Mindful moments have become mini vacations during the course of the day in the swirl of life that can whisk me away and right out of living in the moment to the illusion of a past stress or future anxiety.
This week I found myself making mindful return visits to memories of long ago that make me, ...me. These are moments of intention, of being present with and in myself. They bring peace and connection.
I loved the marvels of geology as a girl. And I lived in exactly the right place to experience first hand the magical treasures and mysteries in the earth. 
I lived in Drumheller Alberta. Drumheller is home of the famous Tyrell Dinosaur Museum. But before the museum ever existed I rode my bike through the bumpy trails of the 'Badlands' where the museum now sits.
I lived a block away from and frequently visited the original Dinosaur museum which of course had all kinds of fossils and stones all aeons old. I never got tired of looking at them, awestruck that my eyes were actually seeing remnants of life millions of years old.
Even then I knew how very blessed I was to live in the midst of extraordinary millenium layered right into the seamed walls of the valley that I looked at every day in wonderment - a huge prehistoric gorge carved into the Canadian prairie landscape.
(If you are viewing as a guest you may leave comments and questions in the comment box below)
BADLANDS PHOTOS http://photobucket.com/
Post a comment
Temporarily disabled — coming soon!
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
Powered by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network
© 2008 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved
Deborah, Reading your post I could just imagine the country side and dinosaurs roaming. Hopefully some day to even visit. Thanks for the adventure.
Canadian Prairie Landscape, dinasaurs, and beautiful pictures, all in one blog! Nice to meet you. I enjoy your blog.
Renee - I do hope you do det to visit Drumheller one day. The landscape of the 'Badlands' is a spectacular piece of prehistory. The Tyrrel Musueum is world class science.
hey Deborah your pics and memories remind me so of my most recent trip to the Badlands in South Dekota. I confess I have enjoyed Yellowstone and Grand Canyon more but there was still something very majestic about the land formations. I can just imagine it all being under water so many lifetimes ago.
Wow Shellee! Great shot - this is very much like the Alberta Badlands - it was such an awesomne experience growing up in the midst of prehistoric layerings of earth magic!
Robert Thanks for visiting! So Glad you enjoyed it - great to meet you also - hope ypu'r having a terrific weekend down there on the Caribbean! It is very chilly, up here but we're having some lovely sunny autumn days!
How beautiful! Maybe I could even stand there without tossing my cookies (the Grand Canyon kinda did me in...)! Talk about being mindful--nothing like a heart attack to bring yoy into the moment--I freaked out when my then-7-year old went tripping down the path in front of me, with the sheer dropoff on one side...yikes!
Wonderful post, wonderful blog!
Thanks again Loretta! Amazing how youth can be so fearless! I remember that - I was that kind of girl, a tom-boy really! There was so much to explore frowing up in a place like the Drumheller valley.
I bet it was really great Deborah. There is noting like nature and most especially the fossils of it to spark a young persons imagination.
Wow, I would absolutely love to be able to drive a short distance and have a view like that! Amazing and inspirational!
Shellee - I cannot even begin to express the absolute gratitude I feel for this piece in my childhood. I may write a post on my adventures finding fossils of plants and sea shells on the hill tops of the badlands.
Great to hear from you, doll!
Deborah: Thanks!!! I went to college in Three Hills, AB and went up to Drumheller quite a few times, your pics brought back quite a few memories of the beauty of the area!!!! Here's a few of mine, since I don't live too far south of you......
Thanks for visiting Jeffrey! It truly is an inspirational life experience to fall back on, not only to view, but also experience.
I hope you're having a terrific week!
Wow - certainly is a small world at times Lee!
I perhaps visited Three Hills only once with my grandmother, a tough old bird who worked her fields herself until retirement. She would take her grain to sell in various communuities such as Three Hills. I believe my mother was born in Three Hills.
Yes you are very near - a mere stone's throw from Kelowna. Osooyoos is a lovely area. Is that it in the first shot? And the other shots are where?
Cheers - great to hear from you - thanks so much for visiting!
Deborah: Gosh, I could just envision being right there. You write so beautifully.
Hi Deborah... 1st and 3rd shots are Osoyoos, 2nd shot is a wonderful area south of here in Washington state called dry falls..... great State Park, good swimming and great camping and fishing... Better stop writing before someone thinks I'm hijacking your post in a touristy kinda way.....
Always great to hear from you Diane - thanks so much for your kind words - your visits are always a delight! It's fun to revisit this particular place in my memory.
Lee - thanks for telling me about your shots - there certainly are some terrific places to visit in WA - I've visited the coast quite a bit. But really, the Drumheller Badlands hold such awesome treasures!
Deborah- You definitely should write that piece. I always find that no matter what the topic is its always more fun to read when the author is passionate about what she/he is writing. It just makes for better reading all around.
Shellee - thanks so much for the encouragement!
I have been taking small journeys back to my youth lately - a form of meditation, stress release and living in the moment. Funny - paradoxical how memories can do that!
How interesting Deborah, what a great place to grow up. Your photo's remind me so much of our southwest, especially the Badlands (I like the photo Shellee posted).
Hi Debbie - it was a fascinating place to grow up! Not only had my Scottish ancestors been settlers in the area, it was and is rich in so many ways. I remain very grateful for the experiences and connection I have with this area.