365 Inspirations—129: Celebrating TEN YEARS

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”—Lao Tzu

Internet is spotty here, so these posts may be short! I had to type this post on my iPhone! Not easy!

Yoon and I ran away for our 10th year wedding anniversary...

Here are some photos that may give you an idea of where we are! Can you guess? Don't tell if you already know!

Are you married? Where did you spend your last anniversary?

365 Inspirations—128: Leaving on a Jet Plane

"I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move."—Robert Louis Stevenson

That BRIGHT PINK suitcase of mine is heading out on another journey tomorrow. I'm leaving with hubby on a jet plane at the crack of dawn. I'm just getting to my post now. I had to pack and get everything together in the last hour. It's almost midnight!
I'm excited for our upcoming journey.

Can you guess where we are going?

It's probably not where you think.

Should I give you a hint?

Nah, I'll post tomorrow and let you know.

We are going away for a special occasion and we want to see something that we promised each other we'd see at least once in our lives.

I guess you could say it's on our bucket list to see it, but I'm not really a believer in bucket lists. I believe that if you live fully and on purpose, naturally you'll do, see and be everything you need to.

So I'm going to go get some shut eye because we have to get up really eeeaaaarrrrlllly. "Leaving on a jet plane" is my inspiration tonight and my soundtrack this evening.

Tune in tomorrow where I'll be blogging from another world all together.....

Have you ever left on a spontaneous trip? Can you guess where we are going?

365 Inspirations—127: Do What You Love....

I was a guest speaker this evening at a non-fiction writing class at the U of W

"Don't aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally."—David Frost

Late last night, after writing a post about "struggling," I picked up an old book from a shelf in the living room. Someone gave me that book in 1993 or 1994 at my good-bye party. I had just quit my job.

The book is called Do What You Love and the Money Will Follow. The title says it all.

I needed to revisit that book last night. I needed to remember the circumstances in which I received that book.

I had recently graduated from college and, after an endless job search, I landed my first job at a vocational rehabilitation firm as a job developer. My job was to make cold calls to businesses asking questions about various jobs.

It was good pay, I had my own office with my name on the door, I had great benefits.....but I wasn't happy.

After a meeting one day, I gave my boss my notice. I still remember that day so clearly. I felt so incredibly free. I felt like my car was flying on the way home. At a good-bye party, a co-worker gave me the aforementioned book. She told me that she was proud of me for following my heart. I can't forget that day.

I had no idea what I would do. I lived on ramen for the next few months and got a job as a hostess at Tony Roma's. I moved into the basement of a house because the rent was cheap. I got rid of things. I had a garage sale. I downsized.

I had free time, so I read the book. I volunteered for a literacy program and helped teach a 13-year old boy how to read. Eventually I ended up in Mexico teaching English and later ventured down to South America. My life of teaching ESL and traveling had begun. And I really loved it.

I still love it, but I'm being called to do something else.

Today I was a guest speaker at a non-fiction writing class at the University of Washington. I talked about my journey from blog to book. It was a wonderful group and I felt I had so much to share. I felt I was in my element.

I know this is what I want to do. I want to share my experiences through writing and through classes/workshops/retreats in order to help others fulfill their own dreams, whether it be writing, blogging, knitting, skydiving, unicycling or juggling.

I feel I have a lot to offer and I'm ready to not be afraid of that anymore. I'm ready to move completely into who I am and help others get there too.

This is my calling. This is where I'm headed.

Are you following your passion? Are you living an authentic life that fits who YOU are?

365 Inspirations—126: Struggle

"Opportunity follows struggle. It follows effort. It follows hard work. It doesn't come before."—Shelby Steele 

 Can struggle be an inspiration? Can I learn anything from it? I think so. I'm struggling right now with something and I can't go into details. I'm at the end of something.

End of my rope, perhaps.

I'll get through it, but I don't want to struggle through it anymore.

I want to let go.

I will let go.

Struggle is my inspiration because it is struggle that brings us to that new level of awareness. Afterall, we are really just struggling with ourselves.

The signs are there that things will change.

Today I met a friend for coffee. I only met her once before. The first time was after she read my book and then recognized me on a walking path and said, "Are you Katherine Jenkins?"

