CURRENT MISSION

I'd like to spend the second half of my life doing more self-cultivation and service work in the areas of Qigong and Tai Chi, which I love!

ABOUT ME

I am a very self-reflective person who enjoys pondering the meaning of life! I enjoy every single thing about my life and if I don't, I find ways to be happy. If there's a lemon there, I'll always make lemonade ;-) Just a big kid at heart, I likely will never give up my Peter Pan mentality - I will never grow up. Not maturity-wise, but in my attitude of being thrilled with every little joy life has to offer, in loving all those around me, nature, and whatever I decide to do.

I'm not afraid of change and feel like I've lived many lives in one. Having gone the rounds in the corporate and health care world, marriage and family (I have two wonderful adult kids who live independently and am twice divorced), I now help out my elderly mom, work in my community doing home health care, and enjoying life however I am able to.

For almost three years now, I've been practicing Tai Chi and Qigong and have really found something true to my heart. I've also written a bunch of books and recently created a website to give away my children's books. It's been seen all over the world! I've traveled a bit, Peru, Jamaica, Hawaii, the States, and lived in Venezuela for 6 months. I still have many places I want to go. My daughter is an avid traveler and has had great experiences with Couchsurfing which she highly recommends!

Most of my friends consider me to be a very nice, kind, funny, intelligent, considerate and responsible person, and I really enjoy getting to know new people. Hope we get to meet someday!

PHILOSOPHY

I love to learn new things by sharing with others, really connecting to people. People are what life is all about. I admit, for the first half of my life, I was really into family life and my writing, hoping to help others awaken to their beautiful divine nature. Now, my philosophy is more "live and let live" and to be kind to everyone. Taoists call it "undiscriminating virtue" - be caring to those who deserve it and those who don't, equally. I like to meet people where they are and am not judgmental. I truly believe we are all just One being anyway, so I always look at others as if I am looking at myself and hope to learn from their mirror more about me/we. :-)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I would easily offer my couch to anyone, but I currently live with my elderly mom who has special needs, so it might be difficult right now, although I do have the space and the bed/couches available. This is my first time surfing and since the workshop I'm attending at Omega is very expensive, I'm hoping to find a place to sleep other than my car. I'd even be willing to chip in for expenses. If no one can host me, I'll make the car a grand adventure, though, and hope I can sneak into the bath house at Omega ;-)

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

This is my first time!

Interests

Tai chi and Qigong, reading metaphysical books, long walks in the woods, working around my home, dancing to local jazz or blues with friends, being with family.

I don't watch TV but will catch some movies or interesting series on Netflix. I do love to read, though, and lately have gotten into all the Chinese esoteric works like the Tao Te Ching, Hua Hu Ching, Secret of the Golden Flower, etc. I also love Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land, all Barbara Marciniak's work, and just about anything Super-Woo-ish :-)

I also love animals, dogs, cats, anything, especially wild things in the woods or fields. I recently went to Saratoga Springs racetrack near my house just to watch the horses work out, standing at the rail and smiling like an idiot at such magnificent creatures, opening my heart to them...

• animals
• cats
• dogs
• horses
• writing
• books
• dancing
• working out
• boating
• flowers
• movies
• reading
• tv
• socializing
• jazz
• blues
• surfing
• snorkeling

Music, Movies, and Books

Favorite movie - Powder. The Adjustment Bureau, Matrix, Avatar, Butterfly Effect... those sorts... Books - anything metaphysical, Native American, or anything else that interests me - I'm an avid reader. Music - just about anything... I love to sing and if it has a great melody that really moves me, I'm in heaven. I'm also not above shaking a rattle, beating on a drum, or whatever to join in with others in harmony.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Went snorkeling in the Caribbean in Venezuela on my ex-partner's cousin's boat and we saw an Octopus!

Teach, Learn, Share

I love to teach others simple Qigongs for health, show them my Tai Chi forms (short and learning the long form), and I enjoy swapping ideas and philosophies or just having fun together. I also love to learn from others and share experiences or do just about anything of interest. Although I am 53 years old, everyone says I look and act younger than that (30s, I've been told) as I am young at heart. Life, to me, is a grand adventure and we are all teachers/students on the journey. :-)