The 3 Secrets to Making Friends on the Road (or Anywhere!)

I have been traveling solo in my 17 foot Casita Travel Trailer for almost 4 months now. I left my community, family and friends behind in Denver to go on this epic life adventure. Would I be lonely? Would I meet people? How would I get my social needs met?

I have a pretty even balance of introvert and extrovert, with a slight leaning towards introvert... I must have solitude and alone time to ground and regenerate my energy. But what about my need for connection, community and meaningful conversation? I've discovered what works for me... and more importantly, what my purpose and goal is in engaging with others out in the world.

The Secret? 

...staying open to possibilities, being present to the moment, and most importantly, having a willingness to connect and join with another human from a place of curiosity, kindness, and acceptance.

1. Staying Open To Possibilities

I am (almost) always open to any possibility to engage with another. Since I never know when an opportunity may arise, I am intentional in leaving my heart open and being energetically inviting. I may feel inspired or moved to say something to someone I come across... or I try to remain aware of others initiating or reaching out to me.

2. Being Present To the Moment

Once a connection has been established, I put aside any thoughts or activities that I was engaged in, face the person, make eye contact, and give them my full and complete attention. I know that any interaction I have may last only a few moments, so I don't want to miss any opportunity to interact in a loving way.

3. Having the Willingness To Join

Most important of all is my willingness and commitment to see the sameness and commonality that joins me with all human beings everywhere! We all know how different we can be, but aside from the social conditioning we have received that constantly points out our differences (in often very judgmental ways), we are all far more the same than we are different! 

We all want to feel happy and safe. We all have people and/or pets in our life that we love. We all desire to be heard and acknowledged. We all want to be forgiven for our mistakes and to be treated with kindness and compassion.

 My purpose and my mission (I have come to discover) is to focus on how I am the same as you. No matter how different we may think or believe, no matter how different our life circumstances are, no matter how differently we perceive the world, we are capable of finding ways to join in our oneness and overlook our differences.

I do this by being kind. I do this by being curious and interested in who you are. I do this by accepting you for who you are and not judging you. I do this by not taking things personally.

That is how we will heal humanity and create peace on earth. I cannot fix or control the insanity we all witness on this planet, but I can heal it in myself, cultivate my own peace, and then demonstrate and extend that into the world around me.

Will you join me in focusing on Unity? Will you join me in not automatically judging what we perceive as "wrong" or "different" in another? Will you join me in finding what we have in common? When we are judging or comparing ourselves to others, we are only hurting ourselves. We are free to choose what we focus on and miraculously shift the resulting reality we have in this human experience we call life.

That's how I make friends on the road! :)))

My Life as a student of "A Course in Miracles"

My Course book

I have been a serious student of "A Course in Miracles" for about 5 years now. Before that, I dabbled in the Course, but it wasn't until I had a major healing with my son that I made the decision to dive in fully and completely! 

I have made a commitment to my connection with the Divine through this teaching, and I am getting results!! I had been a "seeker" for more than 15 years before this point and I felt helpless in the face of my many challenges... nothing seemed to work... until now.

The results I am achieving through my daily commitment and practice are nothing short of miraculous, but it takes vigilance and dedication to both study and apply the teaching, not just read and analyze it. It is my #1 priority. The Course promises that if I make my connection to God/Love my primary purpose, all my needs and wants will be taken care of! It's hard to believe at the level of the world, but I find that the more I take responsibility for my experience, the more peaceful and loving my life becomes!

Another one of the beautiful things about this spiritual thought system is that it does not claim to be superior to other paths...  it is, quite simply, for those people who resonate with it. It's okay for others to have different paths because we are all loved equally by Source no matter what "course" we are taking... and we are all waking up together as the "one mind".

I have started combining my photography with ideas and phrases from "A Course in Miracles" and sharing them on my Instagram and Facebook Hug Healer pages... I welcome you to connect with me as I expand my role as a teacher and demonstrator of Love!

*PHOTO ART* …A New Form of "Messages from the Universe"!

4x4 tile/coaster

5x7 notecard

I recently contemplated the question: what would I like to do if money wasn't my motivation? The thought came to me (from where?!) …wouldn't it be fun to make art from my photographs and essentially give it away for free!?!

So I began brainstorming and realized this would be a wonderful new phase of my Messages from the Universe social creative project. I've been giving away envelopes with a "message from the universe" and a symbolic token of abundance (usually a $1 bill) to random people I have the pleasure of encountering throughout my daily activities for well over a year (since January 2014)... and have distributed far more than 1000 envelopes and about $2200.

It's time to take it a step further and create hand made one-of-a-kind photo art with unique messages to extend inspiration, connection and hope out into the world in the form of a 5x7 notecard or a 4x4 tile/coaster (for now). Each piece will express a unique positive message that I hope will reach the right person who needs that particular reminder or guidance from the Universe.

