Call me Julie, the Pied Piper. I have a tendency to enjoy going on wacky adventures. My friends know this and usually it is willingly they join me on such adventures.
This weekend, my friends Tish, Jared and I found ourselves in the middle of the Mighty Kern river. It is actually known for its rock-and-rolling-rapids and seemingly peaceful stretches that have quite an undertow.
For those of you who don't know, California has been experiencing a significant drought and our beautiful Kern has been impacted. The strangest thing happened on Saturday, though, as we set out to go hiking for Tish's birthday and wound up playing in the river after a very short hike.
We were able to literally walk to the middle of what is normally roaring and sit on a sandbar and boulders that are normally submerged in white water.
We left our shoes by the side of the river beach and waded in.
It felt like heaven on earth, again.
The river feels like to me a lot, even in our middle-of-the-city stretches of the river. I have been known to sit in the completely empty riverbed and still feel the river.
This was even more glorious.
I wrote in my notebook, feeling my way into the sacred feeling the river gave me.
I rested back on a boulder that appeared to be placed there especially for me. It fit me perfectly!
Jared found a spot to rest, too. We all found our own version of heaven in the river.
What felt especially bold about this experience was it was off the beaten path. We parked along the highway and then had to go down a really steep trail. I treated it like a slide, actually, not giving much thought to how I would get back up.
I just knew I was going to get down. I was going to play in the river. I was going to have a phenomenal time. I was going to get back up and back to Bakersfield in time to facilitate a writing workshop.
I did all of that.
If I had thought about it, I probably wouldn't have done it. I wouldn't have thought I could.
I am reminded how boldness is often an "in the moment" thing. I can't plan for it, I simply need to be present for it, always. When the boldness-doorbell-rings, answer it.
That goes for you, too.
Your next adventure is calling.
When the bell rings, answer.
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Julie Jordan Scott is a writer, performance poet, Mommy and mixed-media artist. Coming soon - more creativity camps, playgrounds and workshops to grow yourself artistically (and hey, just for fun!)
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© 2014 - Julie Jordan Scott - all rights reserved
This post is a part of the ongoing series for 31 Days challenge. I will be writing 31 blog stories about bold choices and using a bold voice....
I started the challenge late, so this is my fourth story. I hope to be caught up tomorrow. I actually have managed to be bold a lot in the last few days and plan to follow my adventures right here in this series.
The question is making sure to carve out the time and to document it all in a way you'll enjoy reading about bold choices in a most authentic, real-me voice.
I'm grateful you are reading.
