Blog Posts

Are you caught up in a fog?

5/23/2018

I was in Week 3 of Summer classes at the Junior College and exhausted. PSYC101 was great, but GOVT101 lecture hall from 8:-00 – 9:45 was grueling. I still wondered if I would make it through the next 9 weeks. At 19, after taking a year off school to ‘find myself’, I still had no idea what I wanted to do with my life.

My coworker Daniel suggested I join him for summer school. “That way you can knock out 2 courses at once. American Government is a good one to get out of the way.”
Daniel and I both worked 6 am to 2pm. "Study from 2:30 to 5:30. It works out well. I did it last year. We could carpool. Wouldn’t that be fun?”

The mid-term was hell. The Government teacher – he reminded us he wasn’t a professor – wanted the discussion questions exactly as he programmed us to write them. If we forgot some of his wording, he counted off. I was one of the few who even made a C.

Daniel took his test last night, so he wasn’t there. The 25 minute drive seemed like an hour. I drove through a heavy fog. At 10:15, it was already pitch dark, even in July. I almost didn’t know where I was, but I had been on that road for years, and already 16 times in the last few weeks. I wondered what it was like to be in a fog back in the days of horses and carriages. It would seem like an eternity... As I was inching at 30 mph, it would have been a flash to a horse carriage.

I was a little nervous, but drove through it. “I can see clearly now…” I sang.

Then it hit me. If it were daytime, I would have been able to see the fog, like a cloud on the horizon in my rear view window. I would see what was behind me. I realized this was a great metaphor. In life, when we go through those foggy patches - like the one I was currently in the middle of - and seem lost, sooner or later we get out of the fog. Once we’re out of the fog, we can look behind what was before the fog and piece it all together. Unless the fog lifts suddenly, we will never see what was inside.

I was so excited about my metaphor, I told Daniel the next day at work. “Cool metaphor. Are you going to write a poem about it?” I didn’t do anything with it, except that I kept it in my back pocket, for anytime I needed a cool metaphor – or the next time I was in fog with someone.

Now, looking back 34 years later, I see it so clearly. I had to go through that time in my life of not knowing, and continue through the fog, until eventually it was behind me. It wasn’t important what happened during that fog. I gained something. If anything, I can spout of facts of 2/3 majority, vetoes and filibusters. I definitely learned a lot in PSYC101. Honestly, I don’t remember what happened after that. Eventually, I found my way, and I was stronger because of it.

The best part of it all is now, when I am in a fog in my life, I know it’s only temporary, and inch my way through and it will all be clear. Now, I will be more observant of what’s going on and where I go once the fog is lifted. I know I will be able to piece things together a lot better than my younger self.

You know what is true

5/16/2018

Several years ago, I was talking to a coworker. He told me a story of his 12 year old daughter having problems with a teacher in school. The teacher was insisting on a concept that she knew wasn’t correct. As my coworker described, “I told her she knew the teacher was wrong, and she had to decide if she wanted to confront the teacher or not. I told her if she knows what’s right, there is sometimes no point in arguing.

Sometimes we have to suck it up and know in our heart what is true, and that sometimes even teachers can be idiots.” It was a great value he gave his daughter. He gave her credit for her knowledge.

He went on to explain to me that it’s sometimes what we have to deal with at work. Our bosses can be idiots, or the upper management. Sometimes we have to feel inside that we know is true, while ignoring that the lie we have to accept is only temporary.

I suddenly remembered this story when I was working with a client. She felt the truth resonate within her ever being. She had to tolerate something she didn’t like. At one point, she had to choose whether to move on, or endure a lie.

In our lives, we’ve been fed lies. In school we were trained to think a certain way, as we were educated we were conditioned to believe all kinds of things. We were trained not to pay attention to signals in our bodies that alerted us to these lies. It went on with jobs, relationships and other situations that we put ourselves into that we knew deep inside that weren’t true.

So many times, we’ve ignored these things. If we ignore them long enough, we get headaches, upset stomachs, and other stress illnesses.

When we look at ourselves, we may recognize the lies we have believed. Sometimes we have to dig further. The only way to really be sure is to see where it sits within our inner self. If it’s not true to our inner core, we will feel an unsettled feeling in our body somewhere.

