Are You Overtired or Overheated?

Yesterday, I aimed my car alarm at the airconditioner in my office. 

I was closing up and on my way out the door. 

When I heard my car alarm beep and Javier laugh out loud, I realized: this isn't going to work.

Climbing into my trusty Landcruiser, Javier asked if I would like the airconditioner remote to turn on my car. In that moment, I knew I was feeling tired and yet, there is something magical and powerful about laughter, especially, in those unintentional moments of making a loved one laugh.

More than twenty summers in Baja, I have invested time, energy and experience in learning how to stay relatively cool and conserve my energy during the warmer months. Ironically, in the last handful of years, much planning and drawing has happened during the winter and much onsite construction during the summer. The latter entails onsite visits during the warmer months.

As we approached the job site, I began taking pictures of the round rock planters, block curbing, white chalk lines for patio steps and the guys digging to begin their formation. This is in the afternoon sun. This is when the workers are partially covered to protect their skin, to stay relatively cool and work in these conditions. 

These men amaze me and whenever I see them working outside on the west side in the afternoon sun, I marvel and wonder how they do it. When this is your job, you do your best to do the job and stay hydrated and heat is part of the equation. No luxury. This is hot work with hot materials: stone, concrete, metal shovels and the blazing sun overhead. 

I called Javier later that afternoon, after taking photos to send to our client and asked if we can coordinate the work to happen with the trajectory of the sun: work on the west side in the mornings when there is some shade. Work on the east side when the sun is blazing on the west. He said that might work.

Several times in the last week, I have felt overheated. Defeated. I know better. I know how to stay relatively cool and conserve my energy. I take a moment to reflect: what have I done differently this summer and why am I feeling overheated? I've been walking the beach in the mornings after Paloma goes to school. The sun is up. The temps are rising. But, I'm walking along the water's edge, sunblocked and big hat to shade my face. Doesn't matter. The sun can easily zap your energy. I went to a lovely yoga class earlier this week. I enjoyed it very much and walked away with an inspiring poem and some new transitions. Still, I got too hot. My clothes were soaked. For the next two hours, I felt zapped. I know how to stay cool, I tell myself. I let myself overheat. Time, patience, hydration and the body recovers. I see Javier later in the day and say: we need to install airconditioners in the Yoga studio. His reply: don't overthink it, just do it. I'm working on it and wishing I had done this months ago in preparation. I thought about it. Then shelved the idea with: it's okay, we know how to stay cool. This is a luxury.

How do you know when you are overtired? One of my tell alls: when I step into the shower and turn on the water and the temperature doesn't feel right and I try to adjust one faucet and then the other and the water goes from too hot to too cold. I look at the faucets and see the letter "C" and I cannot remember if that means Cold or Caliente. Then I try to remember the universal law of which side is always hot and always cold. And still cannot remember. This tells me: you're overtired. 

Aiming the car alarm at the A/C is a new one. It is also a reminder of the comforts I enjoy: a trusty landcruiser and airconditioning in my office. 

How do our workers feel at the end of the day when they have worked in the sun or mixture of sun and shade? I imagine, very tired. I imagine, feeling the heat. I hope they rest. I hope they feel a cool reprieve. 

I come back to feeling overheated from walking on the beach in the sun or feeling overheated after taking a yoga class and I feel the immense privilege of the life I get to live. A life I have worked hard to create yet remember clearly and regularly what it felt like to live a life without privilege. I aim to create the best working conditions, salaries and experience for our workers, staff, crew and clients. That we may all feel as cared for, as considered, as important, as included, as we all are to each other in this shared life of community, near and far.  

As I sit here, I can feel the sweat beading, ready for a shower with confidence that I am feeling rested and remember which side is hot and which side is cold. Laundry is washing. Paloma is playing her Ukelele. Dylan just made toast. Javier is at Rancho el Aventadero, letting the chickens out to run around. And my yoga mat awaits me with my memory of how I practice in summer: aside from a slower practice, postures that help cool the body, as opposed to postures that increase body temperature. Forward bends, legs up the cool wall, yin and gentle poses, supported restorative chest openers and twists, combining effort and ease to maintain my body temperature and I know: this is a luxury. And I am grateful. Everyday. 

