Hamilton Mountain

A place I feel connected to is the top of Hamilton Mountain.  I have been climbing this mountain since I was twelve years old with my dad.  It is a steep four mile hike to the top.  The top of the mountain has an amazing view of the columbia river gorge.  I try to climb this mountain at least once a year.  The first time I climbed it with my dad we buried a bottle cap under a rock.  Every time we go there we dig it up and it brings back memories.  We sit in the same spot on the top of the mountain and really enjoy our surroundings and the view.  When we reach the top we will take in the view and eat our lunch and talk. It is a familiar place to me and I enjoy the simplicity it brings to my life.  All of the same plants are around and the view never changes.   There are no distractions at the top of the mountain and it allows me to live in the moment. 

Icebreaker - Thankfulness

Our opening activity was on the theme of appreciation and sharing what each of us is thankful for in our lives. We began with a moment of silence followed by a guided, brief sensory check in: with our eyes closed taking a deep breath, noticing the earth under us, what we can feel with our skin, what we could hear (noticing near sounds and far sounds), taking short breaths using our nose to bring our awareness to scents and then tastes, and finally opening our eyes and practicing wide-angle vision.

We handed out pieces of paper with raffia ties, and asked everyone to take a few moments to think of what they feel thankful for in their lives. It could be one thing or many, just today or in general. We let the group know that we'd be sharing our writings later. We gave everyone a few minutes to write, and then called the circle back together and asked people to read their writings aloud when they were ready. When the sharing was completed, we explained what the ties were so we could tie our papers on the branches of a tree. Each person hung their paper up and we took a picture of the tree with all the appreciations decorating its branches.

This activity works to build community among a group. As Elisabeth noted her prior experience with working with a group of children, it was harder to think of what to be thankful for, and expose vulnerability in a group setting at the beginning. This activity works differently depending on the time, is the group just getting to know each other, or have they developed relationships? Is this activity done at the beginning of class or at the end of class? It adds an element of spirituality and opens each participant up to each other, ultimately creating a positive state of mind.

As our cohort discussed, there are other elements you can add to this activity. This is a good exercise for children to practice reflective thinking, as at first they may think of a toy, to my Mom drove me to my friend’s house, to my Mom’s unconditional love. Other suggestions included everyone adding things that they are thankful for in a book and having the book open at all times so that students can add as they come up with new things that they are thankful for.

North Fork of the Santiam River

The first place that comes to mind for me when thinking of a place where I feel connected and grounded is the North Fork of the Santiam River. More specifically, a place that not many people know about. On the way to the more popular areas of the North Fork there is a shoulder where a maximum of three cars may park. The hike down to our spot is about 20 min. At one point you stop at the top of a waterfall where there is a calm, shallow pool of water. We take a break at this point and take it all in. Next we continue our hike down, under and over logs, until at last we arrive at “our spot.” There is a rock ledge we must climb down and then there is a large open and flat place for us to unpack for the day. There is a swimming hole, then some rapids, and down around the corner another swimming hole with big rocks to jump off. We love to eat, drink, swim, talk, relax and hike. This is my favorite place to be, absolute heaven! It is unfortunate that I can no longer think of this special place in the same way that I used to. About five years ago, a group of us were at this spot. One girl went over to the area with the rapids (after being warned to stay away from this area) and ended up getting sucked into the water, another friend nearby tried to help and ended up in the water. The girl who originally went in was sucked down and spit out of a hole into a lower area and she ended up fine (just shaken up). My boyfriend/husband jumped in after our other friend and in saving her life almost lost his own. Everyone came out okay physically but it changed us all. The girl who first got sucked into the water never wants to go back. But for us (my husband and I) this special and sacred place is a part of our souls and we feel rejuvenated each time we get the opportunity to be there. The geography of the land is awe inspiring. Despite a negative association, we love, respect and appreciate this special place and we always will.

Porch life for life.

I have lived in my apartment for a couple of years now. We have a small porch in the front of it. This spot is my go to for feeling comfortable and grounded.  It is above street level, hidden by trees, covered in flower pots and the hottest spot in town for the cuttest cats in the neighborhood.  Reading, eating dinner, drinking, laughing, music playing and people watching entertain us from this porch.  I love my porch because it is a place where I can be left alone with my thoughts but I can also allow others in to enjoy its awesomeness. That porch makes my house a home and I know that for now, it is mine to enjoy.

Monterey and Big Sur

My place is where I grew up, Monterey, California, but more specifically Pacific Grove. While I was growing up in this bubble of paradise everywhere else, to me, existed in relation to it. My center of the universe. I can't imagine a safer place to be, even as I moved back when I was 22 I never locked my car. Monterey and Carmel reminded me of what Japan's landscape might be like, with looming cyprus's and jagged cliffs surrounding the pacific. The fog, much like San Francisco would roll in and you could see the moisture in the air. It felt like a cleanse to my lungs.

Big Sur which was just a short jaunt down the highway in my head was where Peter Pan and his lost boys lived. Redwoods, Canyons and the most beautiful white sand beaches with turquoise water and kelp forest peeking above the surface. I used to also think there was magic in the ocean because it sparkled. I still think there is. I usually return every year to sit on the beach and breathe. I could spend hours watching the surf and never say a word. For me this is my childhood and innocence.

Three places I always want to be

Carrying on from our icebreaker on Wednesday, I just want to say how appreciative I am that I have not only one, but three places that I feel at home. Just thinking about my special places, I can't help but to think of all the children in the world who may not have a place where they don't feel struggle. With that being said I am so happy to share my special places with you!

My parents kitchen is always buzzing with music, familiar voices, fragrant foods, tasty beverages, and pure enjoyment. I am fortunate to come from a family that values family relationships, love, and support (and of course a love to enjoy oneself). People who visit my parent's house often expect a small party, filled with stimulating conversation and lots of food and drink. When I am feeling not my best, my mind always returns to my parent's kitchen, and it puts a smile on my face.

I found peace of mind in the studio where I practiced yoga in Korea. Though I would come in and be separated by my race, language, culture, and the amount I sweated compared to my peers, I found that I could provide support to myself through my practice. In Korea, for the first time in my life I struggled to find friends and found myself alone many times. I learned how to depend myself and being able to do that lent a lot of time for self reflection. Even though I was alone, it was because of my practice that I no longer felt lonely.

I was also able to find a new home in my classroom. On my most difficult days, without the comforts of home, I would walk into my classroom to find smiling faces eager to see me. At that point, what seemed difficult became irrelevant, and I would begin the lesson. Although most of Korean culture is unfamiliar to me, I adapted to the Korean education system and have found kindness and acceptance from my students.

Brandywine Park

My place is the Brandywine Park in Wilmington. When I lived in Wilmington, I lived in a row home right in the middle of the city. Throughout the two years I lived there, I spent at least three days a week in the park. It was about a twenty minute walk from my neighborhood. It felt like a whole different world in that park. The Brandywine River flowed through it, it was densely populated with all kinds of trees, and there were hiking trails throughout. It was a definite refuge for me while I lived in a city so far away from all of the comforts of home. I loved watching the seasons change through the park. I often connect memories, feelings, and experiences to what the park looked like at certain times - the changing leaves of autumn, the barren chill of winter, the first signs of life and renewal in spring, and the sweaty, humid, heat of summer. I hope I can get back there sooner rather than later.