A Soulo-ish Adventure

I just made up a name!

Kind-of.

This name exists but not in the context of my definition.

Soulo.

This is something I recently did. And since I love a play on words and find them clever, here we are.

Last month I took a trip. Mostly by myself. My daughter was about 30 minutes away and stayed with me just a few nights, so I was not completely solo. Hence the -ish at the end of my new word.

If you have seen my website or read my blogs, you will notice that I have a thing for beaches.

Tropical beaches.

This trip took me to paradise (aka Oahu) . I knew I would be on my own and decided this would be a great time to work on my soul.

So I took a Soulo trip. Get it? Solo and Soul = Soulo.

I like it.

I have been married for 20 years and we have never been apart for this long (over a week). I had to figure out what I wanted to do, where to stay, and what to eat all on my own. In other words, I met "me" again. When you are married you become an "us."

It was weird.

At least initially.

A dear friend lent me a book to read on this trip, A Gift From the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. I used that book to reconnect with parts of me that were pushed away when I got married. That may sound a little harsh, but when you get married you do change and the selfish bits need to stand down.

I was able to evaluate where I have been and what is coming. To think about what I value and what I can let go. Anne's essays were thoughtful and deeply ministered to me in a way that a wonderful mentor would.

As a journaler, I was able to capture my thoughts and explore them. I was able to look at my life from a distance and see what needed to change. Funny, what she wrote in the 50's about living simply and using mindfulness (mindfulness was not the buzz word back then. She describes it as living in the present moment) is what is being taught in many circles as the "new" thing today. As King Solomon tells us, "There is nothing new under the sun."(Ecclesiastes1:9). It was nice to know that women before my time also felt the same way I do.

I have wanted to live the simple way (my secret dream is to be a minimalist...too much stuff feels like noise to me) and live in the moment more often. I want to be out in nature more than I am (in the unbearable Phoenix summers, it is just too hot to take a walk, even at sundown).

This soulo-ish trip got my attention and molded me with thoughtful introspections. As I prepared to return home to my "normal" life, I find that it cannot be the same. I don't want it to be. I am not the same. How can I be, when I have new perspectives? I have been refreshed and the sea has taught me things I was not expecting.

On this trip, I experienced snorkling for the first time and it was nifty. I literally swam alongside fish. Fish that swam near the sand and could only be seen with goggles.

Observing these fish in the calmness of the ocean made me realize that by constantly keeping ourselves busy and accumulating possessions, we overlook valuable experiences. Without the snorkeling gear and staying motionless, I would have overlooked the underwater world beneath me. Witnessing a group of fish navigating through erratic kicking legs and playful children's feet while sticking together was truly astonishing.

How often do I look at my schedule and notice I do not have even two hours to meet a friend for a few weeks out. Positioning my "goggles" and seeking quietness so I can savor precious moments is where I will plant a new value.

As I stayed in an airbnb last month I realized how easy it would be to live a more simplified life. I hand washed all the dishes I used each day. I walked most places and walked daily. I had minimal groceries (just to last the week) and my meals were super simple. I know this can be translated to the value of living simply. The purpose is not only to get rid of the "noise" of stuff, but to be open to exploring valuable moments.

I am ready to embrace the lifestyle I learned from the sea, from the island way of living, and the clarity of what seem like small moments.

If you are ready to take a Soulo-ish trip I encourage you to read this book or find another similar one and journal your thoughts. My values may not be yours. Go on your own journey to find what is important to you and to notice what needs to change.

If you are not able to get away, take a day away. Spend it at a garden, a lake, or a spiritual center (we have one in Phoenix called the Franciscan renewal center).

I was so inspired by this trip, I hope to write my own book to support other women in their soulo adventures.

Cheering you on as I embrace my new values of "snorkeling" in the quiet moments to notice things that I may have missed.