Birthday Reflections and a Big Announcement! (Cindie Wilding Celebrate Everyday)

Ask me who I am and among many things, I'll tell you I'm a seeker. I've always sought more knowledge and more experiences and have been enjoying following and seeking my path in life for as long as I can remember. I also love and am inspired by nature and when I see a trail, I want to see where it goes. It's the adventure in the unknown that calls me. Exploring in nature also helps me to get still, calms the "to do" list in my head and allows me to just BE, to practice being mindful so that creative ideas can flow.

It was my wish to start my 59th birthday with a solo hike on the trail that circles Lake Natoma, a trail I dearly love as I used to live steps away from it. During a challenging time in my life, I ran or biked this trail almost daily. I came to know and love every curve of the trail and how I could be smack dab in the middle of nature, right next to a beautiful lake, just by stepping out my door. My worries would slowly solve themselves as I sorted and processed while running or biking. Being on a path...the journey of life...literally and figuratively. Aand so I returned to my "home" and spent a few hours walking, stopping to journal and to take pictures, a welcome quiet break from the usual busy-ness of everyday life.

What better place to ponder what it means to be standing on the doorstep of my 6th decade and to creatively plan the year ahead.

One of the awarenesses that came out of this experience was I don't do this enough. I don't give myself the time to really appreciate nature, to hear and see all the beautiful details, with my ears or through the lens of my camera. And I am not giving myself adequate time to savor this heart-filling kind of experience. I vowed to make this a weekly weekday event.

Further, and this is where my BIG ANNOUNCEMENT comes in:

RETREAT HIKES ARE BACK!!

Some of you may have been on one of my previous Retreat Hikes, designed to re-connect you with nature and with your own inner voice. A hike led with stops for reflecting and sharing.

These hikes are great:

if you would like more time in nature, a time to walk a trail with like-minded folks.
if you would love some focused time to be more mindful
if you would like to refine your writing skills
if you'd like time to connect with others and share

It's a way go inside by going outside. Writing prompts, ideas to ease stress and other tools to help you through your week will be provided.

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. John Muir

My plan is to alternate days of the week so that all schedules are accomodated. For now I'm sticking with two paths I'm familiar with and alternating between Auburn (Hidden Falls) and Folsom (Lake Natoma).

Details:

Thursday September 5 Hidden Falls

Tuesday September 10 Folsom

Friday September 20 Hidden Falls

Wednesday September 25 Folsom

Monday September 30 Hidden Falls

For now I'm sticking with weekdays because the trails are less crowded. Perhaps as we head deeper into fall we'll add some Saturday mornings. We'll meet at the appointed spot at 8:30 a.m., start the hike at 8:45 and plan to be out for about 2 hours.

I hope you'll plan to join me on one of these outings. As we head into fall, the outdoors will be singing to us even more vibrantly. If you are on facebook, please consider liking my new Retreat Hike Page at Celebrant Cindie's Retreat Hikes. There you will find all the information you need about the hikes.

As I go into my last year of my 50's I am extremely excited. New space has opened up in my life for expanding my Celebrant practice -- more memorials, more baby blessings, more weddings, more retirement and landmark birthdays and more unique and personal ceremonies written just for you to celebrate any and all of your life events.

Thanks for being along on the journey. What a fabulous trip it has been thus far.