I met that person in a coffee shop today for the second time. She had just quit her job and has no plans of what to do next, but she felt this strong pull to completely let go, despite all her fears about it.

Basically, she jumped.

And she met me for coffee after she jumped.

Perhaps I'm the first person she's talked to in-depth since she jumped.

And then a friend called out of the blue....

Something about synchronicity...about the fact that we all are here for a reason...that we all have a purpose. We had talked about it last weekend and the very same subject showed up in her life two more times in one week! She called me to tell me that. She called to tell me that it was important.

And then, in a DAZE driving home from a 5-hour late-night teaching stint tonight, I saw a sign that read:

Your New Home is Closer Than You Think....

I have no idea what that means. Isn't home where the heart is? If it's a new home, does that mean I've had a change of heart?

Not sure what is going on friends, but I'm not much of a struggler. I'd just as soon let go, but I'm facing some fears right now. I don't know how it's going to all work out, but these friends that showed up in my life today assured me that sometimes you have to leave the "how" out of it. You have to ask different questions. Here's my question for you:

Have you ever let go of something despite all your fears of what would happen to you? 

365 Inspirations—125: Friends Walking Across America

Walking with George in Shoreline, WA 2010

“There comes . . . a longing never to travel again except on foot.”—Wendell Berry 


In 2010, while writing 365 Lessons on my blog, I wrote a post (Lesson 275, Walk with Inspiring People) about my friend George who is walking across America. Almost four years later and my friend is STILL walking! He made it to Virginia and I believe his final destination is Washington D.C., so he's almost there! He started in Washington State! While walking, he's met so many people and his journey is so inspiring. Recently I heard that he met a young man on his journey named Andrew Forsthoefel who was also walking across America. They met in Louisianna. I just listened to Andrew's radio segment on NPR: This American Life about his journey. It was very inspiring. Here is the link: http://transom.org/?p=33988. Andrew also blogs here: http://walkingtolisten.com/
And now for the post I wrote about my inspiring friend George who is still walking...go George! Here it is:

My friend George is one of the most inspiring people I know. He set out on a walk of inspiration across America in honor of his mother who died of cancer. He's walked through storms on the highway and cliffs near Big Sur, California and through the desert to El Paso. He's slept on the side of the road near power lines, couch surfed on couchsurfing.org in order to find a place to sleep, talked to school children about the importance of walking, and touched so many people on his walk of inspiration.

Here's what his website, enjoythewalk.org says:

"On September 20th, 2009, I, George Throop, began a nine-month pilgrimage of inspiration. I'll walk thousands of miles across America, from Washington State to Washington, D.C. Taking countless steps across America, I hope to inspire you to take positive steps towards personal growth in your own lives..."

He estimates his walk will take longer because he is currently taking a break and will return to El Paso, where he left off, sometime in December. We caught up with him in Washington State and had a chance to take a walk with him. Here's are some pictures of our inspiring afternoon:

We took a walk from the Indian Restaurant where we dined to Yoon's Yoga Bliss, where my husband teaches yoga.

I felt so lucky to have had the chance to walk and talk to George today. He's living his dream and hoping to inspire others on his journey. He hopes that others will catch his spark and be encouraged to ignite their own dreams. He has met people of all walks of life and is impressed by the generosity of strangers. People have offered him meals, a place to stay and friendly conversation. He has even had strangers join him on his walk. If you happen to meet George on his walk or catch up with him somehow, you are lucky! His inspiration is contagious!

Do you like to walk? Do you think you could walk across America?

365 Inspirations—124: The Grandeur of The Olympic Peninsula

Forest on path to Sol Duc Falls

"Come forth into the light of things, 

Let Nature be your teacher."—William Wordsworth

Today was one of the most spectacular days this year in Washington State and we just so happened to be in one of the most spectacular places on earth to enjoy it. We had a book event in Sequim yesterday and today we woke up to bright SUN and very warm weather. After a lovely breakfast with my parents, we hit the road and headed to Sol Duc in the Olympic Peninsula.

Sol Duc means "sparkling waters" and the name is very fitting. The hot springs were discovered by the Native American Indians in the area and people have been coming to these springs and this area for over 100 years to soak in the healing waters.

