The Little Bow

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go..."
-Dr. Seuss (Oh, the Places You'll Go!)

(Dr. Seuss will be the honorary poet we have today. 
One of my favorites, with great things to say.
His poems are crafty, swift and complete, offering wisdom in rhymes so sweet.)

Wow. What a ride.

Always has a sense of humor in his approach
and a  helpful hand to offer.
“From there to here, and here to there,
funny things are everywhere.”

Back in the land of the free I arrived safe and sound in LAX at 1am on Sunday July 25^th. The superman of my world greeted me with those familiar open arms as I exited the plane. It did not feel like that long ago when he had dropped me off. I remember watching papa pete on January 18^th as I took lift off on the escalator and entered the long security line. Feeling so alone, so scared, and not knowing what was in store for me and my South American adventure. All I knew was I was going.

And sure thing I did.

Baby Edu! 

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”

“Today you are You, that is truer than true.
There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”

After spending the night at my sister’s home and meeting my beautiful nephew Eduardo (I am now a proud auntie of three!) my father and I made the final leap- a boat ride to the island. A sold out 12:15pm departure, thus we were destined to sit separately. I found a place next to a couple from Thousand Pines. Whether they liked it or not, they had their own private tour guide for that hour we shared together. Thrilled to be making the vast cruise across the sea to my familiar landmass, I shared all my favorite things about Catalina with this pair. They only spent the afternoon in Avalon. Little do they know it is possible to spend your whole life over here- much more than meets the eye to behold.

Home Sweet Home
"Be who you are and say what you feel,
because those who mind don't matter,
and those who matter don't mind." 

My mother picked us up from the boat in the (barely) still living 1982 Jeep wrangler, how I missed her. Incognito, not yet ready to see everyone and begin sharing the stories of my travels in person, I slipped into the backseat with my glasses on and we took the long way home.

Mother from another brother.
"Why fit in when you were born to stand out?"

Other than morning runs and dog walks, I spent my first few days simply being. Celebrating my full reign in a kitchen once again, my diet has consisted mostly of dark chocolate, Mario’s beans, spinach smoothies and my special blend of iced tea… 
i know-bizarre- but all special things I have been without for far too long. I began the long (and yet to be completed) process of unpacking, enjoyed every meal with my family (God Bless Mario!) and didn’t think too much about all that has happened over these past 6 and a half months. A time of transitioning was needed, and was indeed had. Today I woke up and downloaded nearly 5,000 pictures on my computer. Scanning over them once again was like going through a time warp. Wow. I did all that. I was there. That is me. So much has changed. So much has happened. So much I have been blessed to experience.

So, here I am. Tying a pretty little bow around the South American adventure with this final blog post. During the process of writing this blog I have discovered all the more my passion for writing so… stay posted to my "normal" blog from here on out.   http://kyriaedwards.blogspot.com/


This afternoon I waved goodbye as my little sister departed for her first big international adventure. She will be traveling around France and Spain for two weeks along with 20 other students from her high school. Last Sunday I arrived, and this Sunday La is leaving. All things really do come full circle.

"You'll be on your way up!
You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights."  

As I wrote last, I finished my travels with a 16 day 200 hr RYT Yoga teacher training course. I successfully completed it and am now a certified yoga instructor! Whoo! Now let me just say if you are imagining a “yoga retreat” where the people are beautiful, yoga is done from morning to night and the birds sing the worlds delight… you would be right. But… it was also SO VERY INTENSE!!! Really, intense. My day spanned from 5am to 9pm. Countless hours of yoga practice and studies of philosophy, anatomy, history, postures, safety, modifications… there was a lot to cover. The life of a yogi. The balance of business and spirituality. A divine opportunity to acknowledge as well as move beyond our own greatest challenge- ourselves.

“And the turtles, of course... All the turtles are free-
As turtles and, maybe, all creatures should be.”

Although unintentional, I soon realized I had led my way down the hard road, by coming unprepared.  I was traveling for 2 full months before my arrival in Costa Rica where not once did I take a yoga class (outside if my own practice) and my mind was not devoted to the study and pursuit of yoga. Now yoga is a lifestyle, and one I aim to follow daily- so in that extent I felt on board but… I was a tad bit out of practice when it came to the asanas, and it was obvious. Fortunately I was surrounded by wonderful yogis who helped me along with their patient and ever loving support. 


