Mindful Travel; Paying Attention to Clothing, Environmental, and Mind/Body Choices

Car packed, gas tank filled, and off I trekked in the middle of summer from my sunny southern home to New England to meet my grandbaby.

Not knowing exactly how long I’d be gone, (it ended up being close to three months) I packed for hot, warm, and cool weather. I wanted practical, compact, and wrinkle-free free clothing that included splashes of color, a high-vibe, and a hint of intrigue. Voila! I had designed the perfect mix for just such a trip (if I do say so myself). In keeping with my lifestyle choices, it was important that I use my glass water bottle, insulated coffee mug, and real silverware (a fork, spoon, and knife) while on the road and while staying with friends, family, and in hotels and Airbnbs. Avoiding plastic and other single use products was imperative. In addition, to support a sense of equanimity, grace, and presence amidst the unknown facets of traveling I knew one other thing was absolutely essential: I maintain a daily practice of kundalini yoga. 

It may sound like a miracle but it’s true.

In one small and one medium size suitcase I had all the clothing I needed for many months! Leggings, tank and crop tops, shorts and all of the accompanying scarves in my own designs accompanied by a couple of pairs of neutral color pants, a tunic or two (one I didn’t wear), a few tees, and long sleeve tops. I simply rolled or folded each item. My trip was more on the casual side yet my fun, swirly leggings and scarf paired with a tunic easily became an intriguing, pleasing, and much complimented evening ensemble. One item I don’t often wear surprisingly became my new favorite: the crop top. Yup. I wore the crop to a restaurant, while making pesto, as swimwear, and for medical reasons when I burned my tummy and needed to allow the air, aloe, and Sovereign Silver to heal me up. Amazing, right?

I love Mother Earth and seek to walk tenderly upon her beautiful planet.

This means I choose non-disposable products. My glass water bottle holds only water and can be filled nearly anywhere. That being said, sometimes I needed more than twelve ounces between gas stops. Looking with a sharp eye, it's possible to find Pellegrino in cans or glass. Kudos to Love’s for carrying one non-plastic type of water. My red insulated cup gets filled with coffee or hot tea in hotels or anywhere else. This avoids styrofoam and heavy plastic lids. In addition to my silver fork, spoon, and knife that is kept in the glove compartment, I carry a handy dandy utensil, often used by campers, that has all three uses in one! A few cloth napkins on a little tray allows me to snack while driving without making too big of a mess. This little tray also helped keep my printed driving directions on my lap for easy access. I remember to take my cell phone everywhere and it’s just as easy to bring along the beverage of my choice. Just like the clothing, easy peasy!

At the start of 2019, I began practicing an online kundalini yoga set with Dawn Rabey.

Not wanting to begin something new while traveling, I decided before I left for my trip that this was the set I’d practice morning and evening while journeying. Boy, am I glad I did! I loved being with my out-of-state family and friends for unrushed quality time. Yet it was also challenging to be out of my own home and routine for such a long period of time. This practice helped keep me grounded and focused and accepting of the traveling challenges. Was it perfect? Absolutely not. I felt ungrounded, without grace, equanimity, and focus at times. The degree of discomfort was certainly minimized because of my practice. Thank you, You Tube, for your support in providing me with an audio/visual to keep my yoga practice going regardless of location.

My nearly three month journey comes to a close this week.

Unpacking and setting up my new home feels wonderful. Enthusiasm for a brand new chapter of my life is on the rise. Let the creative, inspired, and uplifting odyssey unfold!

Love,

Lisa L.