10

June

0

The Gift of Wild Places

Giddy. Sitting in the parking lot of the Merced Amtrak Station waiting for my friend Greg’s train to arrive from San Francisco, it felt like Christmas morning. Glee. As if it were my first time. In anticipation of this trip I watched, yet another, documentary of Yosemite. The first love of my youth. My second home. I’ve gravitated toward its iconic majesty again and again since our introduction as a young girl. At first glance I thought the attraction was just on the surface; the pull of natural beauty, the smell of fresh alpine air or the incessant sound of rippling water. But as the years rolled on and I played, then hiked, then ran over granite slab after granite [...]

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Category: Adventure/Reflection

13

December

0

Bhutan Comes to America – A Few Post Trip Thoughts

I tend to formulate an idea/adventure internally, then when I’m ready to entertain moving it forward I’ll verbalize it in some fashion. Sometimes I sort out what I’m getting myself into before I verbalize, sometimes not. But the speaking part is the declaration for me and sets me in motion. When I asked Karma and Kinzang if they were interested in coming to America, while I was in Bhutan this past summer, I had no idea of the arduous task I’d take on to get them here. Usually, the more difficult the challenge the more I dig my heals in, continually working to prove that as humans we can accomplish almost anything we set out to do if we want [...]

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Category: Adventure/Reflection

29

March

0

What Matters to BRYON POWELL

This is the third in a series of brief conversations looking at What Matters to people who are really taking on their lives. My aim is to uncover what matters to them deeply. To expose their foundational passion.  If this conversation interests you too, let me know and share it with others who matter to you. Today we’re looking at…  What Matters to BRIAN POWELL In 2009, Bryon abandoned a promising career practicing law in Washington DC and moved cross country to live in the Sierra near Yosemite. His aim was iconic—to devote himself full time to iRunFar.com, a trail running and ultra running website. Ultra running is a niche community that, with some exception, has happily remained obscure to [...]

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Category: Inspiration

26

March

0

What Matters to TOM GRIFFEN

This is the second in a series of brief conversations looking at What Matters to people who are really taking on their lives. My aim is to uncover what matters to them deeply. To expose their foundational passion.  If this conversation interests you too, let me know and share it with others who matter to you…  Some of my words about Tom: As the past (and beloved) owner of Fleet Feet, Aptos, an accomplished businessperson, deep thinker, artist and ultra runner, I asked Tom to give me a bio he’s used in the past to highlight his accomplishments. He sent me this…: “You asked for my bio and my inclination is to look at all the bios I’ve written over [...]

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Category: Inspiration

19

March

0

What Matters to MARK ALLEN

This is the first in a series of brief conversations looking at What Matters to YOU. While I’ll be highlighting people who are really taking on what matters in their lives professionally, my aim is to uncover what matters to them deeply. To expose their foundational passion. Because one thing that matters to me is getting to know what makes the really big doers tick. Thats exciting. Perhaps it will stir you as well—or maybe even cause you to revisit or define—What Matters to YOU.  If this conversation interests you too, let me know and share it with others who matter to you…  What Matters to MARK ALLEN Some of my words about Mark and some background info: Back in [...]

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Category: Inspiration

13

April

0

Obsession: Bhutan (Join us!)

I’ve become increasingly obsessed with Expedition Bhutan planning. The long hours of computer work, research, reading, emails and lengthy conference calls seem to feed my passion for this unique project and country. I realized while lying in bed last night negotiating too many spinning thoughts, that besides writing a book, researching and writing my thesis, and being a professional triathlete (ok I guess those are pretty big ‘besides’) – this could be the biggest project I’ve taken on to date. I couldn’t be more pleased. I’m at my best under pressure and when I immerse myself in creativity in an expansive way – trying to birth something soulful from nothing. And yet there is never nothing to start with is [...]

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Category: Musing