As our adventure comes to an end I find myself trying to summarize the lessons I have learned and somehow find a way to bring the changes and growth forward into my everyday life.

I have learned that everyone needs a certain amount of daily silence in their life with no distractions once so ever and I find that we do everything we can to fill every waking moment with errands, motion, chatter, computers, cell phones, blackberries, television, radio whatever back ground noise we can as if we are afraid to listen to our own voice which tends to only visit in silence. I will try my best to find those few minutes every day to listen to my heart.

I know now that one must lose themselves completely to find themselves (which I have done several times on this journey ).

I know after living with very little space and material things that somehow I long for more simplicity in my life and less stuff….

I have learned with my spouse that communication becomes communion and that has taken our relationship to a whole new level.

I want to be at peace with myself and the things I cannot control.

My travels have brought me into contact with people that I may normally not have socialized with because of our differences. I will try to connect with new people and be open to what message they may have to offer.

I believe there are no such things as coincidences and that the people I have met and the lessons I have learned have been sent to me directly.

I definitely have a new found connection to nature and the outdoors; although I think this was always there, but to spend most of our time outside everyday for the last 6 months in all different kinds of weather has really made me appreciate the beauty of our planet that I sometimes take for granted. I read this great story about a 75 year old lady that still body surfs everyday in San Francisco with no wetsuit..now that is crazy…she says the secret to being happy is to get close to the earth and I believe her. I will try to maintain this attachment I have made with nature. I will try to spend a bit of time outdoors every day…even if it is to just gaze at the stars in the evening on our deck and let them fill me .

I will try to lose myself in my every day chores the way I have during this time off. I hope to find myself whistling and singing as I go about my chores and not see them as just another task I have to complete. Also I hope to let go of the nagging sense that stuff must be done right now when I really want to spend that time doing something fun with Bill or a friend.

I noticed during our time off that when people are on vacation they are always smiling and friendly to strangers and greet you with a warm hello… why can’t we maintain this attitude and openness in everyday life.....we can if we try right?

I want to show gratitude daily by speaking it. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well (Voltaire)

Stop multitasking ---as it is a sign of not being present to the moment.

I want to be a friend that knows how to listen completely.

I want to take my challenges and use them as an opportunity to learn and grow...you gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. Do the thing you think you can not do (Eleanor Roosevelt)..I do this every time I get in the water...hehe..

I think back to one night in Hatteras when I was talking with Lucky Luc (our friend from Montreal who has been on the road for 3 years now in his small motor home) and asked him if he really believed Bill and I would have done this trip had we not been surrounded by adventurous friends and he placed his hands on his heart and answered me in his thick French accent “yes…it was always in here…this adventure….it is just the beginning for you my friend…”

=LIFE BALANCE

I AM HOME AND ANXIOUS TO SEE ALL MY FRIENDS!!!