I’ve noticed that since the early summer, I’ve gotten out of the habit of biking or walking to work. This is an absolutely ridiculous thing to have happen because I live a mere 1.5 miles from work, so it’s a snap to hop on my bike or shimmy down the street. I could go on with a list of excuses, but suffice to say that I’m working to change back into a non-car commuter. So this past week things worked out and I walked to work on a frosty morning, which was ever so delightful because it gave me a chance to slow down and view things from a different perspective. I got to take an up close and personal view of this guy:

And this guy!

And these little ones!

And a frosty hedge!

I mean, do you see how the light is hitting that hedge? And imagine some glittery frost business with that? Unbelievable. I would have totally missed out on this if I had traveled by car. (And even by bike, most likely. I’m usually eyes forward.)

Last, as I neared my destination, I found a frosty rose bush that looked so beautiful, shimmering.

It was a great way to get to work and it really put a smile on my face. It was a much nicer way to start the day than to be scraping frost off my car and waiting for the light to turn green.

How are you getting to work this week? What little things are you noticing?

We’ve just launched a fun thing over at SmallBox called The Think Kit, which is an inspiration kit in the form of  30 days of prompts that help you reflect on your year and consider what’s next. The Think Kit prompts start today, and the first one is so easy, I couldn’t resist sharing.

Prompt: Have a snapshot that encapsulates your year? Or one that represents a great moment? Maybe it just looks dang cool. Show ‘n tell time — let’s see those pics!

This would be my favorite photo of this year:

It’s not a perfectly composited and shot photo in any sort of professional photography sense (in fact, it’s a little blurry), however, this photo encapsulates so much for me. It was taken in one of my favorite spots in Indianapolis, a place of peace and rejuvenation. It is a visual representation of the spirit and the attitude I have focused on embodying this year: letting things flow like water. Paying attention to that flow and getting to know the feeling better. This photo is a gentle reminder.

Want to participate in Think Kit? Head on over here to get started!

Last weekend, I ran a half marathon. (Says the girl who never thought she’d run even a 5K.)

Granted, I ran about the first 10ish miles, then walked/ran the rest — but I crossed the finish, which was my ultimate goal. It helped to have a good friend next to me most of the way, and, oh yes, having trained for the whole deal didn’t hurt, either.

Speaking of training, you know, in retrospect it really wasn’t that difficult. Aside from the usual “I have to run HOW many miles?” on long run days, — and oh, that one day when we did 10 miles for the first time and couldn’t put sentences together, our brains so busy with the mental energy required to keep going — it really wasn’t difficult to train for. I suppose if I had been shooting for a specific time, I would have felt more pressure, but this was a nice way to go about it.

So once again, life affirms for me that nearly most of the battle is in just showing up and taking action. Some days I did not want to run, even just 3 or 4 little ol’ miles. But I told myself, well, I’ll just put on my running shorts and see how I feel. Then, I’ll just put on my running shoes and see how I feel. Then, well, I’ve got all this gear on, and Isabel is looking at me like this would just be the best thing EVER, so let’s just go. And then suddenly I am running the whole distance I need to run (though, half of my brain is all “Ugh! I just want to WALK! This is so HARD! Can’t we just stop? I think I feel a pain in my leg? Oh, there’s too much sweat on my forehead, that calls for stopping, right? Please?”) and mostly ignoring that whiny self and just DOING.

There is a lot to be said for doing. Doing is the hardest and usually the best part. Doing is living. There’s a lot in dreaming and thinking because those things can lead to doing. But not always. Going from dreaming/thinking to doing sometimes feels like a leap over a very huge chasm. I think one of the puzzles in life is to figure out how to make that chasm smaller and smaller, so that there is more doing (thoughtful doing) and less just thinking about how nice it will be to do something.

At the finish:

A year ago I was one and a half months into this road trip. A year ago I had no idea what seven months ahead would feel like.

I know now.

Now I know I’m capable more of more than I think I am. Now I know I can handle a lot, that I can persevere. Now I know better when I need to push myself, when I need to retreat and give myself space. Now I know the feeling of gratitude for people, complete strangers, who are kind and generous in ways I’d never expect. Now I know this country is full of beautiful and inspiring places, including the place from which I started (you can take that both literally and metaphorically). Now I know the me I am now is no different than the me I was then. That instead, I am a more unfolded version of myself. More attuned to my inner voice, more aware of how to make myself happy and what makes life worth living for me.

And now. If I wasn’t sure before, now I know just how deep Isabel is etched into my heart forever.

For all these things, for this opportunity, for everyone who helped me along the way (that means you), I am deeply, incredibly grateful. And moved. Thank you.

Next stop after Tucson was Sedona on my way to Flagstaff. Sedona is absolutely breathtaking. I spent just a few hours there, and I wish I had spent more time. I debated staying the night there instead of heading to Flagstaff, but it worked out well that I didn’t. I’ll explain why in another post. Meanwhile, the rock in Sedona is absolutely gorgeous, red and thoughtfully formed. So many beautiful views. And it seems it is a wonderful mix of desert and forest all in one place! Even though I hadn’t been in the southwest for that long, I was missing that forest-y greenness I’m used to in Indiana and thereabouts. So it was neat to get the best of both worlds in Sedona — beautiful rock, plus forest, and even a bit of snow.

Sedona is rich with lots of art and artisans, so I decided to take the time to acquaint myself with some art. I visited the Sedona Art Center, as well as browsed the many jewelry shops. The city is also known to be a mystical healing place, and not to get all new age-y, but I took a moment here to reflect and decided to start to repair some inner thoughts and processes that needed healing. It felt like a good time to do so. I don’t know if it was this place or just where I was in my mind in regard to this trip, but I had reached a turning point here. I began to feel more grounded, more myself, more capable and slightly more confident. It felt like a returning, like greeting an old friend I hadn’t seen in awhile. But also like turning over a new leaf, making new commitments to myself, necessary commitments for personal growth and happiness. The momentum of that started here. It continues now. Sometimes it’s two steps forward, one step back, but regardless, it feels good.