Live in Baja, Love the Outdoors

Outdoor Living in Baja is available year round in the East Cape. Before making Los Barriles, Baja California Sur my permanent home in 1994, I lived in Eastern Oregon. Winters included short days, long dark nights, sometimes snow or ice and temperatures nearing zero. Sunlight was limited as was time outdoors. After spending hours, days and months indoors, by February I felt like I was clawing the walls, desperate for time outside, warmth, fresh air, vitamin D, less clothing, open doors and windows, freedom to move in and out, without the layering required to keep a body warm. On the bright side, I did have my share of snow ball fights, ice pranks down the back of my shirt shock in junior high, some of the usual cold weather outdoor activities and once, I got to ski – seventeen and fearless, I flew down the slopes, fell on my front, sides and behind many times and was lucky to walk away uninjured. On that day, I had the most fun ever until my early thirties when I started kiteboarding, taking advantage of the abundant north wind, as well as, friendly, patient, knowledgeable and professional lessons at Exotikite Kiteboarding.

Summer outdoor BBQ-ing. Relaxed dinner with family and close friends.

One of the main reasons I chose to put down roots and make LB my home was to live in a place where I could live indoor-outdoor twelve months out of the year.  With smart design, considering wind, sun, shade, seasons, natural climate and weather patterns, it is not only possible to enjoy indoor-outdoor living year round, but pleasant. In over twenty years of living here, I have to say the only time it is impossible to enjoy outdoor living is during a hurricane. Even on the coldest day of winter, an outdoor area that is protected from the wind and exposed to the warm rays of sunshine can be cozy and inviting. Without sunshine, it can still be nice, as long as there is wind protection! Add an outdoor chimenea and voila! Even better. On the warmest day of summer, feel the occasional early morning breeze and gentle south wind during its visit, add some ceiling or floor fans and it can be enjoyable to be outside. Frequent swims, cool showers and iced drinks to stay hydrated, slow movement  – not  being in too much of a hurry and the quiet of summer – sans hurricanes – feel like a blessed reprieve. For those who love to hike the ever changing local hillside trails, summer hiking is possible, again – slow movement, much hydration, less distance, early ascent and watch for rattle snakes when you walk. Stop and smell the cactus flower, be home and under shade before the sun blazes down.

Stone steps thoughtfully designed to follow the natural terrain and
carefully built by artisans who have worked with our company for many years

Our bedrooms and office are air-conditioned, making sleeping comfortable, as well as, concentrating on work possible. We did air-condition our entire home for several years, but soon realized – aside from the high power bills – that air-conditioning our home, closing doors and windows, I felt as confined and limited to staying indoors as I had in Eastern Oregon during winter up there. We decided to donate the great room’s A/C to the local high school where our son is now a senior, open our windows and doors, adapt to the daily temperature, cook  outdoors, move slower – during summer in LB, doing less is not only possible, but necessary! Three years ago I enjoyed my first summer offering yoga classes at Healing Winds Holistic Center. After several piped in with the opinion we would need A/C to stay cool and keep classes going all summer, I decided to experiment with adapting the practice to the season – again, slow gentle movement, less is more, cooling, restorative poses and we did it! We stayed relatively cool, the classes lasted all summer and as we transitioned into cooler months, I noticed more energy available and onward we went. I continue to adapt my personal practice and Yoga classes to daily and seasonal climate.

Outdoor areas may serve many purposes.
Spaces designed for different purposes offer the best use of space.

UBL Designs, originally known as VOS en Construction, has been designing and building custom homes since 1991. We have witnessed and been part of more than one boom, as well as, worked through and downsized during the recession. Between 2010 and 2015, for five years, working with clients who over the years have become our friends, we concentrated on additions, remodels and the creation of Outdoor Living. To share with our community some of the unique, beautiful and livable outdoor areas we created, on January 6, 2016, we hosted a Winter Garden and Outdoor Living Area Tour. Eight patios were open to the public to walk through, meander, pause, inspire, sit down, and breathe in the fresh Baja air. People enjoyed the warm, sunlit and wind protected areas. Walked through the shaded, cool and well ventilated areas comfortable for warmer months. Each outdoor area, a style of its own, and reflection of the homeowners themselves - styles ranged from Old Baja with contemporary flair, Santa Fe, Whimsical, Mainland Mexico Colonial and Hacienda, Desert style, with creative and eclectic combinations in each place. Materials included bricks, rocks, pebbles, plaster and a variety of textures and colors, bright shiny tiles, glass bottles, mosaics, wood, concrete and more. Gardens ranged from desert plants, dirt and space between to lush, green, blooming and organic. Seven out of eight gardens still benefit from immediate re-use of gray water, reutilizing water from showers, bathroom sinks and washing machines to irrigate plantings throughout. In the desert, water is scarce and shade is king.