I have opened a Hug Healer etsy account and will be posting new items regularly to be made available on a first come/first serve basis (one per person, please) to anyone who needs a lift for themselves or a gift for a friend... for a low price to cover my shipping and handling.

Click here to view current available artwork

My mission and intention is for people to go inward and ask themselves: What gift do I possess that I can share with the world? How can I extend my treasure? What can I do to brighten someone's day? Not only someday, but now in this present moment… a smile or a hug is a perfect start! 

We are all connected and what is good for you is also good for me. We expand into more joy as we share and extend love without conditions or expectations. Happiness is contagious! Spread the love and pay it forward!!


If you feel additionally moved to share and contribute to the continuation of my "Messages from the Universe" project, financial support and expressions of appreciation are welcomed and gladly accepted… just click the "donate" button below. :)

Another way to participate in my project is to request a "pay-it-forward" bundle of 5 envelopes and 5 message from the universe cards where you can insert your own dollar bill and extend the inspiration to anyone you feel move to share with!

pay-it-forward bundle

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What is your unique gift to extend into the world?

Vision Quest and Road Trip into the Mysterious Unknown!

I have been giving away my "Message from the Universe" envelopes for almost 9 months now! It has been a period of excitement, inspiration and expanding embodiment of my "purpose" in the world. I finally feel like I know what I want to do when I grow up, lol!!

So my next step will be an excursion/journey/road trip/adventure/vision quest towards warmer and unfamiliar parts of the country as we move into the winter months. I am ready to take my message of hope and inspiration out into the bigger world on a grander scale!

I am leaving Denver on November 3rd, 2014, and will be gone for at least 2 months… heading into the Deep South and perhaps all the way to the end of Florida! I will not have a set agenda, but will follow my intuition and guidance every day and every moment as I navigate this divine mystery! My Honda Civic will be my transportation and I plan on exploring a combination of lodging experiences including camping, couch surfing, hostels, Airbnb, hotels/motels, and….?? :)

As I move into my expansion, I wish you all greater and grander versions of your magnificent unlimited potential! We're all in this together!!

Check in for updates as I navigate this adventure and quest for an expanded vision! 

Blessings, Love and Big Hugs!!! <3

Unveiling the 2nd Message from the Universe!!!

I have managed to circulate nearly 500 "Messages from the Universe" cards!! I know this because I am down to my last dozen or so cards from my first order of 500. :) 

It was time to create a new message from the Universe! Wow… what did the Universe want to share through me this time?? What you see above is the result of quieting my mind, opening my heart, and sharing the inspiration that flowed. 

I'm excited to restock my supply of envelopes with cards and cash, go out into the world, and continue to be a conduit for extending Love to as many people as I can! 

I LOVE doing this work! It has become part of my heart and soul, and what I "do" in the world… my job!! :))) I can't imagine doing anything more fulfilling and satisfying in any capacity! Spreading Love, hope and inspiration has been far more wonderful than I could ever have anticipated! 

I am so grateful for the support and encouragement I have received from so many, including 3 generous souls who have donated money to help keep this project going… thank you!!! My desire and intention is to have it continue to expand, grow, and touch more and more people! 

<3 <3 <3 

YAY!!!! Happy Dance! :D

A Magical Moment of Reflected Love

As I was leaving the coffee shop near beautiful Capital Reef in Utah, the barista said "Wait! I have something for you." As she emerged again from the back room, she brought with her a homemade gluten free granola bar to gift me. I smiled broadly, said thank you, gave her a "Message from the Universe" envelope, and left to continue the journey with my friend, Raven.

Later that day I received the following email…

dearest su~zen

......"the hug sisters"...that is what i named you and raven...... as you left the coffee shop today.....

........It touched my day to receive/give ......a wonderful heartfelt energy with you ....

....i am ever so grateful i had an extra granola bar to share with you...as i was going to save that for someone else....and the universe moved me to give it to you...!!!

...and i could see after you left...as i peeked in the envelope.....it was definitely meant for YOU!!!....

.......fuel for your journey....fuel for your quest....to spread hugs of love everywhere....such a beautiful venture!!!

.....i felt your gentle hug....and raven's exuberant hug....through the rest of my morning....

............*....*

....magical moments are forever appearing at the shop....perhaps it is a vortex drawing in special souls to connect....

....i mentioned my encounter with you today to a friend......and she said...."who knows?....perhaps that wasn't a person you met.....it could have been an angel".....

....and she read a quote ......don't quite remember it......yet it had reference to angels walking amongst us...

.......*.....*...

....soooo dearheart.....su~zen.....i am so happy to have met you ......or re~met you ....

....and send you many blessings of love and support in your creative project....