My first week there was nothing short of a struggle. Physically sick with everything from headaches to the stomach flu to back pains (all of which I never usually have) to being emotionally out of whack. However, as I became settled and more comfortable in this new place, the beauty of it all began to unfold- allowing for true presence to pave the way for a conducive learning environment.

I underestimated the intensity of these two weeks and did not know they would demand so much of me. But I am grateful that they did. An incredible learning and growing experience for myself as a teacher, a student, and a yogini.

"The storm starts, when the drops start dropping
When the drops stop dropping then the storm starts stopping." 

Looking back on it now, I understand why my body, mind and spirit reacted as such. And rightfully so. I threw myself into an extremely challenging environment, totally different than anything I had been in during the past half year. During my travels, as I would go from one place to the next I would allot myself a couple of days to transition and settle. I did not have that time to settle into the teacher training. On top of that, my flight from Peru to Costa Rica was 7 hours late, so I missed my caravan, thus leaving me to spend the night in San Jose alone, where I then missed my bus the following (long story), left to wait four hours in a tiny bus stop where… well… I had a (much deserved at this point) mini-meltdown and then I pulled myself together. Learning some pretty valuable life lessons all on my own. Sometimes we are meant to figure things out by ourselves.

"So be sure when you step, Step with care and great tact.
And remember that life's A Great Balancing Act.
And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed)" 

Then I arrived and all was well at the teacher training. It is wild how the time goes. Here I am now sitting on my couch almost as if none of the past 6 months ever happened. It feels dream like to look back on it all. The same Kyria sits here now who learned to ride a bike in these streets (two times), mastered social skills from these small town people and who developed a sense of “YES I CAN” from all the support of the community. 20 years later, YES I DID.

With that said, this is not the only adventure. I realize more and more it is not about South America, what I saw or what I did, it is how I did it all that matters. The lessons learned, opportunities had and relationships built helped give me the tools I need to better live the rest of my adventure. Every day is the journey. Since I have been back many people have said “I want to hear all about your trip! All the stories and memories made…” Part of me does not know when that “trip” started and ended. If I am only looking at the time in which I was out of the USA, we are missing the real value that was held during that exploration.  It is when I take a step back and look at this one grand event in the context of my whole  life’s journey, that the real significance can be seen and honored.

"You’ll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut." 

I believe that traveling is one way to expedite ones learning and experience, therefore speeding up the process of self-growth and enlightenment. Anytime we go beyond our “comfort limits” we are bound to find something worthwhile. While traveling there are endless opportunities to do and see externally, which in turn allows us to see more internally. The more foreign of a destination, the more opportunity for change and exploration.

When I see people that live differently than I do, I am reminded we are not all the same and that there is much glory in the diversity between cultures. And on the flip side, we are all kind of the same. The Beatles had it right all along, “All you need is Love.” I am biased as I am forever an apprentice to Love, but other than the need to eat, sleep, work, and play- we all need to love and be loved in return. Sounds simple. 


The beauty in all of that is as long as these basic needs are met, and we live within our means, happiness and satisfaction are sure to be waiting patiently in our mailbox. From the homeless to the wealthy rich I have know, the key to opening that box is our mindset. As my yoga teacher loved to say “It is all mental.” And it really is.

"Be grateful you’re not in the forest in France
Where the average young person just hasn’t a chance
To escape from the perilous pants eating plants
But your pants are safe, you’re a fortunate guy
You ought to be shouting how lucky am I" 

Even if we have nothing, absolutely nothing, we still have control over our mind. Ultimately the world is what it is and we as individuals perceive it differently and therefore are different (along with biology, nature, nurture, and all that jazz) but at the root of it all is our mind. If we allow ourselves to view the world in the light that it really is, we not only allow ourselves to be divine as we are intended to be, but we also share that love and light with all whom we come in contact with. Thereby making the globe as a whole that much richer on all levels. Win-Win.

Now perhaps I am just a tired love hippie who is exhausted from half a years travel and has most recently been washed up as a beached mermaid on a stranded island and I am blabbing nonsense about love and life and the pursuit of happiness but, all of this is true… to me, in my mind and soul. But it may not be for you, which is wonderful too. I believe we all need to find our own philosophy, and we can use others for inspiration, but ultimately we are the rulers of our own worlds and must therefore write up a manifesto- or else we may be swooped up into someone else’s.  The deepest joy comes when we find others whom share a similar outlook and passion as we do. There we can really connect and begin to build our own family.

