Wilderness and Wildlife

As 2015 is coming to a close I take this time to reflect upon my past year. It was a year of discovery both globally and spiritually. This past year I have been dealing with chronic pain due to a ruptured disc in my lumbar spine. I have let this experience be my teacher and mentor as it is here for me to learn, grow and develop.

As I am starting to experience relief I can see that this pain/injury has been a blessing in disguise. I have been forced out of my comfort zone and I am constantly looking to open my heart and mind to new ideas, experiences and people. I have been creating, inventing and getting back to my wild ancestral roots. Each day I practice compassion and know that we are all doing the best we can which what we have been given.

Due to this discomfort I was unable to travel as much as I would have liked. It has been 1 year of being very diligent with the healing process. I have made most of my decisions this year based upon healing and for me this has meant expansion of the psyche through reading, forest bathing, meditation and wellness travel (Wellness travel for me this year involved a reconnection with nature).

I spent my birthday in Tofino, BC and it was great to reconnect with the Wild Pacific Coast and take in the healing powers of the salt water and the fresh air cleansed from the rainforest. I also had the opportunity to visit Sonora Resort in the Discovery Islands of BC. This destination is full of magic… within 24 hours I was able to view all kinds of incredible wildlife: a grizzly bear, a black bear, stellar sea lions and the most magnificent sight was the hundreds of bald eagles feeding on the hake fish in the rapids. Viewing the eagles was an incredibly special moment where I felt so utterly connected to an unexplainable and powerful force.

To keep in the theme of wild Canadian Travel, in July of this year I visited the Canadian Arctic. I went up to Yellowknife where I was very surprised by this adorable Canadian town and the amazing artisans that live there. Then onward from Yellowknife I continued up to Somerset Island, an uninhabited island in Nunavut along the romanticized Northwest Passage. I stayed at Arctic Watch, a family run lodge at 74 degrees north latitude. This lodge looks out to the Cunningham Inlet where hundreds of beluga whales congregate for 6 weeks in the summer. It was an indescribable feeling sitting there in front of the belugas, I was certainly in the present moment without a care in the world!

As I move into 2016 my life will continue to be a collection of meaningful experiences. I will continue to practice loving kindness and compassion wherever my travels take me.

Best of luck to you for your upcoming year!