Filling Our G.A.S. Tanks Together

Inspiration can be defined as: (1) The act or power of arousing the mind and emotions with uplifting music. (2) A clever idea. (3) A thought that moves someone to act, create, or feel emotion.  Gifts of compassion, music, whimsical insights, and profound experiences are often a direct result of the acts of Love in action that are bestowed on ourselves and/or others in the NOW moment because of the inspirational stories we create and share.  In 2006 Dr. Wayne Dyer came out with his book Inspiration: Your Ultimate Calling.  A combination of discovering this book and Josie and I having dinner with Jim Brandenburg (National Geographic photographer) at the Blue Heron Bed and Breakfast in Ely, Minnesota and Jim telling me to “write your book”, is the reason (or perhaps better said, Inspiration) for my completing my first book Inspiration Point: Discovering Peace Within. I’m eternally grateful to these two inspirational role models. So, I invite you to join me on this Inspirational Natures G.A.S. Adventure and together we’ll assist each other in filling our G.A.S. Tanks.  Over the past several months I’ve written and re-written this blog more than I care to admit.  The people, the stories, and feelings I want to share keeps changing within each re-write. While my intention remains the same, to plant seeds of Peace, Hope and Inspiration within you the reader, it would be inauthentic of me if I were to convey the impression that the pandemic has had little if any negative affect on me, quit the contrary in fact.  At times it feels as if I could not have fallen any deeper into the dark and painful abyss defined as depression.  Although I’ve experienced and learned new ways of perceiving, interacting, and coping with the outer world, Being Human is and will always be a challenge no matter how enlightened one may feel as the awareness from within strengthens the heart, mind, and body connection.  Regardless of where you live, work, volunteer, play or travel, the concept of G.A.S. is an individual universal concept that will help heal planet Earth one Tank at a time.  It is the “Free Fuel for Life” that when manifested from within the “Now” moment and experienced, expressed and/or shared without expectations will gift you with surprises beyond your wildest dreams and imagination.  One of the best ways to achieve and sustain a healthy state of “Being G.A.S.ed up” is to journal your G.A.S. daily. Also as promised, I’ll be highlighting some of the people and businesses that have helped, Fill-Us-Up, here in Durango.  The year 2020 will be remembered as one of the craziest and perhaps the most transformative times ever recorded in human history.  Well, all I can say is, welcome to my world, a world that is scary, nutty, extremely bizarre, dangerous, and sometimes lethal!  It is also a world filled with mysterious, miraculous, and awe-inspiring events, people, and places!  Perhaps it could be defined as the experiential paradoxes of a Human Life in an infinite “Now” moment.  It could also be simply stated as, “It Is what It Is, until It Isn’t!”  In 2006 Josie and I visited Unity of the Valley Spiritual Center in Savage, Minnesota in an attempt to seek answers to, “what the heck is happing to me?!”, because I was most definitely losing my mind.  We met many wonderful and interesting people within that community, many of which who have become our closest and dearest friends who continued to teach, inspire, and support each other.  One such friend I’d like to tell you about is Larry Vorwerk.  Larry is a retired Minnesota Zoo Zookeeper, a man of deep unshakable faith, a humble, courageous, and generous old soul with a childlike Spirit.  Allow me to explain what makes him so courageous. For starters, like myself having Josie by my side, he has a life partner (Nita) that loves, encourages, and supports him 100%.  Second, he has overcome his fear (most of the time is my assumption) of what others might think or say about him by sharing his passion for life with all who are ready to do some serious self-examination without judgment or criticism.  Whether it be in his daily routine activities or within his regular postings on his Facebook page, he exemplifies my definition of Inspiration. Third, like me, he self-published his own book called “The Bartholomew Effect: Awakening to Oneness” describing some of his extraordinary mystical experiences, personal insights, and ancient wisdom.   Like Larry, however you choose to share your passion, truth, and wisdom, whether it be social media, public speaking, writing a blog, a book, or a letter, if shared from the heart, will be one of the scariest, if not life-threatening things you’ll do, while paradoxically be the most gratifying, inspiring, and self-empowering thing you’ve ever done.  