One year (and one week) ago today…
I was fortunate to embark on a week-long trip with some of my very favorite people in this world. We joined from three of the four corners of the US (Washington, California, and Florida) to meet at Joshua Tree National Park and Big Bear in southern California. We were excited to connect with nature and with each other.
We did some “trail-hopping” and visited many of the trails in Joshua Tree. We saw interesting plants, rock formations, and landscapes as we ventured out into the desert. With the wind it was cold, but the sun was strong and definitely provided some surprise burns.
Once the sun went down, the stars appeared in force. In one of my most treasured memories of the trip, we stared at the sky in anticipation of the popping of the very first star of the night. When there were one, we waited for two. And when there were two, we waited for the third. It was a special kind of mindfulness and really soaking in the moment – focusing so intently on the barely-lit sky to catch each speck of light in the instant in which it appeared.
After our days in the desert, we took a short drive over to the mountains to reach Big Bear Lake. Here, we didn’t do any of the typical activities in the mountain town – no swimming, boating, or fishing. But we did rent a cozy cabin and enjoy lovely walks around the neighborhood, lakes, and the town. We cooked, listened to podcasts, and had deeply meaningful conversations that I reflect on to this day.
These conversations were transformative in the way I view myself and the way I view myself in relation with others. Over the past year, I have made intentional efforts to be more open with my thoughts and feelings when there is the opportunity to use these experiences to grow closer with another person, even if (especially if) these are challenging or difficult in the moment, but lead to long-term growth and becoming more of myself in the process.
I treasure this quality time with best friends in such beautiful places.
There are infinitely many kinds of beauty.