly continue to cultivate your soul. despite any fears, you know this is something you have to do. so when you meet up with others like yourself, things flow and opportunites present themselves. it is time to prepare yourself for this journey. you learn about the exterior terrain, ecosystems, water conditions, weather systems. you work on charts. you continually think and re-think the trip list. putting together the necessary equipment, clothing, food. thinking and talking about the team dynamics, physical safety, logistics, and what a successful trip would look like. core values. you think about your inner terrain, going over the story that has brought you to this threshold.

an adventure such as this is an important, necessary component to your sense of self, freedom, peace. it is through these times that we are better able to negotiate our transitions in life with purpose and meaning, discover insights to be brought back to your community. without this, we risk losing sight of ourselves, who we’ve been and who we can become. we are unable to complete the old or begin the new.

all around us are universal elements. though at times we move past them in a blur, our heads down, we miss them we fail to integrate these powerful signals into our own experiences. we must take the time to slow down, leave the pace of the city, reflect, step back and seek our individual self. then we can then return, renewed by having lived close to the healing power of nature. this energy feeds our own living spirit.

travel safely chico. paddle strong. breathe deep. you will sleep outside, feel the embrace of the earth. by living in these pure elements of nature, you become more open and transparent. you may be lucky enough to find yourself living between the inner world of dreams, feelings, fantasies and the outer world of cold night air, the warming sun, the sound of the elk's bugle during rut, the infinite amount wildlife, the vast view of the chugach mountain range. in this open land you will be free to engage with your heart and spirit. the vastness of alaska and the stillness of the water will be transformative. your thoughts can empty out, you can look into your own being, noticing how you are, what your dreams are made of, what you need to find and what you need to release. it is a magical place. the land of the midnight sun. the sacred dimension is present there, and you can enter it naturally. it is possible to feel connected to everything, to the small fly buzzing, the tall trees in their rocky home, to the moon and stars wheeling overhead at night.

so off you go...off we go....both of us on this journey. and with it comes with many unknowns, unforeseens, and unexpected learnings, all of which provide the opportunity to grow. i once said i believe that much of our growth (albeit painful at times) happens in the company of another. i've been having some growing pains as of late. processing it all now and seeing how this is the time for us. us, meaning you on your own, me on mine. i will embrace and celebrate this time. i will celebrate you. i will celebrate me.

i will miss you so.

we must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the life that is waiting for us. - joseph campbell