the unplan + week reflection

as I write this, I am mildly distracted by a trio of ducks who are just within in my purview — swimming gracefully back and forth past my open bungalow door. yes, I have a back door that allows me to peer outside at a peaceful pond that is not frozen over and covered in snow, at least until Monday.

this, and the fact that I spent yesterday happening upon beaches and breweries and coffeeshops and the perhaps the nicest people I’ve encountered in one place, is all possible because I decided to book a solo weekend away in San Diego. and, unlike most of my trips, this one wasn’t planned out months prior with an accompanying agenda that leaves little room for items not on the list. this trip is all about unplanned exploration and listening to my gut — with no judgment (that last part is important).

yesterday this approach allowed me to experience and savor the magnificent Pacific at two beautiful beaches, without using a map or GPS. it also led me to examine and understand a bit of myself. being in nature tends to have that effect on me. I’m looking forward to a lot more of this over the next three days.

(update on my duck friends: had to shut the door as one tried to make an in-home visit. don’t worry, no ducks were harmed in the making of this blog post.)

“In the end, it cannot be doubted that each of us can see only part of the picture. The doctor sees one, the patient another, the engineer a third, the economist a fourth, the pearl diver a fifth, the alcoholic a sixth, the cable guy a seventh, the sheep farmer an eighth, the Indian beggar a ninth, the pastor a tenth. Human knowledge is never contained in one person. It grows from the relationships we create between each other and the world and still is never complete.” ~Paul Kalanithi, When Breath Becomes Air

week in review
last week’s gratitude: hope
this week’s intention: self-love
what I’m reading: Brave Enough
saw (and loved) La La Land (pic 4)
hosted monthly creative writing group (pic 2)
multiple walks + runs (pic 3, 10)
wrote + posted 2017 readolution: a plan for a well-read year
brunch with one of my favorites
read When Breath Becomes Air
book buying at my favorite local bookstore (pic 7)
launched big work project
thrived during very busy work week
skin club
DEN > SAN
explored San Diego + day one of solo adventure (pic 1, 5, 6, 8, 9)
finally watched Dirty Dancing
continued Foundations of Well-Being program
lots of self-reflection
wrote + posted welcoming the new year in bed + week reflection

weekend happenings + intentions
continue exploring + enjoying San Diego sans plans or expectations