More of these good times to come!
"It's opener, out there, in the wide, open air."

It really is a wonderful world, and I can say that with all the more certainty now. While I crossed some places off on my "must see" list, the list only grew as more days passed in travels. I have a heart to travel and the desire to take me there. But for now I am greatly enjoying the comfort of home, the sweet unspoken joy of knowing exactly where I am and who I am with. The casuality that comes with knowing how the day will probably play out and what tomorrow will look like too. 


There is much to be appreciated about where I am from, this place and the village that it houses helped create the original mold for who I was to become. Only as I begin to venture farther and farther away do I realize it is ok, and at times even healthy, to break that mold and be the woman I choose to be. And it is also perfectly good to return home once again, embracing all that is new within and all that is constant without. 

"Today was good. Today was fun.
Tomorrow is another one."

After 178 days of traveling around 6 different countries thanks to the 14 planes taken and countless number of buses I sleeplessly enjoyed, I hereby declare this little bow tied. I am ready and enthusiastic to continue on this journey of life, and also grateful to close this beautiful chapter that has been one great South American adventure. 


I would also like to thank all of you. I wrote this blog for three reasons: One: to assist me in my nearly mad desire to record keep and remember all that has happened. Two: to help me digest the passing of events as I transitioned from one thing to the next at a rapid rate. And last but not the least bit least… to share it all with you. It means the world to me that you all have taken the time and interest to read a bit about my life. I can only hope it was a beneficial and enjoyable experience, and please do share a bit of your life story back with me too.

We are all in this together, and there is only so much we can learn on our own and via our personal observations. But if we all share some bits of wisdom that we have collected along the way… it is bound to be a much more rewarding journey for everyone.

Pura vida y namaste,

Kyria 

The entire globe I would love to roam, but as Dorothy once said, "there is no place like home."

As I ran today on this land where I am from, 

I was reminded once again of something truly awesome.
The world is vast, mysterious and great- a divine opportunity to learn, grow and re-create.
But it is in this soil where I am always welcomed, loved and known - 

that I can return again and again to rest my heart at home.

