I recently became a ‘vacation sponge’ when I traveled to Colorado for  five days.  Feels like I got to experience so many of the oxygen-rich tools from “Breathe” all in one trip. It was a much needed break from the responsibilities of being Kyle’s mom and the extreme heat of the Phoenix summer. I returned recharged and ready to take on my life with renewed energy. And just to test the waters, Kyle is in a rough place right now, a place he has not been in for a long time. I try to take a piece of my own advice and remember “this too shall pass”. But this is for another blog post on another day.

Here’s a sample....
 

  
1- APPRECIATION- Part of the reason for this trip was to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. Great opportunity to reconnect with my husband & appreciate us (as a couple), as well as how hard he works to help make these trips possible. And yes, I remembered to tell him. :-)

2- HARMONY- We got to visit  with our daughter Rachel (the photographer for “Breathe”) and her sweetheart JB. It was so wonderful to hike together and spend time  laughing and enjoying each other away from the world of autism for awhile. Harmony in my family, harmony within me.

3-GRATITUDE- Just a look around at the gorgeous greenery and mountains of beautiful Colorado, sit near a waterfall, and breathe that incredible cool, clean fresh air and I felt grateful to be alive and in that very moment. AHHH!

4- REST- so much rest. Physical rest and mental rest... reading a book without interruption, sitting in the hot tub in the rain. Loved all that rest.

5- MOMENTS- many, many moments. I look at our photos and am reminded of all those beautiful moments. Special times with people I love, seeing my daughter so happy, looking out at the mountains, holding my husbands hand. A string of moments. Spent most of this vacation in the present moment too (lovely).

6- INSPIRATION- “Inspiration is another brand of love.” (Breathe) Inspiration is everywhere in Colorado. Makes me want to write again and wish I could paint.

7- REACH OUT- This trip could not have been possible if I had not asked for help so Kyle could be at home with the best possible people... Deshay, Jamie, Kim and Henrietta ...thank you. So grateful for the support available to me to take care of my son when we are away.

8- SUNRISE- we slept thru the sunrises but definitely got to see some sunsets... so beautiful behind the snow capped Rocky mountains.

9- EXERCISE- “Exercise produces endorphins, and endorphins make us happy. It is vital nourishment for my soul.” (Breathe) Exercise is my magic potion and I got lots of it hiking and biking the mountains of Colorado.

10- BREATHE- had to breathe deeply in that altitude. Wow! Hiking at 10,000 ft.+ is just not the same as 2000 ft. on the mountain behind my house. This was a challenge for me. Had to work pretty hard to motor up some of those steep trails. However, the experience was worth every deep breath. And, I was grateful for all those stops for photo ops :-).

I promise not to write about every chapter title in Breathe, although I think I could very well do that. Trying to live by “more is less” so these are just a few that stood out for me as I pause to reflect on our recent time in Colorado.

Would love to hear of some of YOUR experiences with the  oxygen-rich tools. Anyone?