I’m back from a favorite trip to Morro Bay. It was wonderful to spend some time with my host just hanging out and talking. Watched a few Sci Fi shows and a couple of chick flicks. Did our nails like teenagers (did you know there are magnetic polishes now?!) and did hand work. Really enjoyed the food and the long walks on the beach. There are two things in nature that seem to really calm and center me, the ocean and a redwood forest. I’ve always felt you can hear God breathe in a redwood forest. I have so many happy memories of family time spent camping when my Dad was alive. The teaching moments on a camping trip have served me a lifetime already. He would pull the truck up to the campsite and everyone would pile out and go canvass the entire site looking for trash, broken glass and anything that might be non-native or hazardous. Then we would create our home away from home. After spending a week or two, even a few days, we would canvass the area again before we left it. Dad always said to leave a place better than you found it. If you borrowed something, you gave it back better than it was loaned to you.
I am continually introduced to individuals that are suffering from some form of severe anxiety. Their lives are full of the stress of living a lifestyle while being unable to stretch their time and dollars from that lifestyle to their beliefs. It cannot stretch that far without changes.
“We live longer than our forefathers; but we suffer more from a thousand artificial anxieties and cares. They fatigued only the muscles; we exhaust the finer strength of the nerves.” Edward Bulwer-Lytton (1803-1873)
My recommendation, less time at Starbucks and more time on the beach and in a redwood forest chatting with God. Hey, it works for me! I’m already planning my next trip!
Tessa Bertoldi 