When I first met Larry back in 2006, he had not yet published his book, he did however have a stack of paper stapled together he’d written titled, “What IF”.  Having just met him, his offering me his mystical muses felt more like the passing of a top-secret document because of his added verbal confidentiality agreement, his version of a hand-shaken non-disclosure agreement and him telling me, “This it is not to be shared with anyone else!”.  To be honest, when I first read it, my first thought was, this guy is off his rocker, totally nuts!  Well, you may have heard the saying, “Birds of a feather flock together”, I’m proud and honored to say, not only do Larry and I flock together, but we fly in some of the same dimensions (not of this world) together.  Thank you, Larry, for truly sensing who, I AM and opening your heart and stories to me.  We have come along way together overcoming our fear of sharing ourselves and our stories with the world.  Doing so encourages and inspires others to BE and share their true authentic courageous selves regardless of what others may think, say and/or do to them.  I’m sharing this story about Larry because I recently purchased a used book at a local consignment shop called “What IF”, The Challenge of Self-realization, by Eldon Taylor.  You might not agree with what Mr. Taylor writes, in fact, it might even piss you off, but I’m pretty sure if nothing else, it’ll make you think about life differently by placing you metaphorically in the shoes of another.  What we manifest and experience in our lives are a direct result of what we think, say, and do to ourselves.  My Boundary-Waters-Canoe-Area-Wilderness (BWCAW) Adventures buddy Patone, has a saying he often shares when something serendipitous happens when we get together, “You can’t make this shit up!!!”  What if, we are making it all up each passing NOW moment?  What if, I told you, YOU are ultimately and intimately responsible for all you experience?  What if, Life is just a matter of perspective and how you choose to respond to “IT” determines how “IT” changes and or manifests in the moment?  What if, Life is just a test each moment to see what or whom you are willing to take-a-stand, push against, embrace, or sit with?  I’ve had my share of ups and downs during this pandemic, the difference being it hasn’t felt as extreme as decades past.  Perhaps I’m just becoming immune to the bizarre, willing to embrace the unknown, knowing the only certain in life, is that it will change, or in other words, this too shall pass.   And so, let the storytelling continue.  This next one I call, “The voice of an Angel”.  The past few Summer and Fall seasons I’ve played (because I don’t consider it work) part-time making ice cream with our son Eric and a young man by the name of Ben at the 11^th Street Station here in Durango, Colorado called, “On a Roll Ice Cream”.  It was during a chilly Fall afternoon that I was inspired by the voice of an Angel, Gracie Jessop.  Gracie utilizes a digital-loop-back system like that which Michael Monroe (one of our favorite Minnesota musicians) uses to create instrumental and lyrical layers of inspirational vibrations in the present moment. Gracie told me one of the greatest joys in life over the past years is visiting Durango and sharing her passion, support and mentorship with an amazing local organization called, “I Am Music”.  The unique gift she brings to the stage is how she makes up songs in the “Now” moment.  Like a gifted public speaker or storyteller, she connects with the audience as if she is singing directly to each individual person.  At least that’s what I felt as I was profoundly touched by her angelic and mesmerizing performance.  When we partnership with both our Spirit and Ego, they become allies and the creation process becomes an experience referred to as, “Inspiration”. Inspiration is a conduit that helps us to connect with, honor, protect, commune, and learn from Nature and each other.  As more and more of us consciously and collectively assist in the healing of Nature, we’ll naturally heal ourselves; mentally, physically, energetically, and spiritually, one G.A.S. Tank at a time!  If I pursue my passions with an Egotistical intent only, I become just another radical extremist, a self-proclaimed GURU, a rebel within or without a cause.  Just another selfish, greedy, narcissistic nut case that blames our global problems on the other extreme radical egotistical rebels within one of the countless conspiratorial theories of my choosing.  Or I can choose to respond within each moment of my existence from a place of compassion, forgiveness, and open heartedness with both Ego and Spirit.  