My arbitrary decision to stop to sit and read became a real pleasure that I want to hold onto. I sat down to eat and sip at my coffee, and a pair of women nearby struck up a conversation that started with a compliment on my bag and turned into a wonderful conversation

I’ve officially turned Eastward and bid the Pacific Ocean farewell. I’m happy to be leaving the city behind for the next week and heading out to the desert and mountains again. I’m feeling sad to shift phases of this trip to one that’s promising fewer friends to see. And I’m excited to be on my own in nature again.

Today’s post is a photo story in 3 museum exhibitions.

1. Alice Neel: People Come First

2. James Turrell, Three Gems

3. Guo Pei: Couture Fantasy

It’s been a long time since I’ve spent a whole day in an art museum, and I came away with the fuzzy-headed feeling of having soaked up thought-provoking and visually interesting material all day long.

I like serendipity, and sometimes it happens best when I loosen the reins and welcome in whatever comes my way. It’s one of the easiest ways for me to be present in the moment, when these little bonus things happen.

It felt really needed and welcome to spend a day pretty much totally at restorative rest. I’m about to head back into an urban space for a few days, and I’ve been on two significant hiking days in the past week, and and I’ve been on the road for almost a month and a half at this point.

And, most importantly, I don’t have to justify my desire for rest to myself.

I love the sublime. The philosophical, literary kind of sublime. Where you feel insignificantly tiny in the face of natural forces immensely greater than yourself. Where you’re awed and overwhelmed and emotionally moved and maybe a little terrified, too.

Yosemite does all of that with its trees and rocks and waterfalls and generally spectacular landscape.

I’m listening to my body and my energy levels and resting. I’m taking to heart the affirmation I wrote for myself this week: This is your trip, no matter what you do or do not see.

Tomorrow, I’m checking out of my gorgeous A-frame Airbnb outside of Yosemite, and I don’t know where I’m going to sleep at the end of the day. And I feel fine about that.

Instead, I’m going to reminisce about how cool driving through Yosemite Valley was, seeing waterfalls and ice-covered rocks and towering cliffs and post-fire trees.

I hope this trip can continue to help me embrace the undefined time. The trip is bringing me joy and discovery and connection, and I’ve let go of much of my natural organizing drive. May that serve as a model for life writ large. Undefined and evolving is where I need to be right now.