Go For It

By April Eckwielen

I come across quotes and thought provoking memes on a daily basis. Today, I had two pop up, one right after the other, and they got me thinking. The quote was “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” ~ Helen Keller, The Open Door.

The meme was this:

Both of these things got me thinking. I want to do so much but I always say it will never happen, I don't have the money, I have no clue how to plan it, etc, etc. Excuses. I make excuses, and then have a pity party while I see others going out there and having a blast.

Thanks to these messages from my feed and, yes, I believe placed there one after the other by the Universe to grab my attention, I made a choice. I pulled out a notebook I purchased months ago that has “ Make it Happen” emblazoned on its cover, and started my travel journal. This would be my place to set my intentions for exploration and keep a record of the planning and outcomes. My dreams of places to visit and experiences to have will go here. It will be my portable vision board in book form, my travel intentions.

The Universe has a funny way of showing us what we need at the moment we are searching. Before I saw the quote and meme I had just said aloud that I was not going to sit around the house today doing nothing. The Universe gave me that smack on my head telling me to get out there and go for it.

Let's see where these travel intentions take me. Thank you, Universe, for the push.

Happy adventuring!

Hello, 2016!

By April Eckwielen

It's January 1st. The day everyone likes to use as a starting point, or should I say, a start-over point. Resolutions will be made and will be short-lived for most. The newness of the year will slowly fade and we will be back into our old habits and routines. We try, but we can never seem to make things stick. How can this cycle be changed? Simple, don't make resolutions, set your intentions instead.

Intentions are different than resolutions. Resolutions are choices to do or not do something, to solve something. Intentions are more personal. They are more of an ongoing path that allow you to live the life you want. Intentions allow you to be present and grow. Through your focus, meditation and being present you can allow your intentions to flow into your daily life. This allows you to be your true authentic self.

To set your intentions, find out what matters most to you at this moment. Keep it positive and simple. There is no need to get overly involved. You also want to make sure that your intention can evolve. Let it continue to grow into your life. Try to do something on a daily basis to make your intention a part of your life, not just something you think about here and there.

Intention setting is a great way to show up in life and allow your true self to shine. Let each day bring you guidance and peace, knowing that you are living in the present moment, allowing your intentions to flow.