Namaste!

or, Hello, in Nepalese.

Annapurna South (right peak), is 23,684 feet tall, while Annapurna I (left peak) is actually 26,545 ft!

I just spent the last 2 weeks on the other side of the world, trekking among the world's tallest mountains, on an epic trip unlike any other I've had before.

One of my best friends bought me hiking boots for Hannukah this year and so I proposed a trip to break them in: Nepal - a place I've long dreamed of visiting.

Before leaving I deeply wanted - needed - to use this precious gift of time well. If for no other reason than to honor the gift J.R. and the universe was giving me. How incredible – how RARE- for a parent of 3 young kids to have, first, a 16 HOUR flight ALONE (what luxury!), and then TWO WEEKS traveling with friends!

I was hesitant to talk about it much before I went because I didn't really know what to expect.

The longest trek I did prior to this was a 3-day trek in 2001, when I was in high school. Most recently, the most strenuous hike I'd done was 4 miles carrying a screaming 3-year-old on my back (maybe harder).

Now, it's still humbling & thrilling to realize I did a 7-day trek, climbing 38 miles and 17,000 feet (most of it over 5 days). And at the end (after clean laundry and a hot shower), I actually craved another 7 days!

You never know what's possible until you try....

Sunrise on Pune Hill: panoramic views of 8 of the 10 tallest mountains in the world.

Reflecting on generosity

I’ve been meditating now daily for over 3 years, and it’s become my ritual at the end of each practice to silently acknowledge, and capture, whatever intention spontaneously arises for that day.

The intention that arose on my first flight was:

Every day I grow in generosity of spirit and action and inspire others to do the same.

The Nepali people were my role models for this intention: they are incredibly generous-spirited and kind with their hospitality and namastes.

On our trek we met two Swiss women who had walked to Nepal from Switzerland (seriously), and they shared what surprised them the most: how overwhelmed they have been with the kindness and generosity of others, especially in the most unlikely places.

I'm not sure generosity is as common at home - especially reading the news these days.

Maybe it's something I need to take a more active part in paying forward, or maybe it's always there but I've become blind to it.

Part of the magic of travel is it throws you out of your daily routine, your comfort zone, and suddenly you're seeing things that blended into the background in life at home... the joy of clean socks, clear, unpolluted air, the awe and beauty of being immersed in nature, laughter with friends, the generosity of others. They exist at home too, but travel makes them pop, and now I can appreciate them to a new degree.

And I'm asking myself:

What does it actually mean for me to be generous in spirit in action in my life?
What do I want to pay forward in my life?
What am I unintentionally taking for granted in my life?

What's your journey?

I kept an old-school travel journal along the way, thinking maybe I'd share it afterwards. Maybe it could be the start of something else, even. In these next few days, I'll share some of it with you, especially for those:

Thinking about pushing their boundaries in a healthy way,
Going through any kind of life transition,
Craving an opportunity to reconnect with nature, or
Just love the thrill & adventure and travel

Trekking in Nepal was challenging but awe-inspiring, empowering, and deeply humbling. I'd love to pay forward the spark of energy to try something unexpected, even if it's a little scary or unknown. Or to appreciate the little things in life that you unintentionally take for granted (although maybe what you really need is a trip).