This past weekend I treated myself to a road trip --- one of my favorite ways to find solitude from the hustle and bustle of my job and the metropolis where I live. I accepted the kind invitation of a long-time dear friend to visit her in Harmony, Minnesota. On my roadtrip to Harmony, I spent much of the drive in complete silence, as my day is often surrounded by a variety of noise, including the HVAC system above my head which sounds like the overhead engines of an airplane mixed with a high-pitched squealing noise. (Attempts to fix it have been unsuccessful to date.) Three hours south of the Cities I entered the world of newly plowed fields rich with earthy hues of greens and brown, treed landscapes, open sky and the tiny town of Harmony, Minnesota. My friend and I strolled down the quiet streets of downtown without the sound of sirens or the reverb of a car's stereo and no airplanes flying overhead. With each step, the tension of the week released from my body. The worries about my parents, my finances, all the many questions about my life were left behind. I even put a moritorium on talking about any of those "hot topics." After all, there were no clear solutions. I needed to set them aside, cease my attempts to control those situations, and let my mind just BE. That night, I slept with the windows open, a warm breeze upon my face and the sounds of ...... well, quiet. Perfect harmony.
By the time the birds began their pre-dawn chirpings, my soul was ready to hear their songs--their harmony with each other. The experience of Harmony was exactly what my soul needed--harmony with the earth, with a friendship, with the mysterious timing of life's events and with my own spirit.
When life feels out of sorts or not quite right, or even when you don't necessarily know what it is you need, try a road trip to harmony--any place that leads you back to your self. Let yourself BE. Turn off the phone, the television, the computer, the background noise of life that keeps you from hearing the birds and looking at the sky in wonder. Relax your shoulders from the worries of your life, from your schedules and to-do lists. Breathe. Listen. Trust. Follow. Find your harmony.