As I’ve attempted to explain all these principles in past blogs and books, I will again say, this concept to “Be the Change you wish to experience in the World” is far easier said than done.  Or perhaps if looked at differently is “easier done than said”.  Either way, I’m still working on it, I’m far from perfect, just ask Josie.  That’s why it’s called a Practice, a conscious never-ending choice in life moment to moment, a choice between love (free-spirited and free flowing) and fear (possessive and controlling, the need to be right).  While the pandemic for many has felt anything but inspiring, it has, no doubt, forced us to change the way we perceive and respond to our world in profound ways, sometimes good, sometimes bad.  A source of inspiration that we’ve been listening to for years now and has continued to lift our spirits during these dark times is a podcast called “On Being” with Krista Tippett.  Josie and I begin most mornings with a cup of coffee while listening to various podcasts.  The conversations between Krista and her guest(s) (poets, scientists, journalists, and many other interesting people) covering a wide variety of thought-provoking inspirational topics and ideas are by far one of our favorites.  Krista’s conversation with Frank Wilczek and what he calls “Beauty as a Compass for Truth” captures most vividly for me, intellectually speaking, is what I attempt to explain within the context of implementing Natures G.A.S. as a daily practice, the profound effects it has on the individual human life and how our perception (our personal unique experience in the moment) is never experienced the same way twice. Nature is continuously giving us a wake-up call as to how we choose to live our lives.  We’ve been literally destroying the earths ecosystems that we depend upon not just for our health and wellbeing, but our very existence as a species.  In the future, I’ll reflect on this period of human history as the “Tippett-ing Point”, that with Krista’s assistance, a new paradigm shift within human consciousness was birthed.  Just before the pandemic, my intention was to focus primarily on local people and businesses within the Durango/Bayfield area and so it is a pleasure and honor to share with you Jen, a person that has deeply touched me and our family with her talents and friendship.  Jen, along with her co-owner Katie started Studio Soma a safe, fun, beautiful and creative space for healing the mind-body-spirit connection.  Along with the aid of a professional and passionate team, they integrate classical methods such as Yoga and Pilates along with a modern and scientific approach called the CYROTONIC method to help you reach and maintain your individual optimal healthful self.  To increase your (GPA) and I’m not talking Grade Point Average but instead, your Gastronomic Pleasurable Adventure, I encourage you to check out a few entrepreneurs that started out at the 11^th Street Station and have since expanded and/or moved to new locations. First is Cuevas Tacos, established in 2019 by two brothers Oscar and Manny Cuevas.  Although the brothers have since gone their separate ways, they have both become very successful in their own rights.  Oscar can now be found at Lola’s Place at 725 E 2^nd Ave. My favorite is the generously portioned Smothered Burrito, although the fish and shrimp tacos come in at a close second if I want something less filling.  Manny along with his wife Evelyn and son Angel worked hard to build both a terrific menu and location for their restaurant Akami Poke & Ramen.  It is one of the best places in town to discover incredible delights such as Japanese ramen, Hawaiian poke bowls and an extensive menu of Izakaya and other fusion delicacies.  If you need a caffeine booster shot along with a great selection of fresh homemade baked goods then be sure to check out Taste coffee.  Owner Mike a passionate coffee connoisseur can now be found at two convenient locations in town.  11^th Street Station where he started his first Taste coffee bar and now can also be found at the same location as Cuevas Tacos inside Lola’s Place where you can enjoy a locally roasted, organic coffee from our very own coveted Desert Sun Coffee.  Mike opened his first Taste Coffee because he enjoys watching community members come together and grow relationships.  But what I believe is the real reason for his success aside from his entrepreneurial and joyful spirit one senses in his presence is the love and support he gets from his wife Ayla.  Thank you all in advance for our collective BE-coming and BE- ing, “A Voice for Nature” while filling our tanks together. And thank you Universe, for continuously overwhelming me and filling me up!  x>