Blossoming in Banff
In sitting down to describe my experience in the Canadian Rockies, I feel a little stuck. It’s as if the emotions conjured up while treading through pure white snow, sweating through my pores and fogging up my glasses has somehow retracted back into me and suddenly lodged in my throat. In an effort to reconnect with those feelings and my newfound inspiration, I returned home to wash everything in sight, rearrange a couple rooms and rid myself of futile clutter to make space for enlightenment.
Still, I’m feeling slightly confined. Is it possible to truly bring back the completely uninhibited feeling of freedom that came over my body while standing on top of a mountain? To capture pristine blue lakes, miles of powder-covered pine trees…to breathe in the purest of air and not hear one damn thing around me besides the whispers of nature, herself? Let’s back it up and start from the top.
Normally, I would be opposed to leaving Michigan during autumn where my body and spirit come alive. So heading north and jumping right into the freezing season I typically despise would usually yield the fastest “no” I’d ever say but this time, I knew that fifty-six layers of clothing would be totally worth it. Actually, I take that back: I did say no to this Wandering Roots retreat. Twice. But mostly because I knew that my schedule would be reaching almost insanity status in my personal and professional life surrounding the trip. Nevertheless, after a death in the family, I was reminded that this was an offer I would NEVER get again when my FIL, a pilot, randomly brought up extraordinary Banff a couple days after I thought that I had made my final decision on not going.
I was wrong. He was right. I scrambled to get my passport renewed, clients rescheduled, songs for the studio written and demoed and almost as no time had passed at all, I was on a plane to Calgary International Airport. Winter be damned.
Upon touchdown, our retreat hostess with the fucking mostess (who is subsequently one of my best friends and maybe I’m a little biased but whatever) swooped up half of the housemates: Claudia, Elise and the four hundred camera lenses she brought (you know her from Mod Bettie, right?) We made our journey to Banff, a small resort town in Alberta, Canada in the middle of Banff National Park. In under two hours, we arrived at a large house that could sleep 23 people…which was just enough room for the six of us…to sleep in a different bed each night. We met with Sondra, the resident WERQ and fitness instructor, and Abbey, our personal chef for the week. Though there were a few issues with flights and luggage, the rest of the trip went swimmingly (note: always bring extra underwear in your carry-on and call the airport every hour JUST to annoy them when no one has any answers of your luggage whereabouts.) Between meditation, journaling, yoga, dancing, the spa and some INCREDIBLE meals crafted by miss Abbey, we did actually find time to do some hiking. About 13 miles worth, to be a little more exact.
Honestly, I would love to get into the details of each adventure we partook in during our trip but I feel the photos explain more than a couple puny words could. So please enjoy:
So…could I feel this alive again? So liberated? So wholly moved by gratitude?
Perhaps the exertion is in vain. It’s impossible to actually feel like you are 7000 ft above sea level when you are no longer there, however, you don’t forget how insignificant yet incredibly strong you felt when you were. An adventure like this has the ability to change your perspective. A shift in perspective can change your life, likely whether you are ready and accepting of it or not.
We have such a limited amount of time on this planet. I couldn’t be more encouraging of you to pick up and go. Not to run away from your problems with hopes of something new or to leave your worries behind but instead to face those challenges with a fresh frame of mind. Just like our bodies, our brains are capable of doing incredible things when exercised and offered challenges.
Don’t waste away standing still. We were made to move. Get wandering.