-Ki

~~~

And one of my favorites to wrap it up tight...

"I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, It's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, And that enables you to laugh at life's realities."
-Dr Seuss

El fin de Argentina


A brief look at some final adventures in BsAs...

Acrobacia en Tela

Prepping for the 360 flip...It´s all mental...

half way there...

STICK IT!

 Yummy Treats


Ginger, Lemon, Honey, Cinnamon Cure any wound Tea



Homemade roasted peanuts



Many Multi Mmmazing Fruit cake



 

Pre Oven Easter Peanut Butter Cookies



 

Post Oven



Li´s Homemade Sushi

Iguazu Falls


Exploring wild bugs in the botanical gardens




Un lugar de magia




Soul Sisters

Miners Unite!


 



















Power Crystal
















Saying Goodbyes:

Night on the Roof



Share the children´s joy



final foto.





Light Time*

 Goodbye City of Buenos Aires... Hello Salta!

May 16th

Tour around northern Salta: Humahuaca and Jujuy
Old Incan ruins

Lots of Ass.

Largest salt flats in Argentina
It covers an area of 3,200 mi²
Mmm...

La Montaña de Siete Colores

May 17th

Walk around downtown Salta

and Haircut day!
(That´s my "I´ve completely gone wild, but am ok with it" look)

May 18th

Horseback Riding at the Campo!
The BEST "tour" I´ve done thus far! Felt like jsut going to a friends ranch and hanging out on horseback, enjoy a huge asado (with lots of roasted veggies for me!) and then enjoying the full moon with the absence of all city lights. So laid back, as most things in Argentina we didn´t even have to sign a waiver (I think that obsession is most profound in the US of A) and as most men in Argentina, they never failed to be overly flirty.
A perfect day, a goofy tour guide and 4 fellow companions that soon became good friends. Not to mention... the first time ever that I galloped! (One of the scariest things I have ever done in my entire life! I even contemplated the idea of jumping off the full speed mammel, but then my thighs kicked in and just squeesed with all thier might as I pulled back on the reigns and whew... he stopped. What a rush, and one I chose not to do again. But hey, I tried something new!)

The home from the 1800´s

Wide Open Spaces

Dog followed the road, horse followed the dog, I followed the horse.
Ps: take notice of horse´s ears- he was on edge the whole time which needless to say,
made me a tad nervous too. But I made it out a stronger braver me :)

Meet Nicole: 3 going on 30.

Meet Mr. Goat, he thinks he´s a dog.

One of the best sunsets of my life.
Nature in it´s purest form at every angle.

May 19th

Hiked to the vista point of Salta. Hiked 1070 steps to be exact. Fortunately I forgot my camera, so I just enjoyed taking in the surroundings the old fashioned way: eyesight. Works well.

May 20th
Up at 5am and off to take 3 planes to land in BRAZIL!



Rainbows are everywhere.



Estoy Sola

7pm. Cafe.

Wow. That happened fast.
I came to Buenos Aires alone.
I made friends, I made family.
I learned a lot of Spanish.
I saw a lot of places and tried a lot of new things.
I fell in love.

Then I said goodbye.
To everything and everyone.




La Famila de Amor.


On Saturday I journeyed 21 hours north on a bus to a place called Salta. I journeyed alone.
Heartbroken.

Although I realize how incredibly fortunate I am to be able to have the opportunity to travel, this is a transitioning point in my life. I had a home and a circle of support. People to love and love me back. I was comfortable, I was happy. Truly truly happy.

While I know I am beginning to embark on a grand adventure of my life, I´m hurting. It is so not my style to talk about anything less than exciting and wholesomely good things but... the dark side is just as valid as the light. The two go hand in hand and balance eachother out. If I did not allow myself to fall deeply in love with the people and places in BsAs, this would be a much easier transition to make.

I wholeheartedly accept the pain and challenges that greet me now. They are well worth the deeply pleasurable times I had. To embrace the light for all it is, we must have the dark to compare it to.

Kahlil Gibran forms these emotions into words with perfection:

"When love beckons to you, follow him,
Though his ways are hard and steep.
And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.
And when he speaks to you believe in him,
Though his voice may shatter your dreams
as the north wind lays waste the garden.

For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,
So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.

Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.
He threshes you to make you naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks.
He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant;
And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God's sacred feast.

All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life's heart.

But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and love's pleasure,
Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing-floor,
Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.
Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;
For love is sufficient unto love."
-The Prophet

In the hills of Salta.

While my initial desire was to hold on with all my might, I know the best thing to do is appreciate all that was and move on. Be open to all that will be. If we are meant to meet again, we shall. Soul´s that meet once and create so much good are bound to meet again.

I feel now more than ever that it is our responsibility as individuals to nurture our own spirits. Learn all we are meant to learn and love without restriction. We each have our own path we are walking. We meet different people along the way and share the same road for a while- people we are meant to teach and learn from. And we meet them at the perfect time, for the perfect reasons.

What a joy it is to share life with another?! Embrace the beauty our world offers and share in the many delights together. Those whom we meet, although different, serve as the greatest mirrors to ourselves. We grow with another and learn all the more about ourselves. Different people inspire different sides of our own self to live and breathe in that environment which is made.

What is the "self" anyways? Does a one true me "self" exist? If so where? And how do I define it?
Is it in my personality, beliefs, values? Is it in my physical being, my mind, or my heart?
Who is this "self"? And if it can be pinponinted- is the "self" not in constant evolution?