Sometimes I sit outside and relax, or I go for a walk. The answer eventually comes to me. The truth comes out in ripples around me. Once I know what is true in my soul, I am fine with whatever action I chose to take.

Knowing the truth is liberating.

“The truth shall set you free.”

Self-Care doesn't always mean massages and bubble baths.

3/12/2018

I know all you hear about is self-care lately -- get a massage, aroma therapy, meditate and drink a hot tea. It seems to be the rap that’s going out. In fact, some of my clients are getting stuck on this. “Honestly, Terri, I don’t find baths relaxing.” So what? -- What would you like to do?

The message going out to the world is that self-care is all about relaxing, calm and wellness – in a conventional way. Maybe it’s a way to sell wellness programs essential oils and aroma therapy.

Truth is: self-care can be anything you want it to be – and it’s totally up to you.

I know there are times that I just want to curl up in a blanket with a cup of tea. I usually know what my soul needs at the time. On a warm spring day, I like to go on a bike ride, or a walk in the woods. Sometimes it’s raspberry season, and I’m eating the berries off the vine.
When I worked my corporate job, I brought a book or kindle to work and read in the break room or cafeteria. If the weather was nice, I sometimes went for a short walk.

Let me sum it up for you.; Self Care. It’s what your self needs to feel cared for at any particular time.

For some people, it might mean cranking up the Bob Marley and dancing around the living room.

All within a week, I had 3 entirely different examples. One of my clients said that she planned on spending Sunday afternoon doing collages and watercolors. A couple days later, one of my clients said she wanted to finger paint, and had the paints and paper in her cabinet ready to go. They both said that would put them in peace.

One client said she had spent a couple hours at the museum of science and history, especially in the marine section, and felt like a kid let out of school. She love science and her inner child curiosity comes out. I told her she should reward herself periodically with some kind of museum visit or science escape.

For some more examples, I asked some of my clients and friends what they do for self-care.

Lots of different things came up.

Dancing
Going for a walk
Reading a book with a cat in her lap
Jogging
Working out at gym
Playing piano
Cooking
Gardening, yard work
Drawing
Doing crossword puzzles, Sudoku
Napping
Browsing at art gallery
Surfing
Cycling
Playing with dog/cat

Several years ago, I was at a training conference in Orlando. The weekend in between, everyone went to Disney. Having not so much of a connection with my colleagues, I took off on my own. I allowed my inner child to come out and play. I even spent almost 2 hours on Tom Sawyer’s island, surprising some of the adults as I ran through the woods and jumped on the barrel bridges… I don’t think I would have let loose like that with my colleagues.

My husband gets excited when he has a new book to read. One friend delights in the adventure of an exploration in his neighborhood woods.

To me, self-care is about feeding your soul. Your soul knows what it’s craving for and your inner child knows what it needs.

I’m going to challenge you. Quickly write down as many things you can think of that you can do in 10 – 20 minutes. Keep the list and refer to it regularly, or when you have some spare time to fill.

If you're really daring, make a list of things you can do in one hour, and plan to do one each week.

I would love to hear more ideas. Please feel encouraged to share yours below.

If you would like to talk more about self-care or want more info, please email me at: terri@terrihofstetter.com or schedule a 30 minute chat here

Do you have a purpose?

1/17/2018

What if I told you that you came here with a special talent, something that you and you alone can do? What If I told you that the very thing that you love doing, and your way of doing it is your gift to the world, and all you have to do is find out what it is, and you will be totally fulfilled?
Well, it’s true...

What you do, and share with the world is your inner Genius, and that very thing is what you love doing more than anything else – and it’s what the world is looking for. It’s your purpose in life, what you came here to do.

That’s what I do:
I work with people to find their purpose, helping them to get in touch with their inner self, the part that knows what they have to offer the world, that knows what they do best and what they are meant to do. It’s been wonderfully rewarding for me. I’ve helped lots of people reach that discovery with lots of Aha moments and revelations.

But it wasn’t so easy for me to accept or discover at first. So I struggled.
I think I had to hunt for it, and try other things out, so I could appreciate how valuable it is.
Yes, I totally enjoy my life and can’t imagine doing anything else.

