CURRENT MISSION

To lead a full and joyful life

PHILOSOPHY

Anna: I believe that life is an incredible gift and that the universe is essentially a benevolent place. My intention is to foster peace and to extend kindness and generosity to whomever and whatever I encounter in life. Experience has taught me that life is as generous with me as I am willing to be with it, so why not put the best out there? "Pay it forward," as they say. When I'm ready to leave this life I hope I will have left the world a little better than I found it.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

We are new members, but hope to offer our home to couch surfers very soon. We love to meet fellow travelers. We also plan to travel soon ourselves and look forward to meeting others in the community.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

We have just returned from a trip to Europe and had a very pleasant experience couchsurfing with folks in Estonia and Latvia. They were warm, friendly, helpful, and interesting folks who really gave us a wonderful impression of their country and culture. We look forward to returning the favor with fellow travelers who come our way. We have as yet to host a couchsurfer, so I'll comment on that aspect when there's something to tell.

Interests

Anna: Music-making (I play harp, viola and a little violin) and listening, spirituality, nature, gardening, hiking, winetasting, crosscountry skiing, cooking, traveling, good food and conversation....

• culture
• dining
• cooking
• gardening
• traveling
• music
• violin
• hiking
• skiing

Music, Movies, and Books

Anna: Many kinds of music (early to contemporary classical, Celtic, world music, R&B, rock, folk, some jazz, a little hip hop.....haven't yet learned to appreciate rap and the more esoteric jazz, but I'm open). I'm more of a reader than a movie watcher, but enjoy both.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

See above: the amazing people I work with.

Teach, Learn, Share

What I want to learn:
I enjoy learning from the experiences and skills of others. Everyone has gifts and life experiences I can learn from and I look forward to interactions with all the couchsurfers who come our way.
I'm especially interested in building community. I believe there is much more that unites us than divides us and that in discovering our shared humanity we can overcome many barriers. I enjoy learning from the experiences of others who share this value.

What I have to share:
I always love to share music with others. I enjoy playing and I enjoy hearing others play.
My work, music-thanatology, is with people who are coping with terminal illness. On their difficult and transformative journey, most of them come to live with great intensity and a strong sense of purpose. Living with the awareness of their approaching end, the non-essentials and petty concerns fall away. They learn to define their values and to prioritize their lives. These people know time is too precious to waste and that their relationships are their greatest treasure. I continue to be humbled in their presence and to learn from their wisdom, seeking to apply it to my own life. Now, before my own end is in sight. Being with those who are dying teaches me how to live: DON'T waste time with petty concerns and unfounded fears. DO treasure others and this beautiful world we share. This hard-won gift of living well, wrought in the hearts and souls of these brave sojourners, is one I want to pass on to others.

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