Glass bottle backsplash over outdoor kitchen counter top.
Emits natural light, provides color and sparkle while re-using materials that otherwise might end up in a landfill.

No matter the size of your house, adding a Garden and Outdoor Living Area will increase the unique, beautiful, livable and lovable nature of your Baja Home. The 2016 Winter Garden tour was a blast! Turnout was great and we enjoyed the experience so much that the following year we hosted Heart of the Home Kitchen Tour. Again, what a wonderful experience to share our work and connect with community. Last winter, our town experienced another boom. We found ourselves gratefully inundated with plans, as well as, the construction of a Beach Home we are currently wrapping up. Although we were asked: will you have a tour this year? from wonderfully enthiastic people we would have loved to share more of our work with, we decided to hold off for a year and focus on the work at hand.

We continue to design and build outdoor living areas for our clients: built-in benches, new barbeque areas, landscaping details, and other fun treasures for each unique beautiful livable outdoor area. And  now, here we are, building the outdoor living and garden areas for the beach home that has kept us busy for almost a year. We are planning to open its doors for a tour next winter or spring. Please stay tuned for date and time. We look forward to sharing our work with our community once again.

Thank you for reading,
Tehroma and Team

(This blog post has been adapted from the original article I wrote and was printed in the Eastcapers Magazine Dec/Jan 2015)

My Love for Ireland

July 29, 2017

Written while traveling in Ireland with my daughter last summer...

My love for Ireland began with a connection to John O'Donohue's poetry, which soon directed me to Celtic Wisdom. Here, steeped in resonance with this tradition, I continue to discover a vocabulary that describes how I think, live and feel. I come here to deepen the Celtic Spirit in the heart of my own life, our family, work and community. To rekindle my soul in a place that is far from the creative lists, the things I get to do. And the people I get to share my life with. Sometimes life looks clearer from a distance.

Before this adventure, over a glass of wine with my husband, I shared the realization of what I've created -- aside from all the shared creations with him, the people we work with, community, etc. -- my part: a beast. He laughed out loud. I am blessed with opportunity and open channels to share all my passions. Opportunities and thresholds I have worked hard to step up to. Walk through.

I searched for a word better than beast and found: Wild Thing. One of my son's favorite books when he was little, "Where The Wild Thing's Are". Read so many times, one copy wore out and we got another.

Wild Thing or Camatkarasana
A pose of wonder and astonishment, a way of seeing and experiencing this life.
(Image borrowed with gratitude from the internet.)

In yoga, there is a pose I love called: Wild Thing or Camatkarasana, a pose of wonder and astonishment. A fitting description of how I see this life I get to live. Accompanied by frequent anxiety and the incessant inner question of how will I have time to complete the personal projects I have started...Minute by minute. Day by day. 

Five years ago, I began writing. After a ten year hiatus from painting, I began painting the trail I was walking; hills I was climbing at that time. Fifteen paintings and stacks of writing later, I feel like  "A Thousand Yellow Butterflies" is ready to be culled through, pulling the poems and favorite pieces, completing this work I began that summer. A summer of intense rain, green desert and more butterflies than I had or have seen to date in the East Cape.

Part of our return to Ireland is culminating in a Celtic Journey with Brigid, the patron saint of poetry, peace, healing, unity and other wonders. Mary Meighan will guide our day.

In a recent description of Wild Thing, it said: Don't make this a big deal. Let every breath be a conversation between the earth and the sky.

Namaste,
Tehroma

(Note: almost a year later, the writing continues to wait and unfold. I continue to write and collect material. Time to cull will come.)

Karma Yoga Times Three

The number three shows up in my life in several places at this time.

Three plus ten, how old my teenage daughter is this year.

Trinity knot in Celtic Wisdom. 

Three repetitions in Thai Massage techniques learned in Saint Luis with Jill and then in Berkely with Chuck.

Three years of teaching Yoga (Yoga Alliance Certified). I started teaching at home one year prior to certification. I also began designing and building homes several years before I earned my degree in Architecture. My first born came into the word six months before I married his biological father. I notice a pattern in my life of practice, taking the leap, trying something out before coming home with a piece of paper supporting I can do something.

Three dogs.

Three of us at home full time now that our oldest is in college.

