Touched in Sedona

In March 2014, I navigated solo 2,500 miles across the country, unloaded a 16-foot moving van and began settling into my new home in sedona. DURING THIS TIME, FAMILY AND FRIENDS REACHED OUT TO ASK HOW I WAS ADAPTING TO MY NEW ENVIRONMENT. ​
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Was I okay? Feeling happy? Making friends? Fitting in?
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In his email to me, my father shared a touching anecdote that made me smile ...

     Dear daughter, do you feel touched? Good, because I have been reaching out to you! Seriously, I've been thinking about you a lot here lately. I know it takes a lot of grit to remain happy and content when you make such changes in your life, location and probably lifestyle, as you recently have. I'm sure you're making new friends and trying to stay busy. Just keep it up is all I can say.

      I once read a brief story about a young wife who accompanied her husband in the military service during WW2. They were transferred from New York to some place in the Arizona desert. The girl wrote her father a long letter filled with complaints about the discomforts, heat, and so on in Arizona. Her dad replied with just a few words:

      "Two men looked through prison bars. One saw mud. The other saw stars.”

      The girl said that when she read that letter, she made up her mind to start exploring something new every day. She began to learn about desert flowers, Indian reservations, local customs, etc. Wasn't long before she came to love that place. 

      I guess it all comes back to being able to adjust to circumstances. 

      I hope you're doing well, and that all things are good with you. Much Love,  Dad ​

​I thanked Pop for sharing this anecdote and told him, "Yes, I feel 'touched'... considering I live so close to Sedona’s energy vortexes!" 

Bringing Pop up-to-date, I remarked that I'd been squeezing minutes to accomplish copious must-dos intrinsic in settling into a new home. Simultaneously, I was carving out time to embrace new experiences — from awe-inspiring hikes and outings to intriguing lectures and events.

I was also taking time out to be still and just do nothing, breathing in the experience of being in Sedona.

"My initial impression is that Sedona is a place where mystical things can happen if one has an open mind and an open heart," I explained. 

People are drawn here for similar reasons, just as I was. While I sensed this chapter in my life would spur transformational growth, my quest was to ponder Sedona's energy from a grounded perspective, rather than allowing myself to be sucked up into a mythical mothership.

For me, staying grounded is a challenge in a place like Sedona — which brings me to the backstory about Christopher Loren and his unSpirituality.com crusade ....
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❤ v!ctor!a colette

COMMENTS

Christopher

5/19/2014 02:29:47 pm

Oh, nice blog and welcome to this beautiful place. I can sense in your writing and web presence someone interesting. I bet you have some very interesting stories and adventures to share...... Sounds like a good reason to go on a hike......what works for you?

Interesting that you are writing about your life because I have started the same process. I get the sense you are in a GREAT, unfolding, inspiring and significant place and I am happy to be gleaned from if I can offer anything at unspirituality.com

Christopher Loren

Pop

I've read most of your new web site but not all because there is just too much information! What happened to your question to me years ago: "Dad, can you tell me in 25 words or less?"

:-) Much love, Dad

v!ctor!a

5/12/2014 01:58:24 am

Too funny, Pop! Blogs are for backstories, so you won't find anything less than 25 words posted here. But if you want to glean from what's on my mind in 140 characters or less, you can sleuth my Twitter feed!~ love, v!ctor!a

Patrick

5/14/2014 10:19:48 am

Wow Victoria! Your new website is terrific, absolutely love it. Did you take the photographs? If so you can add photographer to your extensive resume.

Your beautiful hiking stick is a piece of art. But if you carried on the street in Washington DC you would be surrounded by a swat team before you reached the end of the block.

Sincerely,
Patrick ("Island Boy")