Dear Isaac, Maia and Virtual Wanderers,

Today was a day to wait out the late winter storm in a hotel room in our extended back yard.  It was a day to sleep in, visit my favorite nursery in the 4-corners, text family and friends, catch-up on social media, and walk doggos around town. Sometimes, it’s good to have a rest day. The distance hiker, Mary Davidson, whose books I’ve read talks about rest days. I’ll have more momentum to check out a couple more stops tomorrow. And to unpack.

It was a day to contemplate eudaimonia and my spring road trip. Eudaimonia is about purpose or meaning. My trips became meaningful when my time with family shrunk. They gave me something to look forward to. They are a thread through different 4 full-time jobs and retirement/entrepreneuring. A thread through 6 different rescue dog companions. They take me to places I consider deeply spiritually connected to. Someone, please take my ashes to Canyon de Chelly, Petrified Forest, Catalina State Park  . . . All the stops. Release me to be here blowing in the wind forever.

Eudaimonia also means living according to one’s personal convictions or autonomy. There is nothing more autonomous than a solo (with fur kids) road trip in my mind.  Eudaimonia is also about using our strengths to leverage personal growth. I’m curious, creative, optimistic with an appreciation of nature. It’s like my strengths are in high gear and my life lessons from travel permanently etched in my brain. The road trip is the highlight of my year. Way better than Christmas.

Eudaimonia is about positive management of life situations. What better way to do that than to stretch our comfort zone?  Depth of relationships is also part of eudaimonia. Sharing my trips with family, friends, and through my art is a huge door opener. Lastly, it’s about accepting one’s self.  I find time in the car staring out at the landscape is a great time for self reflection and to find new acceptance for myself and life in general.

Does eudaimonia end when I pull into the driveway? No! Every day, I will reflect on the trip. I’ll make art from my photography. I’ll keep taking small adventures all warm season. I’ll watch the plants I bought grow and bloom. I’ll hang Southwestern ornaments on my tree. The energy stays with me all year.

Arizona Eudaimonia is my new catch phrase for eudaimonia created by exploring. Tomorrow, we head home. Hopefully via the road less traveled. I find more eudaimonia there.

Mu reference article: Eudaimonia | Positive Psychology Concept Series