The Adventure of Life

I'm still out west, currently working in a cafe in northern Arizona. Last night I stayed in a very cute tiny cabin on the Arizona - Utah border. I think this is my favorite stay on this trip so far!

When I arrived the owner of the property welcomed me as a busy country mother would, cleaning some glasses with a pack of dogs surrounding her (and then me) and her children coming out to inspect and interrogate me (as only kids can). Her brood of children were very excited to share their yoga moves with me once they learned I was a yoga teacher. While still holding my bags trying to unpack, it was clear I'd need to do a little yoga with them first. Although it was an easy sell to indulge them as they were awfully sweet!

And then a few minutes later after I pulled myself to my cabin to organize, I realized I forgot something in my car and an older neighbor seemed to appear with perfect timing when I went out. He was excited to speak to someone from somewhere else. It was all so perfect and lovely -- this warm welcome of humans.

And it turned out this neighbor was half Lakota and was very pleased to meet me who is half Ojibwe. We spoke for a while about life in Arizona, life in Washington, DC, life as a native person, the best hiking and yoga. I felt this part of the trip seemed to close the loop for me in some way.

I came out here to find adventure, to get a different perspective and to connect to mother nature. And even though I've only been staying in tents, tiny houses, tiny motor homes, out in the desert and star gazing, this part really rooted me to that desire.

I felt held in that.

I head back to Las Vegas in a few hours with one more hike between then and now. The adventure of life continuing. I sit here facing the Utah mountains with awe. Not wanting this to end but also very excited to return. These trips remind me how easily we forget in our day-to-day routines, just how expansive and full of loving humans this world is. And it reminds me to be more gentle and kind to others, myself and mother earth. Wanting to be a better human.

<3 -Jess

Jessica Sandhu