IN THE FIELD: The 33rd Banff Mountain Film Festival is on tour bringing inspiring films to 30 countries. Check it out at the Banff Center.
IN MY LIFE: Last night I saw 7 of the short films presented by the Banff Mountain Film Festival. The films feature people stretching the boundaries of what is commonly thought possible, needless to say, I love watching these films! I recommend seeing one of the shows or checking out the films online.
I have had some incredible adventures in my lifetime - sailing in remote areas, traveling across the world, swimming on reefs, climbing rocks, winter camping on skis, racing canoes, etc. These experiences have been fun, they also have been excellent teachers. I intend to keep sampling the ways we can discover life through adventure pursuits. The base jumping movie, “Journey To The Center,” is a must see by the way. Exciting, but is it necessary to travel to remote places to find our aliveness?
Nowadays, I consider waking up and living a life designed by my innermost truth the biggest adventure of all. It’s still enlivening to meet my fears on the physical edge of my seat, and there is immense joy in everyday life. In a world that values reaching destinations and achieving goals, I appreciated the reminder last night to also enjoy the journey – wherever we find ourselves, whatever we are doing. “Life” artist, Gino Hollander, featured in the film “Mountain Town,” seems to be on to it:
Chispas de la vida are those special moments in life, those certain somethings that make life really tasty.
I’m not very much with allegories or with gurus or with ways to do it or how to. If you like to do it do it more, if you don’t like it stop it, change. There isn’t anything more than that. I am Gino Hollander. I am 81 years old. I am a painter.
…the thrill of just being there and doing this impossible thing…it was wonderful [describing a 1943 army ski training with a 90lb pack in minus 40 degrees in the mountain wilderness].
…move and so on and some very nice things are going to come up that you couldn’t have dreamt of in a million years.
I choose to paint the things I have feelings in life…and I express my life through them and I don’t listen very much when critics are talking either.
There’s so much input in life so much happens in any given hour if you are living it, if you are aware of it.
For more on Gino Hollander and the movie go to YouTube or Mountain Town’s official site.
IN PRACTICE: Choose one everyday thing you do, like washing your hair or dishes. Then the next time you do it, bring your attention to your experience with the intention to relax and be absorbed in every aspect of it. What do you notice? Make this a practice associated with an everday activity for a period of time like a week or a month.