Have you ever had the feeling that you could breathe deeper, that your heart rate seemed a bit slower and you felt deeply connected with yourself and everything around you all at the same time? This is exactly how I felt as I stood at 7,970 feet above sea level at Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas.
Many things led up to that feeling and that very special moment. I had a strong sense of accomplishment that had been fueled by self-determination and an itching for an adventure! I had set off at 6:30 that morning to take a train from the small town of Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley, to Aquas Calientes, where I then caught a bus to traverse the mountains to reach the ruins. It was then that we actually began to hike up the Temple de Sol. After hours of hiking, taking pictures of exotic plants and butterflies, and exploring areas along the trail, we finally reached the Temple. There, people from all over the world congregated to take photos marking the special moment.
This story really began in the fall of 2015 when I began dating a Peruvian surfer named Jose. (After not doing any significant dating for more than a decade with someone who speaks very little English, there is a back story to be shared another day!) As things progressed, he invited me to visit him in Peru. He went on to describe beautiful deserted beaches, exotic foods, the lore of the jungle and of course, the Andes Mountains. My initial reaction was, “I just can’t run off to Peru.” Jose, who is very self-assured said, “Si bebe, si tu puedes.” which translates to, “Yes baby, yes you can.” Without a lot of arm twisting the idea of a spontaneous trip to Peru captured my imagination and I began to consider the possibilities…
So my life long mantra of “why not?” kicked into gear. This trip fit beautifully into my business and life plan which quite clearly specifies that I travel 3-4 months of the year as a continual platform to challenge my assumptions about myself and the world I live in. Travel around the world requires me to do a lot of behind the scenes planning that supports my ability to coach, write, and engage with colleagues as if I were in my home office. It is also important to me that I am reachable when my adult children may need me, too. Having said that, by truly Living in the Realm of Possibility by following my “why not?” mantra this lifestyle is not as difficult as one may think.
For me, travel and experiencing new things is absolutely exhilarating. Today I find myself incredibly grateful for all the natural ebbs and flows of my life. I love the excitement of travel and the contrast of being at home in my beachside community of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Feeling the power and rush of self-determination keeps me fresh. Granting myself grace to continue to grow and watch my life unfold by being in intimate touch with my creator, allows me to live my life differently. So when’s the last time you asked, “why not?” What fuels you?
