Many people need a lot of time and space to unfold. This winter’s trip has provided that for me. I left Maine on my motorcycle on Dec 21 and have ridden down through Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Columbia, Ecuador and Peru.
The joy of wandering like this is in the rich experiences of meeting new people and places. Waving to people and getting a full variety of responses is fun. Feeling the wind, sun and rain on my skin is a real-time interaction with the earth.
When I can’t understand someone because my Spanish is limited, it does not seem to matter as our hearts and eyes are sharing the most important information. I can usually tell what they are meaning by listening with all my senses.
There are of course, many challenges with journeying like this. Coping with the anger and ill feelings of peoples and places can be difficult when feeling vulnerable in a foreign land. There has been much physical discomfort: the heat, the cold, rain, dirty hotel rooms, diarrhea, upset stomach and more. Emotional challenges have been there too. Confusion, homesickness, restlessness, and unfamiliarity have presented their challenges.
I’ve had time to listen to my heart and look back at my life. Is all well? Where do I want to head next? What parts need to be let go of? Am I being true to myself? Am I being useful to those that I would help? What new things do I want to do. Are my relationships healthy?
I have gotten the answers to many of those questions and been given answers to questions I didn’t know I had. I’ve been guided by spirit and been given many gifts and challenges. I’ve been kept safe too, which I’m grateful for.