As my mother used to say: "wherever you go, there you are." Simple but true. You – your spirit, your being and, yes, even your stories – are with you no matter where your physical being happens to be.

But, what happens when we forget this? And our physical being is "showing up" in places that we don't really like or in situations that are truly challenging? And we ask, "Why is this happening TO me?" Well, e>v asks you to remember that everything that happens "out there" (physical world) is a reflection of what's happening "in here" (spiritual world). So, for today: what if we all commit to putting our inner house in order and watch what happens right outside the front door... Could be pretty rockin' .... 

Or, as Esther Hicks says, "Spirit versus Material are not the choices. Everything about this physical manifestational experience is spiritual. It is all the end product of spirit. You have nothing to prove. Be the (e>v adds: "best") spiritual you and create like a physical fiend." 

This is a quote from a birthday card I got this year. And, after recently attending a performance by the amazing youth performing arts center, Circus Juventas, I realize more and more how this is true. And how our attitude makes all the difference.

As I watched these performers fly through the air, I sat with anticipation and anxiety. Will they catch each other? Will they make it? I was tense. Probably an OK state for me to be in as I was on the ground ... but the daredevils? High, high above the popcorn-littered floor? Tense was not an option. They all hung, swung and flew in complete ease and trust ... loose and languid ... focused and free. They knew, if they tensed up or held back, a disaster could happen. (Or at least a semi-embarrassing fall to the safety net.)

They all knew that life truly was happening right that very moment ... and they dove in. Literally. And that's what made all the difference.

Hello travelers ... Elissa here. My friend Tim just sent me this link and I had to share it: ethicaltraveler.org. It's a cool site that helps adventurers of all kinds explore our world with a clean conscience and a pure heart. Sounds very evolutionary to me. A quote from their site sums up our kindred spirits and moves me to ... move! Check it out: Nice.

Hello Evolutionistas!

Elissa here ... Last night, Gretchen and I had a great meeting with a fun, new friend named Dana. (keep an eye out for her on this site ... you'll definitely be seeing more of her!)

Over our respective cocktails and gorgonzola/pear pizzas, we shared tales of travel, thoughts on the self and our respective opinions on the idea of Aliveness. And for me, I shared how, lately, this feeling of Aliveness has been seriously escaping me as I've traveled through my everyday life.

I shared how I've been feeling -- even in the midst of a brand new year and new intentions -- in a big, deep, frustrated-at-the-world rut. How I have recently gotten so into the grind and focused on the weeds and addicted to "working hard" that even I have seemed to miss out on the bigger picture, the e>vness of life, the essence of ALIVENESS.

And I was reminded again of how this ... all of life ... is a journey that ebbs and flows, starts and stops. And I was reminded again that the entire world is a projection of myself. And, I was reminded of how feeling alive -- when you're out of practice -- doesn't just come 'naturally' all the time. And I was reminded that I might actually need to REMEMBER to stay connected to my Aliveness...

And so, to you, to the world, to the universe, I make a declaration ... a New Year's Reclamation (as Gretchen calls it) to re-own my freedom, to reclaim my possibilities, to remember my purpose. So:

Today, I choose Aliveness. Today, I choose to feel good. Today, I choose to be brave. Today, I choose to let go. Today, I choose to be free. Like a parachute cord, Aliveness is always there, just waiting for me to grab it and pull. A reliable, never-lets-you-down, old friend...Aliveness is just waiting for me to grab its hand and fly through life, leaving my stories and excuses behind, trusting that I'm going to land in the right place, more exhilarated and empowered than ever. No matter where I am today, no matter what comes my way, I choose ALIVENESS.

(and how have you been feeling lately?)

"(Your life) is about realization, not about changing anything. The world is as you perceive it to be. For me, clarity is a word for beauty. It's what I am. And when I'm clear, I see only beauty. Nothing else is possible. I am mind perceiving my thoughts, and everything unfolds from that, as if it were a new solar system pouring itself out in its delight. If I'm not clear, then I'm going to project all my craziness out onto the world, as the world, and I'll perceive a crazy world and think that it is the problem. We've been working on the projected image for thousands of years and not on the projector. That's why life seems to be chaotic ... But when you meet your thoughts with understanding, the world changes. It has to change, because the projector of the entire world is you. You're it!" -Byron Katie, Loving What Is

This is an entry that's both long past due and right on time as well, I suppose.

