I’ve been home from our SE Asia trip for six days. I have yet to get through a whole day without a nap of some kind. I made it through a speaking event yesterday, but just barely.
The combination of jet lag, digging out after being away for over two weeks, and preparing for yesterday’s full-day event knocked me off my blog schedule. Fortunately I’ve gotten better at practicing self-compassion.
I woke up today feeling lighter and more spacious, with the intention of sending out a quick hello to you. Then I remembered that I had already written the piece below a whole week ago, but didn’t get it posted before our flight home departed.
So here you go, a not-so-fresh post that I hope still conveys the energy of our adventure on the other side of the globe in Malaysia and Indonesia.
Greetings from the international departure wing of Adisucipto Airport in Yogyakarta, Indonesia on Java island!
My last post was written shortly before boarding the first of our 12 flights to, within, between, and from Malaysia and Indonesia, so I thought it would be fun to bookend with another airport post on our way home.
While the energy is still fresh, I wanted to share with you some of the highlights of the gratitude list I’ve been compiling during my son’s college graduation trip. Setting this intention mindfully also keeps me out of the airport shops!
My Facebook friends may have seen this image I posted on our first morning on Manukan island in Sabah, Malaysia (off the coast of Borneo island).
Given all we’ve experienced in the past two weeks—astounding marine life, elephants, orangutans, jungle trekking, river wildlife cruising, Komodo Dragons, breathtaking ancient Buddhist and Hindu temples, delicious food, and the kindness of the welcoming people in this corner of the world—my gratitude list could fill an entire book.
I’ll be writing more about my reflections in future posts, but here are just a few of the many ways this trip has sparked gratitude:
Letting go of control and trusting, with no expectations. As I explained in my last post, my son planned this trip and invited us along for the Malaysia and Indonesia portions of it. Having focused all of my attention on getting work stuff in order before leaving, I hadn’t studied the itinerary. Each day was like opening a gift.
Curiosity. Having cultivated my sense of curiosity through mindfulness practice, my ability to experience wonder has stayed strong, if not intensified, over time. Makes me excited for my second half century of life!
Natural wonders in the form of mammals, fish, and plant life. (Sea turtle photo was taken by my husband Mark while he was scuba diving, but I saw several of these magical creatures myself while snorkeling in Indonesia. Underwater camera is in my future after this trip!)
Ancient man-made wonders showcasing human inspiration and potential. Just one small detail of Borobudur, the world’s largest Buddhist temple on Indonesia’s Java island.
Modern man-made wonders supporting our well-being. Electricity, clean laundry, wifi, airplanes, motor boats, and cars. (Mark snuck this shot of me on one of our many boat transports. If you’ve been following here for a while, you might remember my motion sickness issues. I’m happy to report that staying ahead of the problem with Bonine, intentional hydratation, and probably changing hormones kept the problem at bay.)
Smiles from people who don’t look like me. One of the exercises in the Search Inside Yourself curriculum is called “Just Like Me.” Similar to lovingkindness meditation, “Just Like Me” is a practice that reminds us that we humans all have the same desires – to be happy, well, and live with ease. Travel is a great way to deepen our connections with people who don’t look like us (as well as with those with whom we’re traveling). Loved this driver of our motorbike rickshaw our final night in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Family and friends at home, asking us to send photos along the way. I shifted my mindset on this trip, with my natural inclination when away to take a break from social media. My intention on vacation is to be present with my family. I realized that responding every few days to requests for photos from family back home (especially grandparents) also met my intention of being present for my family. I felt their love through their interest in our travels.
Present moment awareness. Gratitude for my mindfulness practice, which allowed me to experience joy in every single moment of this trip.
Interested in kickstarting or deepening your own mindfulness practice? The summer session of my 30-Day Mindfulness Meditation Challenge begins on Monday, July 2nd. More on that soon, including new features and enhancements to the program. In meantime, click here for more details.
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