Authenticity

What I Learned In The Mountains

1. A six-pack of 4th of July sparklers can get a campfire going in no time.
2. Guiding a four-person raft alone is no easy feat.
3. Kayaking in the rain is awesome!
4. My son is my master teacher.
5. One beer can still give me a headache- no matter how great the taste.
6. Mountain folks are such nice people.
7. Driving to the top of a 4,000- foot mountain on a narrow, gravel road is an adventure.
8. Getting lost leads to greater experiences.
9. I can hike the whole width of the Appalachian Trail very easily!
10. Having no set plans most often makes for a richer experience.
11. Cold showers in the dark are relaxing.
12. Use sunscreen or keep your shirt on when on top of a 4,000-foot cliff.
13. My little nephew is as tough an outdoorsman as they come.
14. The only constant in the mountains is change.
15. Every being is unique, precious, and purpose- filled and our lives together interconnect and layer to a degree we cannot comprehend.

"Our deeper understanding (of evolving from five sensory into multi-sensory beings and realizing our capabilities) leads us to another kind of power, a power that loves life in every form that it appears, a power that does not judge what it encounters, a power that perceives meaningfulness and purpose in the smallest details upon the Earth. This is authentic power. When we align our thoughts, emotions, and actions with the highest part of ourselves, we are filled with enthusiasm, purpose, and meaning. Life is rich and full. We have no thought of bitterness. We have no memory of fear. We are joyously and intimately engaged with our world. This is the experience of authentic power."
Gary Zukav, The Seat Of The Soul