I just received the brochure from The Women’s Wilderness Institute…whenever this brochure arrives in the mail I always want to go on every trip…they sound soooo…soooo…soooo exciting…imagine being away in the wilderness…in the mountains of Colorado…or Wyoming…or Utah…communing with nature…hiking…backpacking…(okay, not that I can do these things…but it’s always nice to dream…and this year I said to myself…now that I’m 50…and approaching life after 50…maybe I might just try.)
This time, I did read through the entire brochure…there are backpacking and hiking trips…(I did skip over the ones that said ‘vigorous’…or ‘very vigorous’…those two were not for me…I could not do a ‘vigorous’ trip right now…nope…I’m not in that good shape)…I noticed they had a trip called ‘Hiking with Llamas’…that trip was for ‘moderate’ fitness levels…I’d say I’m more moderate than vigorous right now…I like this trip since it sounds like the llamas help carry the load.
Further into the brochure there are rock climbing trips and rock climbing retreats…while they sound like a great adventure…I really am not excited about rock climbing…not something I ever dreamed about exploring…I think I’ll leave rock climbing to some other adventurous soul…not for me…isn’t something I did in the first half of my life…and not something I really want to do in the second half.
But, I didn’t stop turning the pages…there were lots more courses that sounded interesting…Creative Courses for those who want to “give yourself the gift of reflection…with coaching sessions and reflective activities interspersed with day hikes, yoga and time to explore new directions “(that’s what I feel like I am doing these days…exploring new directions…this trip has my name on it…maybe they were thinking about me when they designed it)…this trip sounds like the movie “Brokeback Mountain”…where they go up to the mountains and commune with nature.
Finally, I turned to page 25…and there it was…the trip that was all mine…the one called Grace & Grit for women 50+…imagine…they have a trip designed just for baby boomer women…‘to explore the next half century’…yes…the Institute has designed a special program for women who:
– are gearing up for the next chapter in their lives and finding opportunities to rediscover and redefine aspects of themselves and their priorities (this is me, me, me…I want to rediscover and redefine myself…and I definitely need to prioritize…especially find time for myself…it’s at the top of my list)
– share insights and intentions about new endeavors, taking more time for you, apsirations, and accomplishments for the coming years (ooh…ooh…ooh…I want new endeavors in the seond half of my life…and I have aspirations for my 50+ years…it’s time to try some new activities…travel…enjoy my life more)
– are enjoying the freedom to experience life, family, career, relationships and travel in new ways (all me…all me…this is the trip for me)
The description sounded wonderful…canoeing along a beautiful section of the Gunnison River (I’m not a big canoe person…but I can always learn)…an introduction to river skills…(I’m not big on river skills either…but it does say introduction…so it’s likely that beginners are okay)…plenty of time to relax and reflect…(that’s exactly what I wanted to hear…good…I like relaxing and reflecting…that will give me time to do more healing…mending)…and the fitness level is ‘gentle.’
Okay…sign me up…I thought…yes…sign me up…only issue is the dates overlap with a work commitment…oh well…maybe Grace & Grit are not on my plans for 2008…but I am definitely putting it on my TO DO LIST for the next half century.
As I enter my 50+ years I agree with Mark Twain’s philosophy…Mark was a wise man…as he said:
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you don’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. EXPLORE. DREAM. DISCOVER.”
Thank you Mark…I intend to follow your advice…get ready…here I come…I’m getting ready to cast away from the safe harbor…whether I like it or not…big change is upon me…so I better get my sails ready…hope the wind is going in the right direction…no rough waters for awhile…I need some coasting before I really take off…but rest assured…my sail is full speed ahead.
Judi
