Are you really happy? - and other things

"Are you really happy?" "I love your life. How do you do it?" "I live vicariously through you" etc etc... These are all things that have been said to me over the years. Yes, they are lovely, but not all have been. "You can really be a b****." - said in relation to when my boundaries are being pushed and I state my feelings around that. "You're not a good friend when you say things like that" - said in relation to when asked for my opinion about something.

And then today, I came across a post shared by a friend. I have modified it in order to include those that it was excluding and hopefully it 1) helps inspire others to love the life that they are living and have been blessed with, and if not, to then change what they don't like about their lives; and 2) helps others understand how I live the life that I have been blessed with.

Some of these are easier than others, and we will each have things that speak to us stronger than others (and perhaps none will speak to you) but I feel that there is such importance in sharing of these thoughts and processes that may be of use to others.
It's all a growth process and some days are harder than others, but this post by my friend was a great reminder of the things that I like to work on.

Thank you all for continuing to be on this journey with me. I hold much love in my heart for each of you.
Besos!


To invent one’s own life and to live it according to one’s vision requires the companion qualities of imagination and courage.

Be autonomous. Seek no one’s approval and listen to our own counsel. Answer to no one. Try not to impress anyone. Let your work speak for itself. Never make excuses and rarely offer explanations for your actions. Try not to be defensive so as to not be threatened by what other people may think of you. You are in control of your own life and this is reflected in your demeanor.

Be passionate. This shows a palpable energy and enthusiasm that is contagious and beneficial to those around you. In esoteric terms, you will raise the vibration in a group situation. You will inspire others.

Continually learn and evolve.

Be authentic. The mask that you present to the outside world is the same as your innermost heart. Learn to express your emotions cleanly and healthily. What you see is what you get. Know your own truth. Do not impose your truth on others, but share your wisdom when invited to.

Take care of yourself. Do not expect others to take care of you. Treat yourself as well as you would your best friend. Be compassionate and forgiving with yourself and others. Get enough rest and give your body the right fuel – both in oxygen and in food and water. Know what you need. Feed your soul.

Be committed to healing the earth and work towards peace and understanding – whether it is on a large scale or simply within your family and closest circle of friends. Contribute to cleaning up the environment and teach the next generation to do likewise.

See your body (and the earth) as sacred, and be in tune with natural cycles. Be comfortable with your sexuality.

Learn balance and patience. Flow and ebb. Waxing and waning. Try not to stress during ebb and waning times. Use it wisely for rest, reflection, and planning.

Trust your intuition and inner knowing. Learn to tap into this source at will.

Learn to let go of the need to control the flow of the river. Discover the futility of trying too hard. Learn to ride the wave and go with the flow, to ask for and accept when required. Be flexible, fluid, and adaptable. Give up the need to control or manipulate. Do not pout or whine when you do not get your way.

Communicate your boundaries. Be gentle but firm when your boundaries are violated. Respect others’ boundaries. Ask for clarification when necessary.

Recognize and honour others. Lend your support to the work of others. Do not feel competitive or threatened by others, and understand that what is good for one is good for all and that when one shines, the light benefits all. Know how to share and be generous of spirit, but know your limitations and do not give more than what you can afford – emotionally, financially, physically, or energy-wise.

Find the natural state of joy and gratitude. Be at home with your shadow and honestly mourn your losses and explore your fears. Understand that everyone experiences pain – it is a part of life on earth. Therefore work through your own pain with courage and dignity, do not try to sidestep it, or numb it, but go through it and learn from it.

Try to learn to be comfortable with death, and learn to let go… of relationships, concepts, and material possessions that are worn out, or that no longer serve as growth.

From 1,525 metres to 5,000 metres, what a difference a week can make…

A visit by my sister prompted the planning of a couple of different trips outside of La Paz.

COROICO!
The weekend started with a planned trip with 7 friends to Coroico, a town located in the north Yungas region, just 2 to 3 hours away from La Paz, and a great way for my sister to acclimatize to the altitude. 5 of us decided to take the option of riding bikes down the infamous Death Road that winds its way from La Cumbre pass (4,650m), a short 1hr drive away from La Paz, all the way to Coroico (1,525m).
Along Calle Saganarga in La Paz, you can find numerous companies who offer this bike trip. We decided to go with Altitude Biking, a part of Altitude Adventures, located just a few blocks away from San Francisco church on Calle Santa Cruz.
Our trip was fantastic! Even with rainy starts, we made our way down the paved road at the start and then onto the Death Road – a narrow, winding road that has steep drops of hundreds of metres to one side, and often passes under waterfalls. We were soaking wet through multiple layers of clothing, mud-caked faces, but grinning ear to ear. The only things that I would recommend bringing are two pairs of glasses: a clear pair if the roads are muddy as this will help keep the mud out of your eyes as you head down the hills, and a tinted pair for when the sun peaks through the clouds.
Two guides (one who shoots photos throughout most of the trip) and a support van accompany you throughout the entire trip. The van carries food, water, and all of your belongings so you don’t have to worry about carrying any extra weight, or breaking your camera. The trip ends with hot showers, a lunch buffet, and pool time at a private resort.
Our group of friends decided to rent a house for the weekend, complete with our own pool, a couple of hammocks and parrilla (a wicked outdoor bbq set up) to use. I would highly recommend that anyone who is looking to rent a place to check this one out; although a little away from town, Villa Saracena was a fantastic home away from home.

3-DAY SALT FLATS TOUR DURING SEMANA SANTA
A must see in my opinion are the salt flats of Uyuni, complete with a tour around the flamingo filled coloured lakes in the south, volcanoes, sleeping in a salt hotel, and bathing in hot springs.
We decided that since it was Semana Santa (a.k.a Easter weekend) – and that a lot of people would be travelling during that time – that the best thing would be to book our tour from La Paz even though it ends up being more expensive as we would be guaranteed spots on a tour on the days that we were looking for. As our experience with Altitude Biking was a great one, we decided to once again book with Altitude Adventures for both the transportation down to Uyuni and the 3-say tour from Uyuni around the salt flats. Our overnight transportation was booked with the company Todo Turismo, who, not only include a light dinner upon leaving La Paz and a light breakfast upon arrival in Uyuni, but who also run on time. The 3-day tour was booked with the family-run tour company called Lago Minchin who were absolutely excellent. Our group consisted of my sister and I, two girls from the United States, and a lovely couple from Australia/New Zealand. Our tour guide Ollalio (or uncle as we affectionately called him in the end) grew up in the area and provided us with all kinds of stories about his youth. His years of experience as a truck driver were definitely present during the 3 days, and although he did not speak English, he connected with everyone in our group and made sure that everyone was comfortable at all times – even when one of us had forgotten her passport back at first hotel that we had stayed at. Our cook Livia (or maybe it was Lucia?) was fantastic. She took care of us like any aunt would, and was always looking out for us at all times. She made sure to point out any fauna or flora that we came across, and provided all kinds of information about the area.
By the end of the 3 days, we had formed a little family of various Anglophones with our Tio and Tia. I would highly recommend booking with Lago Minchin if you are looking for a close-knit, well-organized tour – but be aware that if you are not comfortable with your Spanish level, you will probably miss out on explanations about the scenery but that you will always be well taken care of.