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.

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?

Hello All! 

Gretchen here, recently back from a jam-packed adventure-filled jaunt to British Columbia and northern Washington state. 



All over Vancouver and Vancouver Island are these signs: No Idling. It's just one of about a jillion green initiatives they've adopted (and just one of about a jillion reasons that BC stole my heart). And whether conscious or not, we followed the 'No Idling' directive on this trip.

Here's a partial list:
Moseyed up the Vancouver Island coast with a look-see here and a look-see there; sea kayaked with orcas out of the northern outpost of Telegraph Cove; played the bull kelp didgeridoo; chowed down on Nanaimo bars; hugged some very big trees; landed some mighty fine salmon; braved 15 foot swells in a little bitty fishing boat; fell in love with the goofy harbor seals; learned about queen bees and sipped yummy honey wine at a meadery; totem-hunted; beach-combed; poked around the This -n- That Store (which was indeed full of this and that); walked the Victoria waterfront; enjoyed a, well, healthy assortment of scotch varieties in a lovely pub in that same lovely city; chatted up the locals and other explorers at every stop; and ate and ate and ate and ate. And that was just on the Island.

Like many directives, this metaphorical 'No Idling' had its benefits and its drawbacks. Without qualification, I am so grateful to have explored so much of this previously unknown territory and happened upon so many lasting-impression acquaintances. And, there is something in the depth of a place or person that is sometimes tough to embrace when the encounter is so fleeting. Here and gone. There and gone.

So, what have I brought back from this journey? Presence--in two respects.

First, having a limited amount of time with a very full itinerary, I found that the most profound and interesting times existed when I was simply in the moment (like seeing that orca spy-hop and freakin' squealing with delight or having the most amazing breakfast conversation with a fellow traveler) and not thinking at all about the next thing on the itinerary.  How many times do I miss things every day when my mind's already on what's next?

Second, having the presence to stop and choose. At home, I have the gift of time. My stay in Minneapolis isn't limited 5 days, so I can stop and notice what I really do want to spend more time doing and who I want to be spending that time with.

So, as much as I am on board with BC's green initiative, I'm thinkin' that idling has its own distinct value as well.

What's up everyone!? Charlie here! We went to the Civil War! Granted it was 24 hours later than expected. But it actually happened, which is obviously the most important thing! Here's my installment 2 of the interns' trip to the Civil War.

Tina the Intern here and here is the second part of my Civil War Re-enactment blog!

4. Time Machine

I am so glad we went on Sunday instead of Saturday. It was not raining and it was a lot less humid. And my friend with the broken camera was not as mad today. Morale was much higher than yesterday. The re-enactment was amazing! Here’s a glimpse of what we experienced.




Charlie's E>V card asked "What did you want to be when you grew up?" He wanted to be a baker and here is a baker from 1864.

Cow!


A young boy showing Charlie how to walk on stilts properly.
 

Charlie going through some evolution.

So the re-enactment was not a battle re-enactment, but more of a “day in the life” re-enactment. Setting up the fort like how it might be in 1864. Many of these re-enacters were volunteers. How cool is that? They are brave people to dress up in heavy clothing circa 1864 on the hottest, most humid summer day.

5. Things I learned

I enjoyed myself thoroughly.

I know that this was still nowhere near what it was like in 1864, but it was still fun to pretend and play. It’s nice to pretend and play once in a while. I used to do it every day as a kid and now I don’t remember the last time I pretended and played.

Now I have officially learned to not have any expectations when going on an adventure. I had this expectation that we would see tons of mantras all over the place and meet a ton of cool people. Well we didn’t see any cool mantras because Fort Snelling does not have any advertisements or print and we didn’t meet anyone because the volunteers kind of had to stay in character and everyone there were families who liked to stay to themselves. That’s not a bad thing at all, but it was disappointing at the time. I wonder if I didn’t have any expectations, would we have found a ton of mantras and met a bunch of people…? I’m kidding. But I did “fulfill” my wants from this trip: do something different, enjoy something I’m interested in, and enjoy the company of a friend.

AND Charlie had a great time! I was SO excited that he did. He might have had more fun than I did (is that possible?). I was still nervous about half way into the trip that he was bored and not having a good time. But half way into the trip I could tell that he was actually having a good time. Yay!

So it was not a battle re-enactment, so I cannot entirely cross “attend a civil war re-enactment” off my list. And that is fine with me because it is another excuse to go to another one!

Tina the intern here and I have to share this picture with you.

http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=822064&catid=391

I love this picture. I wasn’t even there and it brings me so much joy. Imagine the joy the picture brings that couple. That is a situation you cannot recreate. Or at least it would be extremely difficult to recreate. The article led me to the National Geographic “daily dozen” photos where this picture was submitted. On this website, anybody can submit tnheir photos of adventure or everyday life. I was deeply moved by each photo. I was witnessing peoples’ favorite moments captured forever.

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/your-shot/daily-dozen

I should take more photos. Yes there is such a thing as taking too many photos, my father is the perfect example of that. But I don’t blame him, he just wants to capture moments of his family. Is that such a bad thing?

I have missed many opportunities to capture moments of my life. It’s not a bad thing. I don’t want to be bogged down by interrupting a moment to get a camera. But it’s so nice to relive and share those moments. One of my favorite memories I have encapsulated in pictures is my baptism 5 months ago. It was only 5 months ago, but I experienced a feeling I’ve never felt before. And when I look at those pictures, I can re-experience a fraction of that feeling. What is something you like to re-live through pictures/memories/storytelling? Take a picture of something today.

I just found a flash mob that I can participate in before I leave for London. So of course I have to blog about it! What is a Flash Mob you ask?

It’s exactly what it sounds like. Well not really because there would probably be more nudity involved if it were exactly what it sounded like. In case you don’t know what a flash mob is (and don’t worry, many people don’t) check out the Wikipedia entry on it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_mob

Essentially it’s people getting people (not PR or corporations getting people) to come together and do something in tandem. It can be a freeze, a dance routine, a noise, or anything. I’ve done the freeze before: http://www.mndaily.com/2008/03/07/freeze-northrop-mall-confuses-and-amuses

Its something you have to experience by either participating or witnessing. It shows how much power one individual can have. Without these individuals, flash mobs would not work.

Not sure where you can find out about them, but if you do, go. Both times I have found them, it’s been by being at the right website at the right time (Facebook first then Craigslist). I am excited to hopefully do another one before I leave the states. A nice send off from the United States.