Seeds of Change

Since I moved out here to California, I have felt inspired to write. Part of that inspiration came from my re-discovered passion for hiking. I have hiked over 20 mountains and peaks since I've arrived. Hiking helps me on so many different levels. Most of all it helps me to clear out my mind. To get rid of the clutter and stagnation.
So, my blog will begin with a writing from my hike up Pyles' Peak on August 10, 2007. These were my thoughts on that day....
It was a much needed hike, I was feeling too much emotional stress and needed to work it through my body. I definitely am getting in better shape, feels so good to breathe deep, sweat a lot and be able to keep on moving. I thought a lot about the stages of change and how difficult the initial stages can be when one has struggled to be successful in the past.
Change begins with an idea, a simple thought of doing something different. A single sprout, a positive thought. The idea is a very significant yet very small piece of the puzzle. Without action, regret will soon settle in, nearly damming the initial thought for change. This can become a dangerous cycle of getting stuck in thought without action, thus leading to a cycle of regrets and failures of things undone. Futher discouraging the participant from wanting to act again, thus staying stuck in the self defeating thought only pattern…..living only in mind, a very heavy mind.
It is neccessary to break free of this heavy mind. Find one aspect you want to expand on, just one thought, one idea. Take this one thought, this one idea and allow your mind to expand upon it in any direction it chooses to go. Do not allow the limits of you mind and/or your doubts to creep in. Continue to allow this thought, this seed of change to grow.
Getting back to the hike.......
As I Approached the top of the mountain, I started to see the blackened trees and ashes all around. There was a brush fire last week. It began with a tiny little amber that occurred with a mix of sunshine, heat and other friction unknown. Its amazing how one little spark can expand so far out. It happens either way, you can burn the forest or you can water it down, expansion happens in all directions and it can happen so quickly with just a little tiny beginning spark of action!