Before our dip in the springs, we went on a 6-mile hike through pristine forest to Sol Duc Falls. The alpine air and chirping of various birds and insects made the entire place feel alive. The pine trees seemed to be stretching out their vibrant green branches to touch us as we passed. Even young fern were pulsating in a patch of grass along the edge of the path.

We were immersed in this healing place and it felt heavenly. I felt the need to run through the forest. I wanted to feel my heart pound in my chest and feel just as alive as all the plants that surrounded me. I wanted to burst forth and lose myself amongst all this life.

For a while,  I had lost the pack of hikers that were once in front of me. Even my husband Yoon was no longer behind me. I knew we'd catch up with each other eventually and I took pleasure in being completely alone for some time.

We met up again close to the falls and had lunch in a sunny spot by a tree. We decided to hike over the falls and loop around back to the hot springs.

Once at the springs, we ran into one of Yoon's yoga students. It was synchronicity playing out again. She must have been right behind us on our hike. We enjoyed the hot springs together and then Yoon suggested we all go up to Hurricane Ridge, a Switzerland-esque viewpoint, on the way back. You almost felt the need to burst out with "the hills are alive..." on the way up.

We were surprised to find the snow quite heavy on the top despite the 70-degree weather down below. People were even sledding.

 We walked up onto a patch of snow and looked out over Puget Sound out toward Canada.

Our friend, who had never been up there before, just kept saying, "This was so worth the drive up!"

We bid our friend farewell and now we are back in Sequim. I feel so rejuvenated! It would be hard to top a day like today.

Is the any place in the world that holds special meaning for you? Have you had a day recently that just seemed too good to be true?

365 Inspirations—123: Book Event in SUNLAND

"Whatever you do may seem insignificant, but it is most important that you do it."—Mahatma Gandhi

My mom and step father live in SUNLAND. It's a community in Sequim, WA. Tonight, a few book clubs gathered together and we did a book event.

I write every single day. I write here because I get something from  keeping daily posts, but what a bonus if others are  getting something from what I write too!

 It's always good to get feedback and I'll admit that sometimes I am not very good at getting around to all the blogs I'd like to read. However, if I do land on a blog and enjoy the post, I always leave a comment!

I think feedback is really important. It encourages me to keep going and doing what I'm doing. Tonight I got A LOT of feedback and I was so grateful for it.

The book event was in the Sunland club house where my parents live. People went out of their way to prepare appetizers and set up the facility. When we got there, I was happy to discover that most of the people had read my book, liked it and knew a lot about it. Many had prepared detailed questions and even knew the page numbers of the passages they wished to ask questions about.

Signing books at Sunland Book Event

My husband played a gong and chanted just like he did at our other book events.

I don't know how many authors have appeared in person at these book clubs, but I think it was extra special for everyone to be able to talk to the author of a book they had just read with their book groups.

What I got from this event is that sometimes you may think the small things you do are insignificant, but every little thing counts. Also, you don't know how you may affect someone. You may think that what you say or do has no affect on people, but what you say and do DOES in fact affect people. In some cases, people may change the way they say and do things. They may reflect more on their own lives and even make a positive change based on something you've written, said or done.

That's what made me want to keep writing tonight. That's what made me want to keep opening and sharing with people.

I'm happy to be in quiet SUNLAND this evening with my family. It was a BEAUTIFUL day here. The weather was perfect and we took a walk out at Dungeness Spit and saw all the snow-capped mountains and the ocean. Now it's time to take rest. I feel a lot of gratitude this evening. I feel happy and fulfilled.

In what ways do you share with others? Are you aware of what you say or do and how that is affecting other people?

365 Inspirations—122: Yoga and Writing Retreat Offerings

Bell Rock Vortex, Sedona, AZ, Yoga Retreat

"One way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as an adventure."—William Feather

I've been working on getting a flyer together for a big book event we are headed to on the Olympic Peninsula tomorrow. Forty people are expected to attend the event and I have about EIGHT books left on hand. Hopefully people will bring their own copies.

My inspirations today are these retreat offerings and this flyer I created. Space is already filling up FAST. I'm looking forward to meeting some lovely people at our retreats again this summer and early fall. While I love the people I've met online, it's such a different feeling when we meet together in person on retreat. Please share this page with anyone who might be interested! Here's the flyer:

Questions for you: Have you ever gone on a retreat? Do you think it added a new and meaningful perspective to your life? In what ways?