Embarking on my third formal year street legal and commited path in sharing yoga, I reflect on the learnings thus far:

Notice the person or people in the room. The human beings. Not the numbers.

Notice my experience in sharing the practice. Not the numbers.

Notice the experience of the students. Listen, observe, to the best of my abilities, in the moment. Not the numbers.

Notice the shared experience.

Why not the numbers?

In beginning, I was the only summer Yoga teacher. The room was relatively full. I am also the first Yoga teacher to offer this practice in Spanish for our local community. It has been a privilege to introduce Yoga to dozens of interested locals. Mostly women. A few men.

In the beginning, the room was relatively full. Summer turns to fall, another year goes by, the town grows, more Yoga teachers become, the Yoga community grows, some of the locals aren't sure if this practice is for them. The numbers fluctuate.

The constant presence is my own. And Yoga. With one student, with several or with a full room: I learn something. Every time. 

Three breaths. Shenpa. Buddhism. Non attachment. The ability to drop a story line and connect with the feeling in my own body, as well as, within. In turn, connection with our shared humanity.

My experience in leading a session and holding space for others to experience their practice is just that. My experience. While I listen and observe others, as well, as what I am experiencing, I can only speak for how I feel, what I notice, hear and observe from my own lense. It can be tempting to project an experience on another or a group, yet constantly checking in and recognizing: this is my experience, my perception and just that helps me see others as clearly as possible.

I remember the second class I taught in the studio and feeling like I was drowning. The hour felt eternal. I didn't know if I could do it. I breathed, I instructed. We all breathed and moved and stayed. I read something at the end of class. After the closing, I thought: that was terrible, I feel bad, maybe this class should be free or tell everyone: the next one is on the house. I chose to be quiet and not say, but feel and hold space for myself as students got up and put their props away. One woman walked up to me and said: "My hip hurt so badly before class, I could barely walk. I almost didn't come to class. Now, it doesn't hurt at all." That was my first noticing and reminder: my experience in the hour is not my student's experience. While we are sharing a practice, it is important to maintain boundaries, not only on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual level, but also on the experiential level of who is experiencing what and remembering that one can only speak for one's own experience. By that same token, there were times I thought were wonderful, thought the class was fantastic and that the exprience in the room was shared by all - for sure, they will all come back to the next class, what a great session! Again, not entirely the case. Another reminder to hold space for all and remember that each inner experience is so personal and sometimes so deep that it may or may not be perceived by others. I share this because as a student, there have been times when I have been in class and noticed when a teacher spoke for others by stating what someone or the group was experiencing in that moment, then  checked in and thought, that is not my experience.

More lessons I have learned in these three years:

Set your ego aside. This is not about you. And it is about you. Everything you perceive is part of your experience. Learn from the perceptions. Learn from experience. Personal growth comes from a willingness to see the parts of myself that I might not want to see but need to in order to continually polish the service I provide. I work with these parts in increments and integrate the learnings the best I can on a momentary and daily basis.

For me, sharing Yoga is service. It isn't about the numbers. Or a following. The word following in Yoga has always bewildered me. My aim is to offer a pratice that directs the student towards themselves, their purpose, their joy, their inner world so they may inhabit their outer world and our shared world as fully and completely as possible. That they may work through any blockages that are holding them back, on any level: heart, body, mind and soul. That they may feel as complete as possible in the moment and know that wholeness comes from integrity. Integration and acceptance of all the parts that make up the whole. While we have the ability to change and constantly do, first it may be helpful to shine the light of awareness with loving kindness on our whole being - as much as we can see - and accept ourselves fully or as fully as possible. The greater the acceptance of myself and willingness to grow responsibly, the greater my acceptance is of others, as well as, the greater my ability to bear witness, provide support and guidance when needed. 

One of the greatest lessons I continue to learn is just that: to continue to learn. Continue to cultivate the beauty of the beginner's mind. Continue to open my heart, body, mind and soul with as much patience, compassion and kindness as possible. The more open, patient, compassionate and kind I am with myself, the more open, patient, compassionate and kind I may be with others. 

Of all the styles of Yoga out there and I love them all!...I study, I practice and wonder, which style resonates most deeply with my own unique path? As I look at the creation and unfolding of Healing Winds Holistic Center, the answer is clear and a combination of them all wrapped up in three words: Service. Karma Yoga.

My greatest teacher in the line of selfless service is my husband, Javier. It is because of the work we do together that I enjoy the privilege of teaching yoga as I do.  It is his example of service as a human being that inspires me to serve as I do.

