Hidden Gems in Life experiences

“Fear can be responsible for changing your life – for better or for worse. If fear persists, you run the risk of missing out on some of the greatest experiences life has to offer.” – Cara Alwill Leyba

Every time I plan a trip or some sort of adventure, I always try to capitalize on the most experiences that I can have during that time. It’s not always about where I go, but more of who that I am with or what I am doing. Here in the states, some of the biggest gems are in places that most people don’t expect. For instance, Idaho is probably one of my favorite places to travel to but most people wouldn’t look twice at it. There is so much beauty and adventure that you can find there, it’s uncanny!

One of the best hidden gems is Boise’s whitewater park. There, in the heart of Idaho, you can practice your surf moves, cruise on the paddle board, kayak, and many more. The one that stands out the most to people is the surfing. There’s this big adjustable wave that draws the attention anywhere from people who have never surfed in their life, to people who would consider themselves an “expert.” Also, depending on the day of the week there, determines how the wave is going to act. Wave/hole days, you can expect to see an increase of kayakers but on green wave days, that’s when you’ll get the traditional stand up surfing. Regardless of the day though, you are not limited to one or the other it just makes it easier to ride if you follow the wave schedule.

A way to branch out and see things out of your typical norm is to get the opinion and ideas from the companions that you travel with. For instance, when my girlfriend and I got together, I knew that she is a big Harry Potter fan. When given the opportunity, we ended up in universal studios Hollywood on the way to Harry Potter world “hogsmeade.” Both of us had a blast and plan to go to Florida to visit the other attractions when we get time. But just like that, prior to meeting her I probably would not have gone. The experiences I shared there was well worth it and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

No matter if you’re traveling by yourself or with a group, always look to make those experiences. If it is slightly out of your way but you know it will make for a good day, just do it! Life is way to short so let’s get out there and start enjoying it.

Mindfulness Bliss

“Self-observation is the first step of inner unfolding.”
– Amit Ray

Have you ever tried to meditate before? It’s a very simple thing to do. It might seem like you really aren’t doing much, but you are building up muscles in your mind through this simple practice. Meditation can be done virtually anywhere, anytime, as long as you keep an open mind. One practice you can do prior to meditation in preparation is practicing mindfulness. I challenge each and every one of you to put aside ten to twenty minutes of your day, to practice mindfulness. For those of you that don’t know what that is or how to practice it let me enlighten you. It is when you enhance your senses and observation to really notice the little things going on around you. For instance, if you were eating a piece of cake, take in the smell of the aroma the cake is putting off, taste the soft, delicate, fluffy frosting over the spongy moist cake. The easiest time to practice mindfulness is while eating but you can really do it anywhere. It is just an example but hopefully got the point across.
Once you are ready to start meditating, you’ll need to pick and focus your awareness on an anchor. Anything can be an anchor, you just need a place your mind can come back to and rest. Sensations, images, sounds, movements, or even counting are easy anchors you can use if you have trouble thinking of one. Once you have your anchor, you mind will inevitably begin to wander. This is completely normal, just bring your mind back to your anchor. Don’t think of a wandering mind as a failure, a wandering mind indicates that you have reached the moment of mindfulness. Each time you focus on or come back to your anchor you are building up your concentration. While building up your concentration, you also detach from your regular thought stream. That is the moment in which you let go and let your world around you dissipate into nothing. Now when you focus on your wandering mind, it gives you a little insight into your habits and patterns before returning back to your anchor.
Over time you will really start to understand yourself and your own mind. If you consistently practice mindfulness and meditate regularly, stress will be reduced, you’ll become more aware, and your overall mood will be greatly enhanced.

Sacrifice can achieve happiness

“The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.”
– M. Scott Peck

Career vs job, can I do what I love but still get paid? For some people the answer is an easy yes. For others, that question circles around a lot of sacrifice and patience. How can you follow your goals, hopes, and dreams while still making money doing what you love? For a lot of people, their passions are not going to be immediately profitably. They are going to be upheld by everyday responsibilities. Whether it be something as simple as paying for rent, to paying off your debts, to something like getting married and starting your own family. So you ask yourself, what should you do? Should you suck it up and sell out for a job that may make you money, but you may not love what you’re doing? Or should you stick it out and scrounge on food living as minimalistic as you possibly can trying to make it in a field that you love? They are the questions you need to ask yourself. First things first, you need food to survive. If you have to suck it up for a bit to make enough money to feed yourself, do that. You just need to keep your eye on the goal and take the proper steps to get there. If you want to be a chef but need that “quick buck” you may get a job in the fast food business even if it’s just skimming the the surface of the industry. Take the small stepping stones in order to follow your passions. Passion drives success. It all really comes down to how badly you want it and if you will make the necessary sacrifices in order to achieve your passions.
People need to realize that life isn’t just about money. It shouldn’t be about flashy cars, bejeweled jackets, or just a bunch of useless stuff. Always remember that money shouldn’t be our main focus. It should be about following your dreams and achieving your true passions in life.