Embracing the present in North Central Arizona

Our north central Arizona family visit was amazing and quite confusing at the same time.  The beauty and the energy of the red rocks were capturing my eyes and my awe.

We enjoyed the art scene in Sedona and checked out the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff. We drove to the Meteor Crater near Flagstaff and were fascinated by the large size of the vast cavity in the ground.

Strangely, I felt upset, but I couldn’t figure out what the problem was. Thoughts of death and dying, if such a size meteor or larger hit earth again and how we might all no longer be here, had affected me.

But, there was more to it. It wasn’t just about life and death or the end of humanity. Seeing the unique beauty intermixed with the danger of what is beyond our control, made me realize how much I was missing in my ordinary days.  All this available and unique beauty will be accessible to me for just a few days.  I would get busy with work and day-to-day life and would not be able to ponder about the broader picture of life.

How could this be? Why couldn’t I explore all the time?

All these questions overwhelmed me and affected how I was experiencing the environment around me. I forgot about the present moment and focused on the lack rather than what was surrounding me.

We kept exploring and I eventually calmed down and enjoyed the landscape and the family time. And I was glad I did, as being with my family was too precious of a time to lose sight of.

But, I realized on that trip, that a change was necessary.  There must not be such separation, so much to put aside and not address.  The difference in what I thought and felt should not be limited to a few moments in life. I needed to be more in tune with my inner self, with my soul, with the universe.

Parto Dehdashti