Everything feels different here.  I needed this.  Re-centering.  Re-grounding.  "Remembering who I wanted to be."

I showed up just hoping there was room.  A lovely new staff member, possibly sensing my need, invited me to join the (already crowded) full moon sweat lodge.  I prayed to Ray ("everyone is saa-ad and lonely"), to Rumi (we are all reed flutes calling out for return to the one), to Hafiz ("Why not become the one who lives with a full moon in each eye that is always saying, with that sweet moon language, what every other eye in this world is dying to hear?"), and to Michael Franti ("is your love enough, or could you love some more?").  I prayed to live life with fearless humility, compassion, and joy.  I prayed to role model not attaching conditions to my happiness, because beautiful things are happening all around us all the time and life is pretty damn good, when you let it be.  And I gave thanks.  Thanks for having a life full of travel and adventure.  Thanks for having found work that I love, and that I am (at least occasionally) very good at.  Thanks for those who challenge me, who inspire me to grow.  And thanks for those who thank me, who give me the occasional pat on the back, letting me feel appreciated so that I have the energy to do it all over again.

I saw myself as a child climbing trees and looking toward wide horizons, feeling free and limitless possibilities...

We sweated till we were light headed, then made a run for the lake, muddy naked butts running wild through the forest.  We swam and laughed and made our way back to the domes for a home-grown feast, followed by music and dancing around the fire.

I fell asleep on the couch in the common room.  Someone dimmed the lights.  Someone else brought me a blanket and tucked me in.  People tip-toed by so as not to wake me up.

Today I cooked up a big pan of hash browns to share with everyone.  I savored a hot outdoor shower, then went out to the lake with Rumi and a hula hoop.  I ran and I swam and swung in a tree swing.

And I remembered!  the green flowing me I wanted to be!  The me who’s too busy reveling in all the wonders around to share to ever waste time worrying about what he wants but doesn’t have.  And I got happy again.

Life is good, when you let it be.

Currently reading : Essential Rumi By Jalal al-Din Rumi Release date: 10 January, 1997