Hello,
And welcome to this place,
Wherever in the world you find yourself.
It's exciting to be somewhere new.
The travel continuum from departure to arrival can be stressful and tiresome,
But you made it.
Hopefully,
Your luggage did,
Too.
Take a moment here to settle in.
Maybe it's a chair or a seat you're not used to.
Shift around a bit.
Get some of your fidgets out,
Especially if you're excited or nervous about being somewhere new.
And as you're getting settled,
Quickly take notice of the room that you're in.
Just look around your new surroundings.
And when you've done that,
Gently close your eyes or soften your gaze,
Whatever is most comfortable.
To quiet your mind and connect with the present,
Find your breath.
Feel the air move through your nose,
Into your chest,
And down into a softening belly.
And at your own pace,
Take three nice,
Slow,
Deep breaths,
In and out.
And as you watch your breath and settle in,
Tune into your ears.
What do you hear in this new place?
Are there sounds you've noticed near or far?
Sounds that are different from where you came from or started your day?
Are there any smells?
Perhaps a smell that connects you to somewhere else,
Somewhere known?
And if there are no smells or sounds,
That's okay.
You can listen to the sound of my voice and continue to notice your breath as it comes in and out.
Now I invite you to bring your mind's eye back to your new surroundings.
With your eyes still closed,
Can you recreate and see the room or space that you are in?
Having your body grounded in and settled in and noticing how present you are in this new place.
And I'd like you to think about what your intention is while you spend time here.
Is it to relax?
To explore?
To indulge?
To work?
To learn?
To escape?
Maybe all of the above.
Who do you want to be in this place?
Imagine your factory settings have just been restored and you get to choose.
What do you have to offer here and who do you want to be?
What part will you play in this new ecosystem?
Is it to leave no trace?
To carry out what you've carried in?
Or do you want to be remembered or make an impact even in a small act of kindness with someone that you interact with in the next day or two?
I'm going to read you an excerpt from a poem by Antonio Machado titled Traveler,
Your Footprints.
Traveler,
Your footprints are the only road,
Nothing else.
Traveler,
There is no road.
You make your own path as you walk.
As you walk,
You make your own road,
And when you look back,
You see the path you will never travel again.
Traveler,
There is no road,
Only a ship's wake on the sea.
In the coming days,
As you ride the wake on the sea that is daily living,
Imagine the positive impact your mindful presence will have,
Setting an intention to be kind or gracious or curious for those you'll encounter here,
Those who call this place home.
And when you're ready to set about with your unique footprints,
Bring some movement back into your body,
Back into your feet,
Your legs,
Your waist,
Your torso,
Your heart,
Reconnecting with the excitement for all that awaits you in the coming minutes,
Hours,
And days.
Enjoy your time in this new place,
And wishing you well.
