I have just returned from a week of traveling.  I spent a few days backpacking on Mount San Jacinto with my family and then met my lovely sisters in the Napa Valley for some fun and relaxation.  Here is what I am exploring today....can this set of experiences be considered a form of expressive arts?

While it may seem trivial to even consider such a thing...I love the idea of playing with this question.  As I climbed the mountain and breathed in the chilly air,  I felt an incredible sense of restoration and healing.  The trees, the soil, the granite that surrounded me represented the absolute perfect expression of peace and serenity that so many of us seek.  As I required my body to exert itself and climb, I felt the release of stress and anxiety that builds up from day to day life...the mountain is easy...YES,  hike away and spend time in nature,  it is an absolute expression of healing and release.

Okay, on to Napa Valley...
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The journey began with this lovely meal laid before me.  My sisters and I chose a place called Hurley's for lunch.  When this sandwich arrived,  I was astounded by its beauty.  I considered...could eating food beautifully prepared and presented be considered an exercise in Expressive Arts....I did not create the piece BUT eating it brought me tremendous joy and community and frankly, happiness!  It isn't unlike sharing a piece of art in community and everyone who hears about and sees that experience grows because of that person's creation....so....YES, eating food beautifully prepared and presented is an expressive arts experience as well.

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A beautiful entrance to a winery...just had to stop while on the bike ride to take this shot...photography is a form of expressive arts!

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An amazing cluster of cabernet grapes...perhaps drinking wine is not an expressive arts...although, I am clearly open to hearing any argument supporting it....the photography of beauty such as this brings great benefit to one's psyche...If we could look at all the photos I took I wonder what it might teach me about all that I noticed on this trip...perhaps a gift there?
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And then, of course,  there is the benefit that comes from community while traveling....These are  my sisters.  I am on the left and my sister Cindy sits beside me and Tere on the far right.  BTW, it is important for you to know that Cindy isn't happy with this picture as it doesn't capture the depth of happiness that she felt at this moment in our travels nor does it reflect the joy that she felt in being together with us so pretend she looks that way!  In any event, here I am having a new experience at an amazing winery, steeped in community, immersed in beauty and generally, feeling as restored and balanced as I feel when my hands are in paint, clay or collage...My conclusion,  yes, travel is a form of expressive arts and I strongly advise you to go out into the world, open yourself up and experience the joy that comes from finding beauty, community and great food all over the world! 
 
 
I've been gone for a few weeks on a grand adventure to Scotland.  I've always wanted to go to Scotland because of the rich mythical tradition and the fascinating history.  The picture below was taken at the base of an amazing and beautiful waterfall near Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in Scotland. I felt absolutely peaceful as I sat beneath the water giant.  The sound of the rushing water filled my ears and brought tremendous joy.  You can see in the second picture the enormity of this waterfall...can you imagine?
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One of the things that I learned while in Scotland is how dedicated I am to the idea of self-determination.  I was thunderstruck by a repeated pattern seen in the history of countries  all over the world...the pattern went something like this:  One group (political, religious, ideological) does not approve of another's thinking so they come in to destroy and annihilate that viewpoint and people.  The new ideology lasts until another group gathering and garnishing power repeats these actions taking out another ideology...sound familiar?  It struck me...is it not possible for us to co-exist?  to value and appreciate that this is a place of multiple perspectives and ideologies?  I can think differently than you and still love you and be your friend.  Perhaps, I can learn from your thinking and conversely, you can learn from mine.  As I visited Wallace Monument and multiple castles and Church ruins, the stories were the same.  Have we learned?  Is it possible for people to agree to disagree and leave it at that?  Perhaps in some cases yes and in others no...I can think of lots of examples...but perhaps if we reached for more of coexistence, especially in our personal circles, we take a small step towards learning...I don't know...it's just what I'm thinking about after an amazing visit to Scotland.
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