Bordeaux Blip

I really wanted to visit Bordeaux. If you know me well, you know I do everything, literally, by guidance. It’s a compass I live by. Even when it’s not totally logical, if the energy tells me to do something, I do it (as long as it appears safe and legal). I’m the woman that moved from a beloved little house in South Pasadena to Vermont in the middle of a pandemic because, essentially, God told me to. I felt a bit like Noah. There are some kinds of guidance, some ways it comes, that I just don’t ignore. I’ve learned the hard way when I have ignored it (stories for another day).

This way of living requires a lot of faith and trust.

We can acknowledge that when traveling, there is a certain amount of vulnerability and uncertainty more than a normal day in the life. Add a foreign country and language, and that uncertainty can teeter on the edge of comfort/discomfort.

When I left Brittany and had a long drive ahead, I wasn’t yet clear about where to stay, how long to drive, etc. And so I decided to book a place to stay in Bordeaux before I left Pont-Aven. Makes perfect sense. Most people would have done the same, or would actually have a plan, an itinerary for the whole trip. Was it my guidance to do this? No. Did I get clearance to do it, yes.

So much on this trip, it seems my practice is to listen so deeply and to make micro decisions. How many days to stay. Where to go. When is there a green light to decide. I often am waiting until the last minute, because the energy shifts with every decision that not only I make, but that you make, that each person makes. The whole picture is changing moment to moment.

How do you ride the higher flows moment to moment while traveling?

What is the ideal balance of structure and plan, and freedom to follow the flow completely able to pivot at any moment?

How does this translate to daily life even if you aren’t traveling?

I think I’ve gotten pretty good at this in a day-to-day scenario when I’m “home” in the US, wherever I happen to call home. And even with road trips in the US it’s been a bit easier. I haven’t gone on a US road trip for this long a time, and know the culture and language, so it feels completely different on this adventure.

I can’t say I’m good at it yet. I’ve had clear alignments —unexpected delights—and some misses. I feel like I’m cutting my teeth in France where I have enough French to get by. Side note—it was different backpacking in my 20’s and without a dog.

So, back to Bordeaux. I felt great knowing what to put in the GPS and that I had a place to land. However, as I was nearing Bordeaux, I had the feeling or knowing that it wasn’t right. Had I not booked the hotel, I would have kept driving, following the knowing about where the flow was or wasn’t. That is more my way.

And really, I could have called the hotel and cancelled, taken my chances they’d let me go, and follow the flow. But did I do that? No. I was tired. We’ve been away now for almost a month. And I wanted something solid to move toward. It was pouring rain and a little scary to drive. I was happy to know where I was going. It felt like good self-care and just plain smart.

When I arrived at the hotel, the feeling that it wasn’t in flow was confirmed in so many little ways. We were totally safe, just not totally comfortable. We still had little joys and discoveries. It was a mixed bag experience. So we stayed one night only, just to sleep, and then headed out again, a little more worn than when we arrived.

I just share that because it’s something I’m learning. I tried just doing what I thought the form was that I wanted to experience and it went OK. But had I just followed the energy, I’m sure there was a higher flow I would have found. I can’t mess it up and I know that. Every experience brings something to savor, a new person to connect with, something to learn.

So I don’t have pictures of Bordeaux. Nothing exciting to share. Just one super adorbs photo of Mango at the hotel restaurant at breakfast.

A little blip in our adventure. A confirmation of what I am practicing and learning, for me. And my trusty travel companion along for it all. Here she is having enjoyed a little bit of my hard boiled egg and croissant. And that is Joy.