That's Right! The joy is in the journey

That's Right! Each step on the path is important

That's Right! The present moment provides all that I need

That's Right! I embrace the lessons of life

That's Right! A world of possibilities opens in each interaction

The Zen Master has had a health challenge for the last week or two... in the early morning hours, he awakens with intense coughing and has a collapsing trachea, which is a condition common to his breed.

Little thoughts flit through my mind - how much of this is due to expectation (my last little dog struggled with the same thing)? How much is biology and dietary choices? ...And I wonder what our role is together. But, underlying it all is a sense of peace. I am 15 years older and wiser than I was the last time I walked this path.

The pilgrimage itself is the sacred place for which we search. In this moment, my unique path of transformation leads to absorbing new knowledge about the mind/body/spirit balance. I've been giving some Reiki treatments, babying him a bit more (who would've thought that was even possible!) and this afternoon we're going to see a holistic vet. How cool is that? This particular doctor specializes in Chinese medicine for pets along with acupuncture, chiropractic and homeopathy.

The lessons of life flow through our experiences. With the Zen Master I've made different choices because of what I learned from the past and because of those choices, he has outlived his predecessor by four years so far.

The attitude of openness and acceptance invites new friends and experiences. I'm interested to see what I learn from this doctor, and since I know that all things work to our highest good, the Zen Master and I shall walk this path together with quiet expectation.

Experiencing is the feeling of wonder, the thrill of communion with life, the joining of intent with action. Love underlies each moment and I feel so blessed to be experiencing the physical world with conscious awareness.

Today my intent is to walk through life with joyful expectation. I choose to be open to each experience and the pattern it weaves in the tapestry of my awakening.