365 Inspirations—121: Free Fallin'

"You are always free to change your mind and choose a different future, or a different past."—Richard Bach

It's Wednesday evening! My teaching week is over. On the way home from the college, Tom Petty was singing "I'm free.....frrrreeeeeeeee fallin'."

Sometimes I think the radio knows what I'm thinking and creates a personalized soundtrack for my mood.

The song makes me think of driving in a convertible with the top down on a desolate road in the desert somewhere. There's a gentle wind and milllions of stars are out and there is not a care in the entire world....

Just the wind, the stars and this feeling of FREEDOM!

There's not even a destination.

There's nowhere to go and nothing to do.

Just BE.

I think I miss this. I miss traveling with no particular destination in mind. I miss meeting new people, seeing new places and having new and different experiences.

Perhaps I'm stuck in a rut.

Maybe it's a midlife crisis?

All I know for sure is that I'm ready to spread my wings and FLY!

It's time.......

Do you ever get a sense that you are meant to leave the familiar and try something new and different?

365 Inspirations—120: An Awesome Blog

“You say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one...” —John Lennon

The best part about blogging is finding awesome blogs and bloggers. I have met so many people from this online community of bloggers/blog readers/writers! Meeting and sharing with people is the best part of it all.

Not sure how I found Keith Wynn's Musings of an Unapologetic Dreamer, but he's definitely got some interesting musings going on! We blog on similar topics as I'm a bit of a dreamer myself.

What I like about his blog is that he makes you stop whatever you are doing and step back and look at the larger picture of life. I think that is so important and something we don't often do.

Keith recently posted this quote on his blog:

"If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."

I think sometimes we expect something to magically change in our lives, but it won't if we don't do anything about it.

So no complaining...get to work ^_^!

 I thank Keith for this quote. It's something to live by.

Now go over and check out his blog and leave a comment,

(but make sure you tell him I sent you..he, he!)


Do you know of any other great blogs or bloggers I'm missing out on? Please let me know your favorites!

365 Inspirations—119: Sleep

"Sleep is the best meditation."—Dalai Lama

Last night the bright moon woke me up. It filled my entire bedroom with light and I couldn't sleep very well. My mind was overflowing with ideas while I was soaking in the moonlight!

Tonight, after teaching a long stretch of classes, I'm pooped.

Time to get a bite to eat, take a bath and settle into bed with a great book. Sleep is my inspiration today. The idea of laying horizontal after being on my feet all evening teaching sounds oh, so lovely.

I made it through Monday! I enjoyed the day, but now it is time to rest.

Do you get enough sleep? How many hours do you sleep per night?

365 Inspirations—118: Go For It!

"I don't tend to question things that much. If it feels right, I go for it."— Sarah McLachlan 

For the past 5 hours, I've been filling out an application form and updating my resume for that "birth of an idea" that you all are probably still wondering about. From my collage yestersday, you all know it includes Hawaii and entails whales, swimming, fruit and, well, Machu Picchu, a yoga trip my husband will lead in September, is thrown into the picture too! For some reason I also included an astronaut, Spiderman and the moon in my collage...well, sky's the limit (and maybe sky is not even the limit!)

I know it's not all making sense yet, but it will!

I had quizzes to grade, the house to clean and lesson plans to create (not to mention blog posts I've promised to several people that I haven't had a chance to write yet), but I felt a strong pull to get the ball rolling on something that has been on my mind for quite some time! I'm going for it!

I will tell you more about my "project" as the pieces start to come together.

In the meantime, I needed some juice to keep my momentum up and was happy to receive this very kind comment on my book review page today. I'm delighted that this "anonymous" person took the time to tell me these words because they made my day! Here they are:

"I want to thank you for the beautiful book you have written. I just so happened to stumble upon it at my local library, and what a joy it has been to hear your journey and the truths you discovered along the way. Thank you for writing this book and being such an inspiration for so many. As a fiercely independent lady who is learning that sometimes it is okay to let go and trust that life will truly work itself out, your words could not have come in to my life at a better time. Thank you for sharing your wisdom!"

And today I found out that Lessons from the Monk I Married made Top Travel Literature Titles of 2012 as reviewed by Lonely Planet Travel Guides!

