On January 1, 2023, I drove away from Superior, Colorado to avoid the approaching blizzard. I meandered south and west and then every which way to eventually reach Bow, Washington, the furthest north I ventured. I then headed east with many stops along the way. Meander is parked in her winter spot and I flew off to Scandinavia to enjoy so much more. I have spent the past six to eight weeks reflecting on my personal journey.

I had left the warm embrace of unconditional love from my patients and their families. I set out to discover new ways to find love and peace in our natural world. I found a feast for my five senses. I discovered the source of new and familiar scents. I listened to the crash of waves on the California, Oregon and Washington coast and the rumble of water rushing over a rocky riverbed. I heard the song of a flutist perched on a rock in Sedona, Andrea Bocelli and Bruce Springsteen in concert and up to nine different bird songs on a hike. I saw amazing colorful rock formations, mysterious caverns and slot canyons. I tasted bison, elk, reindeer, lingonberry and cloudberry. I took a mushroom foraging and Vortex hiking class. I learned how to build my own campfire. I learned to practice daily meditation and have read ( or listened to) over 100 books. I saw my grandson play baseball in the “Field of Dreams” and made it to Cubs Spring Training. I visited with friends and family along the way.

I have spent years learning to use the sense of touch to diagnose and treat human disease. Now I am learning to identify plants, trees and flowers by the same sense.

This is so much fun!

I am hopeful that 2024 will be as “SENSATIONAL”