Stretch and Reflect in Kolob, UT

For the past two years I've been immersed in working on my craft. Certifications, licenses, designing and deciding who I wanted to be for the second half of my life. Making bold moves and shifts in life is challenging and for those of you you think that this easy going kid from Australia has it made being single, no kids, freedom and mobility, think again. Maybe I'm a but jelly of your lifestyle did you consider that? Well the grass isn't always greener, that much we know for sure. Like anyone, I have to put my big girl panties on, make my own decisions, take risks, do epic shit and suck it up all on my own, that I am no stranger to.  I don't always make the right choices but rarely compromise in placing learning and life experience first. I take the 'Moon Shot' as my favorite author Steven Kotler says, and I've not regretted one yet. 

While searching for a permanent home in Colorado, it seemed to make sense to use my place in Las Vegas for a while, but now my routine is all out of wack and getting daily cycling miles has been difficult between crazy temperatures and my coaching schedule. I was feeling caged, grumpy and very overwhelmed by my todo list.  

I nearly said 'No' to my sweet friends suggestion to go to Kolob. UT for the weekend.  Then I thought, "What are you crazy? You're saying 'NO', I usually always say YES. This was just the nudge I needed.  

I had zero agenda and this is what happened. 

Grabbed all my healthy snacks, veges, eggs from the fridge, if you know me you know I love to cook, threw them in a cold bag. Loaded the car with my tent, my sleeping bag, my swimmers (bathers), my inflatable SUP (Stand Up Paddle Board) and my mountain bike and hiking gear and Off We Went Friday afternoon north towards Zion. 

By the time we got to Virgin it was dark, then it was up up up the mountain we went with a brief pause for an Elk road crossing encounter, a massive buck. Wow! An amazing beast to behold.  We arrived, blew by the camp site but rounded up in time to set up our tent in the dark, some of Tiffy's family were there, so the boys helped. Sweet. They all hustled to get us settled, one eyed camping monsters everywhere with our little head lamps on.

Then finally as we started to notice the chill of the night air we retired by the fire, leaned back in our chairs with a glass of great wine and became mesmerized by the milky-way reaching across the dark sky above us. At 8,000 feet up I finally started melting into my chair mellow, like the marshmallows melting on the forks in the fire. 

The blissful quiet started to seep in with the cool air, listening to just the sounds of the fire crackling and the uplifted conversation, it was so nice. I realized, I missed the mountains, I missed the trees and the smell, I took a long deep breath and I felt so very grateful.  Finally in a place for observance, I though to myself I've been feeling a little raw since leaving the big back yard of Colorful Colorado. This was perfect! I couldn't wait until tomorrow!

Saturday... I got to know a wonderful family tribe, Tiffany's siblings and her mum L.J., plus several grand kids, each unique with shining smiles of wonder. 'I'm in the woods! I'm in the woods!', my heart sang as I listened to divine mountain music. the humble Aspen Trees, my favorites. I call them the mini tambourines of the forest. They shimmer and shin in the sun and the breeze makes them sing too!  The sun came up and coffee pot went on, the kids took off fishing and the first time in a long time, I was the guest goddess... I mean for the whole weekend! I was honored, Yay! My breaths became smoother and deeper as my body and soul felt gently rocked by the beauty of nature.  

The kids thought my mountain bike was the coolest so that really boosted my adventure cred with these local pros.  After coffee we took a little drive to descend to the south overlook. The stunning view we drove through last night, feeling elevated by the beauty and greeted the day with some impromptu sun salutations,  checked on a few more visitors expected to arrive that evening and headed back to camp to play.

 I have no idea what time it was but I geared up and went exploring on my bike with my new riding buddy.

We returned to fresh rainbow trout on the grill,  so I whipped up a mix of chiffonade greens, lime, avocado, diced tomato with a secret dressing for fish tacos mountain style. Yummo! Lunch was perfect. 

What's next! Headed to the dock to swim and time to get the SUP out. There is nothing quite like the peace of floating on a board in the mountains. Then as the shadows were getting long and the sky was doubled by it's reflection on the water we stretched, our bodies and our minds with some yoga, we all took turns and vowed to do it again soon. 

The mind stretch continued on into the evening, sharing dinner prep, sharing stories and sharing sightings of shooting stars. #MagicMoments #MakingMemories

Who let the dogs out? 

We did of course! Being the princesses we are, Tiffy and I thought Bob the dog was too dirty from swimming to sleep with us again,  plus he had been restless the night before and kept waking Tiffy up, well we soon found out why. He's a Skunk hunter! "Nooo!" you say. Yep, he sure did. Bob got skunked right outside of the tent, it was...let's say very pungent. I pulled my head deep into my sack and tried to go back to sleep, I eventually did. Even though I thought I could taste it the next morning, yuck! OMG. IDid I smell?  how do you know you smell when everything does. Thankfully, I wasn't skunked. Whew. Gratitude lesson right there. 

 Sunday Morning - Greeting the sun. 

We got up early to stretch with the sun and welcomed the day together. A little under prepared with just one yoga mat but we loved and learned from one another. I was fun to share as Missy is getting ready for her 200 hr certification and I've been teaching for 20 years. It was actually perfect.

Then I got in another ride...

another board...

So the moral to the story is... don't let the urgent things take over your life and stress you out, as women and humans for that matter it's in our nature to give more than we have and to do for others first. Sometimes we see it as validation for being. So, know that it is O.K. to Stretch and Reflect and restore your love for the ebb and flow of life. sometimes you just have to... DIVE IN!

I hope you now feel as relaxed as I do you. I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments below. 

Happy Labor Day! Love and smiles

~Marg <3 :)