 Here's the link to that: http://thinkworth.com/top-travel-literature-titles-of-2012/

 So I'm feeling ready to step out there again. I'm feeling ready to write another book. It's bubbling up....it wants to come out! I don't know everything yet. I'm stepping out into the unknown, but I really can't wait!

 Have you ever just said to yourself, "Go for it!" and stepped out of your comfort zone into the unknown?

365 Inspirations—117: Dreams Taking Shape

"Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition."—Steve Jobs

Sometimes it's hard to see a full picture of what our dreams are telling us. Yesterday, I got a full snapshot of what the picture looked like. All the pieces formed an overall theme and I knew what I wanted to do.

 I do collages often and they are another creative way of using the right brain to get ideas out of the head and onto paper. My friend who is an art therapist got me hooked on creating collages and I've always been amazed at how many of the things I've created on paper have actually come true in real life.

What I love about collaging is that there are no set rules. We can work with all kinds of materials, different textures and colors to bring what is inside to life.

A really good friend who was in the South Pacific for two years in the Peace Corps came over and we collaged together. She joined a collaging party at our house a couple of years ago and had such a great time, she requested to do it again.

We spread out all the materials on my dining room table and without further adieu, we got to work.

So for all of you who are wondering what this "birth of an idea" (Inspiration 116) is all about, my collage this evening sheds some light on the themes that are coming to me. I believe that we all intuitively know what we are meant to do, but often times the picture we get presents a challenge. I believe all of the challenges come from our own minds.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I'm going to lay some foundations down under my pictures. I'm ready for this change!

Do you ever collage or participate in creative activities in order to get a view of what you are called to do?

365 Inspirations—116: The Birth of an Idea

"First comes thought; then organization of that thought, into ideas and plans; then transformation of those plans into reality. The beginning, as you will observe, is in your imagination."—Napoleon Hill

Have you ever gotten a very clear picture of something you will do? I don't know if it's the full moon in Scorpio or what, but all these little pieces of information kept coming to me over the last few months about my next venture and they all came together this morning.

The idea was so strong that I was shaking, literally shaking, like a volcano! I told my husband and he said, "It's a REALLY great idea."

I think it's more than just an idea.

I feel like I was looking through a blurry telescope and once I adjusted the focus, all the pieces formed a very clear picture.


That's what happened this morning.

So now that I see clearly what I want to do, I need to lay down some foundations and get to work. I won't keep you all hanging for too long, but don't want to spill the beans until this is really underway.

I'm not going to let this one slip away. Too many things pointing me in this direction! I'm very excited!

Have you recently had any new ideas that you have followed through with?

365 Inspirations—115: Realigning with my Purpose

Signing books at my book launch at Yoon's Yoga Bliss last April, 2012

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."— Henry David Thoreau

It's easy to fall off the wagon every now and then. By Wednesday, my room looks like a tornado hit it! Clothes and things are everywhere.

I have the day off on Thursday, so I tidy up on that day. I even washed the sheets and did a couple loads of laundry today. I'm back on the wagon.

The weather was so nice out. It was up in the 70s and people were in bathing suits at Greenlake Park in Seattle. I really couldn't believe it.

Even though I was very busy this week, somehow I managed to walk around Greenlake, about a 3-mile walk, every single day! And today I even went to yoga class.

I've been reevaluating my priorities lately and I'm shifting things around to match the things that are really important to me. Life is too short to not do what makes me really happy.

While I've really enjoyed teaching ESL, I feel that I want to focus on my writing a bit more. I'm also doing many retreats and events with my husband. In the summer, I plan to reduce my teaching hours in order to spend more time working on my next book. I'm also leading a yoga/writing retreat at The Yoga Lodge on Whidbey Island in August with my husband. It's filling up and there aren't many spaces left!

I might go into hermit mode the last two weeks in June so that I can hunker down at my family's cabin on a lake and get some book writing underway. I'm very excited about my upcoming solo writing retreat. I have a feeling some wonderful things are going to come from my time there.

I will, however, keep the blog posts going because it is very helpful to write everyday, even when there is nothing too earth shattering to report. Part of my practice as a writer is to write no matter what is happening.

Do ever feel the need to shift directions? Is what you are doing now in line with your dreams?