A longtime lover of travel, I’ve sometimes gotten into such a whirlwind of adventures that I wake up and wonder “what city am I in?” Sometimes when this happens, thankfully, the answer is “home.” You know you travel a lot when you wake up in your own home and can’t remember what city you’re in! Perhaps another reason for this kind of disorientation is that, on a deep level, I usually feel completely at home wherever I go on this blue oasis in space that we call Earth.
Thankfully, most of my travels in recent years have been a good mix of pleasure and business, and a nice combination of new sights as well as familiar places. Some new places, like Iowa, Wisconsin and South Dakota were also a welcome treat. I stood among the cornfields in Davenport, Iowa soaking in the quiet, natural majesty of the American heartland and felt enriched by it. I’ve sat in the Neptune gardens of Versailles palace of France and marveled at the fireworks spectacular.
Maybe it was the evident French influence in Iowa, with Des Moines showing reminder after reminder that it was once the capital of the French colonies in the US, I’m not sure what it was but somehow the transition between the farmlands of the Midwest and the ancient halls of France felt seamless. Wish the vegan options were better in both locations, but they are improving! To my surprise and delight, while visiting friends in Oxford, we enjoyed some of the best vegan food ever in the UK!
Every year, I also love visiting Soka University in Aliso Viejo, CA for the annual scholarship fundraising gala. This past visit, a group of friends and I had fun bidding on auction items, especially enjoyable knowing that the proceeds all go to student scholarships. I’ve made some great new friends there over the years as well, including the wonderful and legendary artist Howard Jones.
Throughout all my travels, I keep a journal of thoughts and I’d like to share a few of my favorites with you. As they have done for me, I hope each of these simple thoughts promote ways of thinking that open your heart and mind:
- You are what your deep, driving desire is. As your desire, so is your will. As your will is, so is your deed. As your deed is, so is your destiny.
- There is no sunbeam that is separate from the sun, and so there is no person who is separate from the Source.
- What is your purpose in life? If you had all the time and money in the world, how would you express yourself? The answer to that, is your purpose.