Thanks to e>volutionista Molly G. for sharing her notes from the road:

I was surprised on my trip to Europe this summer when some of my "baggage" starting popping up. I honestly wasn't expecting it to--even though the e>v guide had warned me that it might. What was great was that I felt prepared to handle it. I paid attention to what was going on around me and internally and had a greater understanding as to what was causing it to show up. I challenged myself by asking if I needed it.  When I decided that I didn't, I sent that extra baggage packing!  It was a daily exercise, but at least I had an action plan in place to handle it.
 
The prep section of the e>v guide was also helpful in that it helped me set the tone I wanted for my vacation. It got me thinking in advance about things I wanted to notice, energy I wanted to tap into, how I wanted to "be", and what I wanted to gain. I still think about a moment I had on the trip when I told myself, "You have to remember this when you are back home and settled into your routine!"  And it worked. I think about that moment every day and invite it to influence my thoughts and behaviors now that I am home. I am consciously choosing to allow that moment to affect my future and that's a powerful feeling.


How has e>v shown up in your travels?  What have you done differently as a result?  Step on in to the conversation and share your adventures in a comment or, if you'd like to be a guest poster as Molly was, shoot us your story: info@evolutionthroughvacation.com and see your evolution in print!

Hi all ... Elissa here. And, as clichéd as it sounds, I'm having one of those "today is the first day of the rest of your life" sort of days.

You know, suddenly things feel all fresh and new ... and your cup of tea tastes crisper ... and the sun seems shinier ... and you look around at this glorious place called earth and you just want to EXPLORE.

You just want to bust out the door and explore and meet and greet and skip through the streets yelling to people you've never met, "Come out of your holes! We're alive! Let's have an adventure!"

And so you would ... You'd all come out and we'd meet in the street and we'd all go to the train station and choose a random destination by each asking a stranger where they're going, then all the destinations go in a hat and we'd draw one and -- BAM!  -- that's our destination. Then, we'd settle in our seats and drink champagne as we watch the world whiz by for three days and we'd share stories about our lives and loves and what we believe and what we're willing to unbelieve and then... we'd arrive. And we'd go straight to the best hotel and say: we need your entire top floor because we're on an adventure. And they'd say, "Well, absolutely." and they would give us their best rooms for free because suddenly we're like this flash mob art group that's traveling the world, being followed by all major networks and newsmagazines because we were living each day as if it really was the first day of the rest of our lives....

And then ... what happens next?

Hey all!

Reading You Shall Know Our Velocity! by Dave Eggers right now--after it sat on my nightstand for 3 years.  Of course, it invited me in at just the right time. 

Here's a passage with Hand, one of the main dudes, philosophizing that struck me on the bus this morning and I just had to share:

"I want others to go out in the world with an idea, with intentions and means, and come back with a story about how their actions affected the world and how they themselves were shaped by the results.  I have a belief that such endeavors can improve the world, however recklessly, especially when these people go forward and interact, give, solve, change the situations they encounter..."

Sounds like a kindred spirit. 

How are you going out into the world? On vacation--and today?

Intern Tina here and sadly it is my last day of this beautiful internship! But the ends of things comes the beginnings of new adventures.

My next adventure is a study abroad in London! I have never been to Europe before. I’m very nervous and on top of that, I just found out that my internship placement is at a “high end fashion and events PR firm.” Now I’m scared! I don’t think I’m cut out for the fashion world. I'll definitely have to buy a new wardrobe to fit in. I know that many people would kill for an opportunity like this so I should be grateful. I am, but still nervous. I’m just nervous because I am afraid that I won’t fit in. How do I get over that? I am so glad that I have e>v, because before I would have hated myself for feeling this way, but now I accept it and even embrace it. Wish me luck everyone! Thanks for this great summer!