Adventures usually start with an idea that either grows or dies. This time my crazy idea of thru-hiking the John Muir Trail (JMT), in the California Sierra Nevada Mountains has evolved and brought me to this exact moment.

I remember moving away from home at the age of 18 feeling confident that I was already worldly, independent and smart. I was full of hope and in my opinion, already had an incredible sense of knowing. It amazes me when I look back and marvel at my young confidence.

This is how I see it ... 1. we only have the moment and 2. our lives are a series of moments linked together.

I remember teasing Dr. T. several weeks ago. I poked at him, “Why would anybody want to learn about the MPC?” He rolled his eyes, laughed at me (as he usually does) and then sighed and spoke. He said with a coy smile on his face, “Robyn, this lecture will change your life! It will allow you to understand what you teach more fully. Robyn, you will come to love the MPC!”

The Mindfulness Lectures were launched this past weekend and it was nice to finally “let it go”. Dr. Treyvaud and I entered into the event with a huge sense of unknowing. It was liberating to not have expectations.

I identify with your struggle, for I struggle too.

I identify with your tightness and pain, for I feel it too.

I identify with your self-consciousness and timidness because I know what it's like to be so unsure.

Just the idea of a road trip often stirs up feelings of nostalgia, frustration, dread, excitement, humour and adventure.  The descriptions of your memories seem to change to match the era in which you grew up.

I feel like summer is just about to start. I have to shake my head when I look at the calendar and see that we are half way through August and the "Back To School" commercials have hit the media. But I am happy to have a lighter step and to feel that some weight has been lifted off of my hard shoulders. Our website is almost complete and I am ready to share it with you!

Today was grey. It was cool but humid.

The kind of day where you decide not to bring an umbrella and it decides to pour on you, or you bring your umbrella and the rain never seems to arrive.

Robyn Bowman is a Mother on Fire! After eight years of being a “stay-at-home-mom” Robyn knew it was time to challenge her mind and “create.” She opened Creating Space Yoga Studio, now in its fourth year of business and leaves her work every day feeling fulfilled. Read her inspiring story of how she turned her passion for yoga into a creative and gratifying venture!

The summer flew by.

The speed at which it moved makes me think that I didn't find the time I needed this summer to be still, to reflect, and to pause. Although busy, it was filled with good times, socializing with good friends, playing with my kids, a long road trip and time spent at the ocean. It was good, but it flew by.

Recently I had the opportunity to spend a few days by myself at a comfy cottage in the woods nestled beside a rustic lake.

This week I am thinking of my fellow teachers, and students who are all practicing their yoga, enjoying some hiking and feeling a warm breeze on an amazing yoga retreat in Mexico led by Helen Duquette. I, on the other hand, am in Southern Ontario, feeling the temperature drop, raking mounds of leaves, avoiding the flu but thankfully, at the moment I am feeling the warm sun shining through the window as I write.

New beginnings can come at any time and in many forms. I thankfully feel the sense of new beginnings many times during the year.

Christmas is about gifts. It's odd hearing that sentence. We work so hard teaching our children that Christmas is not about gifts...it is about so much more.