Dharma

The word Dharma exited my husband's lips today. This is a word that had only heretofore been uttered in conjunction with "& Greg" in our days of Thursday night TV. However, today after lunch in combination with his unprecedented purchase of the eight dollar Sports Illustrated Boston Bruins Stanley Cup edition he proclaimed his Dharma. Jeff has decided that he wants to be the private pilot for the Bruins. Not a far stretch really. Just last week he had the privilege of flying the Mets to Los Angeles.

I told him I didn't think he'd be able to do it. His tears of joy would eclipse his view of the controls...totally unsafe. He smiled. I would love it if he could combine his passions of flying and Bruins hockey.

My Dharma? In as much as my position of SuperMom is concerned I have found peace in making school lunches, never ending laundry, kissing boo-boos, ever ready supply of Band-Aids, clean sweeping toys off of the kitchen counter into the trash, mowing, walking the dog, etc. My pure dharma is in finding the symbolism, the now, the love in everything.

Making dinner still has not made the list.

My morning walks with the dog are nice. It is time to reflect, listen and enjoy the silence. It is 80/20 ratio of joy to guilt. Those sad puppy eyes are too much for me to bear. As I set out on my morning trek I decide what type of walk I desire. Is it going to be the walk up onto the finely manicured, sunny lawns of Crawford lane or the wise canopy of the Appalachian Trail? More often than not I am drawn to tree hugging and stream wading on the trail. I love the peace I find in the forest.

Once in a while I pass a through-hiker going the other direction on their way to Maine as I make my way clockwise on my circuit. Without impeding their progress I offer a smile and a passing inquiry as to how many days they have spent on their journey. They keep walking, return the smile and issue their accomplishment to date. You feel a skip in their stride with the knowledge that they are half way there. There is no turning back. They are All In.

I spotted "All In" (trail name) as I descended Hoyt Road just entering my trail head. The decision to enter and walk with him or alter my course was determined effortlessly. Greetings of a "good morning" fell on his ears before we surprised  him with a wet dog nose. His open smile, eyes and heart revealed the seeker status that is so enchanting on this path of life. You can find it on a subway or the supermarket but not nearly as often. This seems to be a enduring quality of the through-hiker; The Universe is coursing through their veins.

All In and I shared 30 minutes of philosophy, metaphysics and life stories. A six month severance package propelled him into a clearly defined life-opportunity to hike the AT. Carefully segmented days will deliver him in Maine by September 15th. Kola walked without tugging on his leash knowing that this divinely orchestrated meeting needed to be savored. The several day's prior All In had been questioning his purpose. I believe we found him a better feeling space at the end of our 30 minute hike. His subsequent blogs on trailjournals.com, appreciative email from his sister Connie and thank-you voice mail have been the most blessed highlight of my days; My Dharma of Holistic Life & Soul Coaching so clearly acknowledged by the brief encounter with a new friend on the path of life.

It was like meeting God on the Trail.

So my question to you is, What is your Dharma? Find it, Love it, Live it, Breathe it, DO IT!

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs are people who have come alive." Howard Thurman

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