A Thought Can Change Your Mind
A Smile Can Change Your Day
Heartfelt Words Can Change the World
Join me as I share my thoughts, words, photos, and insight about things I love!
 Hello Stranger, have I met you before? So familiar, easy conversation, heartfelt caring, then I wonder...how could this be? This is our first time meeting! When I experience a meeting like this I know that it was not by chance but meant to be. Would you call it deja vu, kindred spirits meeting again in this time and space, or something else? What you call it isn't as important as the experience as it unfolds. A few months ago this happened to me on a trip photographing the Utah National Parks. A travel opportunity came, a deal hard to pass up, so I grabbed it. What's in St. George, Utah I wondered? Am I crazy---just came back from Hawaii and off to New Mexico in a month! No, not crazy since I love travel, but something was urging me to go. Three days later I was in the land of gorgeous rock formations and breathtaking landscapes. My home base in St. George is a gateway to Bryce, Zion, Grand Canyon North Rim, and amazing National Monuments. If you haven't been to Southern Utah it is a must see and must experience place. A night of crashing thunder and hail in the early morning convinced me to stay in town instead of exploring elsewhere. So off to Historical Downtown St. George, where I browsed through quaint shops and art galleries in renovated houses. Then I met my "stranger". A lady looked up and smiled as we entered the gallery. The pretty, slender, energetic lady, the gallery owner, was busy talking to an artist. "Do you want to go with us to my other gallery, she said?" We followed her next door and as I walked in she said "That is a beautiful pendant, if I say it out loud it won't be coveting, it's so beautiful. " I thought, coveting is an odd thing to say. Then my rock hound mind kicked in "It's crysophrase, a stone for healing your heart" In a while Jane shared a "game" with me "Which is your favorite painting? Pretend that everything costs $1.00. Do this when you visit galleries, I do!" As we walked from one room to another looking at paintings she felt familiar, talking, comfortable then she said again "Your pendant is so amazingly beautiful!" I looked at her eyes and said " This crystal heals your heart, its for the heart chakra." Something amazing happened, I felt a surge of loving care and closeness as we spoke. It was as if I already knew her and my words about crystals and healing were meant for her. In that moment when our spirits touched, she said " I just had heart surgery, I don't believe in coincidence, we met for a reason." And so we did. We both felt that we met before in some place or some space. A lady told me recently that when she gets strong out of the ordinary urges to do or go somewhere she follows her instinct instead of rationalizing it away. When she opens up to her intuition, then things happen that she never expected or imagined. My trip to Utah was like that, with the strong urge to go, last minute, unplanned, seemingly irrational. I was amazed at the beauty I experienced that week in nature, parks, monuments, and the breathtaking landscapes. I am grateful for the journey and thankful for my new sister as I learned again to say "Hello Stranger, have we met before?" What about you? Will you listen to your inner voice and instincts...get out of that comfort zone...open up to new possibilities and new places? Maybe you will say "Hello Stranger" too! Sending you love and Light! Linda NAMASTE  Maybe you are like me with a love of adventure and the travel bug. Interesting, my next adventure tends to take me to foreign places while wonders are right under my nose. Take a look at the picture in this post---is it from Japan or China? No, not at all as I took it in San Marino, CA at the Huntington Library.
When I get traveled fatigued and yearn for my home and my own bed I find myself searching for places to take pics or visit. Did you know that a google search on local things to do yields the most interesting results? Try free or near free things to do with kids in the area you live. Photographic spots in Southern Ca. or your local area or city. A search of local museums, events, or festivals will yield a great number of spots to see in your local area that range from pricey to near nothing or free.. Whether you are a parent or grandparent, a photography buff, or just looking for something to do---the world is open to you with things you may have never seen right under your nose. Recently my photographer friends went out shooting in Riverside, CA which is close to where I live. I missed the shoot because I was sick after a long trip. When I viewed the pictures they posted I wondered "Where is this place, I never saw that before?" ---funny as I have lived in the area for decades! I missed interesting places right under my nose! Have you noticed that people who live in a city rarely visit their local attractions? I am referring to not only the big ones such as Disneyland if you live in Southern CA but places like you local botanical gardens, your local downtown or historical town area, wildflower reserves, or National, State or local parks and wildlife areas. We visit our must see attractions when we have visitors to entertain from out of town. For me Joshua Tree National Park is an hour drive, a place I missed for decades and now visit yearly because of its breathtaking beauty. Stretch your imagination as you stretch your places to travel and experience. Stop and experience the wonders right under your nose! |
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Join me in sharing your thoughts, ideas, interests on Heart Chatter Art blog...I am an author, worldwide traveler, photographer, speaker and love the arts. Categories
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