I am grateful to my students, teachers, family, friends and clients. It is an honor and privilege to share the teachings of Yoga. Every time a student shares how this practice has enhanced their life on some or many levels, I feel deeply rewarded and grateful to be able to teach yoga.

And while right now, it is not about the numbers because I have an income generating career in design-build that supports this phase in my learning and growing as a Yoga teacher, I realize that some day the numbers may become a factor that I will have to consider in how I structure classes or private lessons. I am grateful for this time to develop as a teacher so that when that day comes, my foundation as a Yoga teacher will be firmly rooted and established with the integrity and values I base my own practice and sharing of these sacred teachings upon.

Namaste, Tehroma

***

Trinity Knot

Tapestries, as well as, the Celtic knot 
Have threads or lines 
Weaving up, over and under.

The weaving under represents descending into darkness
Or going through a darker
Challenging time
Contraction.

The up and over represents a lighter time
A time of ease
Expansion.

In times of darkness or shadows
Through our own unique experience
We develop insights, understanding 
Compassion and empathy.

Through darkness, through light and in betweens
We connect with ourselves and others 
Inside our shared humanity.

During the darker times, we collect wisdom that we later bring to the surface
Applying the insights, understanding, compassion, empathy and wisdom to our lives 
In the lighter, brighter and maybe even ordinary times.

We can apply the weaving through darkness and light, shadows and in betweens
To our own unique experience of the heart
Knowing that wherever the weave is, in this moment, on this day 
It is simply, yet profoundly, part of a much larger tapestry
A colorful, woven tapestry embracing every unique and beautiful life.

Tehroma

Why Do You Love Baja?

I remember the first summer night I slept on a beach front porch in a hammock. I was fifteen. A bright full moon rose of the Sea of Cortez and I was in love. Picturesque. Although not very comfortable. That was my first summer here after a short visit several years earlier, and my first trip to Baja, spending Christmas with Grandpa Jimmy and Nana Lupita.

There was a time when every one here knew who he was. You would see him driving around town, both hands on the wheel, eyes on the road. Having coffee with Bobby Vanwormer. Hanging out with Steve Chism at Tio Pablo's. Now, it is a treat to meet and greet those who still remember.

He came down when my mom was a little girl. Among his adventures was winning second place in the first Baja 1000 on a motorcycle. He loved to tell the story about his trophy with an ironic smile and tilt of his head: the trophy was a man on a horse. There must have been a shortage of appropriate trophies that year. This is after all, the land of improvisation.

Four generations and the man who started it for our whole family: Grandpa Jimmy holding Mr. Dylan, winter 1998.

He came here first, then my mother followed in his footsteps and I followed in hers. My two children were born here and here we are. This is home. Of all the places I have visited, there is only one other place I have loved like Baja. Ireland. But that is another story, another time, another dream. And that is all it might be: a memory, a connection, a reminder, a dream. 

Some of us are fortunate enough to choose where we want to live. Among the practicalities driving this decision, I believe each person has a certain criteria. Must haves for happiness and well being. Criteria for choosing a place to create a life. For me, it is the connection to the outdoors. The need to have windows and doors open for as many days out of the year as possible. Fresh air and natural light. Freedom to move between indoor and outdoor spaces. Freedom to walk. Hike, saunter and roam desert trails in the cooler months. Stroll the soft and wet shoreline in warmer months. 

In the desert, I follow trails originally created by free range cattle and goats. I watch for rattle snakes. Especially after it rains when the desert turns green and enlivened with butterflies. In summer I watch the shoreline for clear shiny bubbles with dark blue lines. Agua Malas. I have felt the shock of a jelly fish sting once when I was seventeen and swam laps between the shore and a boat. Or buoy on the days it's owner would take it out on deep water. One hour of swimming every morning after sunrise.

June Sparkles

Living here year round, working full time and keeping up with the needs and activities of a family can result in forgetting to enjoy the reasons I am here. Sometime, I fail to walk. The desert or the shore line. I don't forgot to walk. I talk myself out of leaving our property line when I feel overwhelmed by responsibility, interactions and need more than anything to see only the space within the confines of our yard. When I step outside our fence and walk again,  I wonder, why on earth would I ever stop going for walks? Walking, putting one foot in front of the other, such a grounding activity. Feet on the ground. The smell of the air. The temperature. The view. Everywhere, there is beauty. I take in the sights with utter awe. The hills never get old. Nor does the water.

