no. 006 | hot springs.

☑ swim in a hot springs

Sometimes life brings about adventures that invigorate your spirit and refresh your soul.

That was my recent trip to visit a dear friend in northern Idaho and British Columbia. Sure, visiting a beach may be relaxing, but for me... visiting the mountains is refreshing... and boy, did my soul need refreshed! There is something so absolutely breathtaking about standing at the base of a giant mountain raised up out of the earth by God the Creator.

Since I made plans to visit my dear friend Katie and her husband, naturally Katie and I had to review my list and figure out if we could add a few things to cross off... one of which, included swimming in a hot springs. So I made sure to update my passport, and we booked a night at a hot springs resort in Ainsworth, British Columbia. One of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The drive through Canada alone left me in awe! And relaxing in a hot springs within a cave was superb... worlds more exciting than any hot tub I've ever experienced.

I would have loved to snap a few photos of the hot springs in the caves, but I was not that daring with my camera... so you'll just have to paint your own picture of what it was like to take a swim in a cave.

no. 005 | drive stick shift

☑ learn to drive stick shift

I had the chance to visit a friend recently out West, and she and I made some intentional time to cross a few things off my list... one of which, was learning to drive stick shift.

While this was quite the experience in stretching my muscle memory, it was exciting to learn something new. It really made sense to be in that much control of the car. I only stalled a small handful of times at some stop signs, due to the whole release clutch / give it gas at the same time thing, but that was to be expected until I could keep it in my brain and react without thinking. Katie and her husband Kacey were great teachers and very patient the entire time. I think they were actually somewhat impressed at how quickly I picked it up, without lurching the car forward at all. Seriously though, I was quite impressed with myself as well.

So there's one more thing checked off my list! Now, to find someone in town that also has stick shift that will let me "perfect" my skills...

no. 004 | concert by myself

☑ go to a concert... by myself

☑ take a photo with a band

So I knew I was adding one "new" thing to the list last night... but turns out, I was able to add one more (even better!)

Now, attending a concert is by far something new... I've had a love for live music ever since my junior high days (1998, to be exact... it was either the Audio Adrenaline/Jennifer Knapp/ OC Supertones concert... or the OC Supertones/Five Iron Frenzy/The Insyderz concert... I don't remember which came first anymore), which means I've been in love with concert-going for over 15 years now (whoa!). It started out at large concerts where i was a tiny speck in the crowd, and migrated to a love for music festivals, house shows, outdoor venues, amphitheaters in the park, and cramped theaters with standing-room only. But always, I have attended ticket-holding shows with other people. Never by myself. So when I heard one of my favorite bands was coming to town, I didn't hesitate to buy a single ticket... and made plans to go to the show... by myself.

Kind of strange to make plans to go to a show by myself. I felt like I needed to call someone up and buy them a ticket to join me. But this was somewhat exhilarating, to know that I was doing this because it was exactly what i wanted to do, and not just because a group of people were joining me. Now, to be fair, I did find out 10 minutes before the show that a friend was going to be there, so we met up and stood in line together, as well as took in the show side-by-side. But I feel like the very nature of attending the concert by myself was not altered... because I still made these plans on my own. And this show did not disappoint. I wish I could explain the exact atmosphere, but that never works unless you are actually there. I can say though, that my heart was soaring with every note that Paper Route produced.

After the show, I stuck around to chat with the band members and they seemed somewhat surprised when i mentioned that I've been listening ever since I first fell in love with "City Trucks" and that their music is in high rotation every Christmas season (because they have some of the most beautiful original winter songs i have ever heard). To that, Chad (bass/piano) glanced up at the ceiling and mentioned that perhaps they need to do a Christmas tour at some point... no argument here. When asked about taking a photo, he mentioned that they would stick around and sell some more merch first and then they would be happy to snap a group photo. So i sunk back to lean against the counter-top and take in all of the interaction and storytelling that was going on. It was not long until JT was telling stories about the photography of their most recent album (a most haunting image of a girl in a dress, knees pulled up to her chest, with wolves circling around her in the midst of the woods), and how this image was taken on a safari, with real wolves (and plenty of trainers, of course) and how they were also hanging on to other images from this series that included a giraffe, which will quite possibly be seen further down the road. I was drawn in by the animation that was used to tell these stories... as well as the gesture from JT to enter the circle and shake hands and ask my name. From there, JT called Chad over, and they were joined by Gavin, who loudly proclaimed "let's do this group thing"... and there we have it. My first group photo with a band. I'm not typically one to wait around to trouble anyone for a group photo, but I'm honored that they were so willing and eager to take a group photo for me. And with me.

So there's the story of how I added one more new thing to my list... spontaneously.

no. 003 | poetry slam

☑ attend a poetry slam

sometimes, things will get added to the list that i never even expected to be a part of when i first woke up that day...thanks to the inspiration of a dear friend, i had the opportunity to experience for the first time in my life, a poetry slam. words with emotion pierce right to my soul, and last night was an unexpected treat. i've seen videos of "spoken word" on youtube, but nothing can take the place of actually sitting in an audience of attentive listeners, drinking in the deepest thoughts being shared by another human being. what i enjoyed the most was the common thread throughout each of these pieces: a longing to be known... each of these poets expressed a bit of who they are, and some of them expressed quite vividly what they are searching for, and this... this is what my soul found most refreshing.i was reminded tonight that everyone is trying to share their story... and that sometimes, all it takes is a few seconds of courage, in order to be heard. i don't think anyone would have walked away from speaking tonight, saying "no one liked what i had to say" ... everyone got an applause when they were done speaking. we heard them. and i wonder, how does this carry over in my life? am i giving people the room to utilize those moments where all they need is a few seconds of courage in order to speak what is written on their heart, and know that no matter how much they stumble over their words or how much passion they put into their piece, that i will always be attentive when listening, and ready to applaud loudly when they are finished sharing?i want to be that. always attentive. always listening. always applauding.as a bonus... the poetry slam ended with a guest poet. i had never heard of this guest poet before, but he is an award-winning poet, who has won back-to-back poetry slam awards. words are his life. and i imagine that this is both exhilarating and exhausting. this guy is a fan favorite wherever he speaks... the Bowery Room in NYC, national events such as TWLOHA (To Write Love On Her Arms), and poetry slam competitions. after his first poem, i realized what an honor it was to be sitting in this room...i feel i must share a bit of what i experienced last night.Anis Mojgani poured out his words of inspiration, humor, reality, and emotion.so, here is a video... not from last night, but it is a recent video, and this is just a bit of what i had the privilege to experience last night... my first poetry slam, and a guest performance by Anis Mojgani:[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PWrlOgrzHQ]

"Shake the Dust" by Anis Mojgani, Def Poet, won back-to-back titles at the National Individual Poetry Slam in 2005 and 2006, and won first place at 2007 World Cup Poetry Slam held in Bobigny, France. He performs here, as the featured poet at the Bowery Poetry Club in New York City, performing his famous "Shake the Dust".