Having left a life I loved, I enter this new world. It can be anything I make it to be. And it will be incredible. I have the power and ability to lead my life in the way I wish. What a true priviledge.

Never before have I been alone. Truely entirely alone. After being surrounded by an influx of love and light- this aloneness does not compare. Two different things- I know it is not fair to compare. I thrive when I have someone to love and someone to love me too. I think we all do. The trick is, I love myself. And for this I know the love never dies and I will be just fine. I will be more than fine actually. I just need some adjusting time...

One month.
The "plan" as follows:
I have one month of travel time with Kyria. I will spend a week in Salta (beautiful northern argentina).
Then I am going to Florianópolis- an island off the Southern coast of Brazil. Back to being an island girl for a while in the state of Santa Catarina (sound familiar?). After my reunion with the deep blue sea, I will volunteer as a wwoofer for a couple of weeks at a yoga retreat/farm in the outskirts of Rio.
Not much to complain about, I know. I am blessed.

For now, I am using the full moon and my monthly extra dosage of hormones to help me justify my heightened emotions.  With time and consciousness, all things clear up and the wounds heal. In all reality, I am so so so grateful for the incredible journey I´ve had and the incredible journey that lays ahead.

My natural reaction was to shut off from the world. I "knew" there was no one like the people I had just left anywhere within a 1000 mile radius. I realize while this may be a natural reaction, it is not true. If I open my heart and my hands, the possibilites are endless. I have to first invite Love if I want the possibilty of it RSVPing.




Love in the Streets of Salta.


A beautiful family joined in Buenos Aires- a truly unique blend of gifts and hearts. A circle of friends that learned so much from each other and shared so much together. I send each and every one of them so much love and light! As I send YOU love and light too :)

A perfect time was shared.
Change is good and healthy.
A new opportunity for growth and learning.
I know I am a strong independent woman completely capable of navigating my way around the globe- and having fun while I do so. So CHEERS to a new beginning. Once again I have been reminded just how quickly the time goes... The importance of BEING present and spreading the LOVE and LIGHT always- is as true now as it ever was. 

I just feel kinda lonely right now...The funny thing is I know I am so so loved. I have an army of people that love and care about me, and for that I am forever grateful. I must rememner that just because I am alone geographically, does not make me alone in reality. Plus, there are people all around that have every ability to become my new best friend! Well... maybe not my new best friend, but definitely people whom I could share tea and smiles with.

In a low point today I ate chocolate cake that was left over from some person some where. It laid so innocently on the counter of the kitchen in the hostel I had no control over my hands as they reached forward searching for comfort and pleasure. Not the solution.

The road is long and winding.

Good plan of action:
I realized I needed to care for myself a bit better than reckless wild chocolate cake eating woman, so I took myself for a walk. Glorious city of Salta. For hours I conversed with the low open streets, the foggy misty morning air, the love notes of graffitti on the walls, and the leaves hanging below the sky line. I bought some avocados from a man on the street and ate one like an apple for lunch. A little boy smiled at me as he walked by and then turned around to smile again, knowing somewhere inside that his smile made my day- so seconds were much appreciated.

Life. Up and down and all around.
All is good.


.................. 
9pm. Hostel.

Ok. So talk about change of perspective.

I HAVE BEEN REBORN!!!

Everything I wrote up till this point was, well lets face it... so SAD! Ughh. I do not like to be sad, nor do I like to write about being sad. I know energies are contagious so and I want mine to be worth catching so... I MADE A CHANGE!

I did this...

The "Mayah Doo"
and thank you Tahnee too!

Honestly I woke up this morning thinking, "This is it. This is the time. I should shave my head." I know extreme. I clearly didn´t get that far, half way :) I have had the desire to shave my head for sometime now, challenge myself and societies definition of being "a woman" as well as challenging my own thoughts of "beauty." Who knows, maybe a bare head is in the future but for now.... SHORT is in!

I thought about it all day and every time I saw my reflection I said "Yes, I´m cutting my hair tonight." I walked past a number of hair salons, but thats not the same- I wanted to do it. So I did.

Writings on the wall.

I got back to the hostel, asked the front desk to borrow the scissors, walked to the bathroom, put my hair in a pony tail and clip-clip-clip one cut straight across (well... it didn´t turn out that straight. Let´s say it has a little flair) and voilá!

Done! New hair! As I cut I said "I love you I love you I love you..." And I do! I love it!
So bizarre. It is just hair. Right? But I feel completely re-energized, like a literal WEIGHT is lifted off my shoulders (my head really is lighter now) I AM HAPPY! REALLY REALLY HAPPY!

I ran around the hostel and giggled. So silly.

A change mentally was in order, so a change physically helped move the mindset right along. And here I am. Kyria is back in action! And with a new look.

Once I got my attitude back in optimistic-light giving-love spreading-world, life started to brighten up. Go figure. I talked to Omar (super cool guy at front desk) and he hooked me up with this ALL DAY excursion tomorrow: horseback riding at a nearby ranch in the beautiful hills of Salta with a huge vegetarian asado and transportation all included for a nice sweet small price of 75 USD. Three other chicas are going from the hostel too---hello new friends! And... two super cute girls from Germany joined me in my room tonight! Last night I was all alone in this 6 person dorm room- probably for the best- I wanted to be alone then but now... I´m all open to friends! Bring it on!

Love is everywhere
if you open your eyes.

Alrighty, if it isn´t apparent by the shear increase in !!!exclamation marks!!! I am feeling much better now. Thanks for riding the wild train of ups and downs with me. Let´s stay high on life for a while.


Muchisimas gracias pacha mama.