Hurricane season gets old. The boarding up. Living in a dark house while watching for storms and wondering if we will get hit. The sounds at night that remind me of living next to train tracks in north eastern Oregon.There, the train track was next to the house. In a hurricane, it feels and sounds like the train is roaring through the middle of our home. The weeks after. Waiting for power. Waiting for water. The gratitude for owning a generator to run part time and keep food fresh in the freezer. The blessing of an underground water storage tank. Remembering the years when neither of these amenities were part of our home. Remembering that for many, these amenities still are not. The up side of after a hurricane includes family time, roof top sleep overs. No power means no Internet and no Internet means more communication between us all. And I always wonder at these times, why do we forget to disconnect and why do we have to wait for nature to unplug to plug us in? I like to think I have raised our family and myself with awareness to do the latter. I know we do. But to the degree with which we do so, it is relative and the critical part of me looks on to say: we need to unplug more often so we can connect more deeply.

After Hurricane Odile. Carrying bedding to the roof top for sleeping while we await power.

I think of our 500 acres of Rancho el Aventadero and wonder what it would be like to raise a family on a farm. No power. No Internet. It is only a wandering wondering thought as our plan to be there is after our daughter graduates from high school.

The man I married is the ultimate provider. He follows after his father. The ranch property we now own was his parents and then sat solo for over thirty years. Slowly, Javier and his brothers with the help of our craftsman have revived the land. They ran water to a newly built pila from a natural spring. Planted fifty mango trees, started a garden, raise chickens that make us eggs for breakfast to go with fresh organic papayas cut into bite size pieces. The land is laced with beautiful hiking and mountain biking paths enjoyed by many, thanks to their work in creating the paths and above all, Javier's generosity in sharing the land for others to enjoy.

Walking the beach one late spring morning, I looked at the horizon as I heard my phone ring. It was a message from Javier on a boat passing by the place I was walking on his way to a fishing tournament in El Cardonal. The sight of sunlight cast upon the water, a boat within the light and jumping manta rays. My heart swoons: I get to live here.

On the water recently, flying a kite, harness around my waist and board on my feet, moving through spring swells on dark blue shimmering water, feeling the north wind in my face: I get to live here.

Looking at numerous paintings of trails I have created in watercolors and turned into note cards and someday something more: I get to live here.

Walking the job site recently and wondering if loving a project I designed is narcissistic as I fill with pride for the design and build our company gets to create. All the stories we get to tell through architecture, the homes, and parts of homes, indoor spaces, outdoor spaces, the artistic pieces I get to design with our clients, our craftsman get to build and our engineer oversees to ensure all our creations are safe and will endure the test of time: I get to live here.

In Ireland, after our son's high school graduation, standing in the ruins of an old church built from stone, I remembered Baja and felt the following to be true:

When you live and connect 

with a place you love, 

you become as much

a part of the landscape

as the landscape becomes 

a part of you.

The land becomes a jewel 

in your heart,

a reflection

incarnation 

of the land beneath you

sky above you.

And where you stand 

on the land

between the two

inhabits the jewel of space

above the ground, beneath the clouds.

This all reminds me of a time before marriage, children, a hard earned degree in Architecture, before design took over my brain and creating a healing center poured out of someplace I let go of trying to understand, before I realized Yoga has been my life since before I stepped on the mat, before the wind called me to play, before I lived on this knoll that was a hill with no road to it. I remember long talks and walks with my daughter's godmother who is originally from El Cardonal and how I would ask her to tell me the stories. Stories about families. The history. Now, I am part of this land too. Part of an ongoing story we are all part of. Part of this land I get to call home.

Why do you love Baja? I love Baja because of how I feel when I am here. The openness, expansiveness, the stillness. I feel alive and creative. For me, Baja has become synonymous with home for the heart, body, mind and soul.

Beauty

That moment when the sky turns a certain color

And the lighting glows in a way

That stops you in your tracks

Creates a lump in your throat

And makes you wonder how it is possible for beauty of this magnitude to exist

Enraptured

You stop, in this moment and forget everything

Nothing exists but this color, these mountains, this sky, this lighting

As you continue on

Around the next corner

The lighting changes

And shadows return

Mountains a moment ago lit

Are now dull

You see the road ahead of you

And you keep going because it's what you do

Moving through shadows

Remembering the light

And all the frequent spaces in between

Tehroma