......with gratitude and love,

..melody

Truly, a message for me from the Universe to help inspire and reflect back to me the beauty that goes out though my heart and intention into the world! Just the boost I needed. Thank you, sweet Melody. :)))

Transitioning into Newness

Spring has arrived… and with it an opportunity to open more fully into our true Unlimited Magnificence! What does that look like? This is the question I am asking myself… not in form, but in feeling and intention. Feelings are everything! After all, isn't every "thing" we want coming from the idea about how we think we will feel when we get it? So why don't we just go for the feeling?! Who cares what the form looks like if I'm happy and peaceful? And if I decide what my happiness is supposed to look like, might I be limiting myself to smallness? ...when I could be opening myself to infinite possibilities beyond my wildest imagination? 

So, my intention, as I move into spring, is to cultivate my connection to Divine Source as my guide… and flow in the direction of peace and inspiration in each and every moment… to an experience of new and unknown potential. 

I am just beginning to unfurl my wings!

This is a message for you from the Universe...

Sooo… I have been distributing my messages from the Universe for over 2 months now! (Click here to see how this project was birthed.) The image above is the actual card I designed that is included in each envelope with various amounts of cash. 

I have given out approximately 150 envelopes… to homeless people with signs, random people walking down the street, in coffee shops, at events, as tips… as well as left on bus benches, car windshields, gas pump handles (my favorite!) and anywhere else I feel moved. 

The experience has been profound and continues to push me up against my edges as I explore my heart connection to complete strangers. Often, I wish I had related more deeply in the moment with an individual, but my interactions are continuously evolving, and each one brings an opening that helps me appreciate my oneness with everyone more and more!

With homeless people, it has been especially powerful. Before this project, I rarely, if ever, gave money to people who asked for it… feeling uncomfortable and awkward, and always averting my eyes. Now, when the opportunity presents itself, I truly see the person, witness them, and acknowledge their presence with love. 

Even though they have no idea what I am giving them (since it is hidden in an envelope) I have experienced such joy, appreciation and outpouring of gratitude that it makes my heart sing. I believe that just to be truly seen and valued with eye contact, a smile, conversation and loving intent is the genuine gift of our interactions… I know it has been for me! 

<3 <3 <3

Messages from the Universe

There is a lesson in A Course In Miracles that states: "I am sustained by the love of God." Am I really? Does God, Source, Spirit, the Universe really have my back? I have been studying and applying the principles of the Course pretty seriously for the past year and have seen miraculous transformations in my life. But can I truly rest in the trust of knowing that I will be taken care of no matter what?

So one morning when I was contemplating the fantasy of winning the lottery (based on a friend's facebook post) the the idea of giving away money blossomed into the creative project of "Messages from the Universe". My big vision is to have a million dollars to give away in hundred dollar bills! But since that wasn't something I could do now, I asked myself how I could start where I am with what I have… giving away smaller denominations that I would share with strangers, along with a loving "message from the Universe". :)

My purpose in this endeavor is to spread love, hope and inspiration to my fellow human beings… and let them know that they are seen, valued and supported… by me? by God? by Spirit? by the infinite mystery? …to let them know they are not alone in the world trying to make it on their own! If I am going to live my life based on the assumption that I am sustained by the love of god, I want to put it to the test!

So I went out and bought a box of bright yellow dollar bill sized envelopes, and spent a day designing a business sized card with my message. I decided what amount of money I felt peaceful contributing to this project… and then began filling envelopes with $1, $3, $5, or $10. I drew a design on the outside of each envelope representing the different amounts…. and then I started giving away money! What will come of it is a mystery, but I am excited, inspired and hopeful that I can make a difference in someone's day.

I will be sharing more of my process and experiences in future blog posts, but for now I have started to play the lottery!! :)))

Inspired Ideas

Sometimes a random thought enters my mind that starts to snowball as my enthusiasm and excitement builds… I've had many such thoughts in my lifetime that I like to call inspired ideas. 

Where do they come from? What purpose do they serve? I'm never 100% sure, but often my enthusiasm results in hours, days and weeks of taking action and pursuing my vision… yet aside from my spiritual growth work, all of my inspired ideas have fizzled and faded over time. 

I'm sure each one has been perfect for my evolution for as long as it lasted, but I always wonder if the next one will be "successfully" achieved… whatever that means! 

Some things I realize I need to ask myself each time:

• Who am I now?
• How is this new or different?
• What is my purpose in this endeavor?
• Why is it important?

One big shift for me has been surrender. If I have an inspired idea, I'm not the one in charge of its success. My willingness to take action is important, but I am focusing more on allowing the Divine to be my guide, and for inspiration to flow through me and not from me! I may not know how it will all happen, but I can be more present to my guidance every step of the way. And who knows… the result this time could be far beyond my wildest imagination!

Here's to dreaming BIG!! :)))