The other day I was thinking of a nice concept to help my clients with on the concept of purpose. I remembered the term Dharma.

Back in my late 20’s, as I began opening my eyes and my heart to spiritual development - 1994 I believe - I got my hands on Deepak Chopra’s The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success. I eagerly grabbed it and soaked up every word. His concept of Dharma lit me up. Wow!! Really?? There’s something I actually came here for in this life?? And I can do anything I want? I was ready to find out more.

I danced on a cloud for about a week, eagerly awaiting a fantastic revelation. What is it? I kept asking myself. Maybe if I ask God, I’ll get a sign, I thought.   After a couple of weeks, the book was back on the shelf, with other self-help books, to gather dust. I kept that concept in the back of my mind for years. Eventually the word Dharma became a regular word in my vocabulary.

I had been trying so hard to decide what I wanted to be when I grew up that I had myself all confused. Dr. Chopra suggests we ask ourselves the question, “If money was no concern, and you had all the time and money in the world, what would you do?” That in itself was too huge for me to grasp. I asked myself that question so many times over the last 20 years, and even now, ask my clients.

In fact, during that time, I worked at a high school, in the media center. I helped students to find their favorite books (what lit them up); and as they came in at lunch and before school, they would talk about what they loved, and share with me what they thought they wanted to be when they grew up. I laugh now - I was doing it then, and didn’t realize it. I think we all somehow find a way to live our Dharma, but don't always make it happen.

So I decided to play a bit with it today. I remembered a day in October when my husband and I were hiking in the Alps. It was an amazingly sunny day, and people were out all over the place; hiking with their dogs, on mountain bikes, living their dreams.   That’s what I do; watch people do their thing, while I’m doing mine, sharing the joy. I answered my question. When I’m not out doing my thing, I’m helping others to find theirs.

So, what is it that you do? What really lights you up? What do you enjoy doing more than anything else? Are you doing it now – at least in your spare time? As you see, I was sharing with the students at the library, but that was a small part of my job. On the weekends, I was hiking and snowboarding, enjoying the outdoors, but not doing it for a living – yet.

If you’re ready to discover your purpose, or find out more, about tracking your way there, contact me for discovery call here.

What's your vision for 2018??

12/29/2017

At the end of every year, between Christmas and New Year’s Day, I take some quiet time to review the last year, and set intentions for the next. I enjoy this time for myself, creating a cozy space for myself to let my thoughts flow.   Each year I do it a little differently.   Sometimes I make lists, sometimes I meditate visions, sometimes I journal.   Each year, I look at the year just about to pass, and think of what I want to create for the next year.

I celebrate my successes, the friendships I made, and the joys as well as disappointments. I pat myself on the back for a year well done. I think of what I would like to create for the next year, and take some time to imagine what I would like. I also take a little time to think of anything I would like to let go or release.

I’m learning more and more about the importance of visioning and setting intentions, as well as the power of writing things down. As Mike Dooley, writer and speaker says, “Thoughts become things.”
If we can actually visualize what we want, it makes it more powerful. Taking time to sit and ‘daydream’ can help to bring it into reality. Including your feelings and excitement will help to bring it into reality.

I invite you to set a special time for yourself, creating what you would like for 2018. What would you like to do this year? What do you want to create for yourself? Where would you like to travel to and experience? What happened in 2017 that you’re really proud of or grateful for?


If you’re new to this concept, here are a few ideas to try:

Making lists -   Take some time and write down your wishes, and seal them in an envelope, and put them away. ‘give it to God’   Write down things you want to let go of: bad habits, thoughts, or hang ups you might have. You can also list people you don’t want to associate with next year. It works best if you do it long hand on paper. You can chose to look at them the following year, or not. It's up to you.

Bowl Burning Ceremony - This is an old tradition. You can write down your wishes and the thigns you want to release or let go of, each on a separate piece of paper; and then put them in a ceramic bowl or metal tin (the releases first, then the wishes) and burn them, allowing them to be carried in the smoke.   Symbolically, and spiritually, you’re sending it to the heavens. If you don't have the space to do the burning, you can ceremoniously tear them up or feed them into a paper shredder.

Vision Boards - Many people enjoy doing vision boards. Cut photos out of a magazine and paste them to a poster board, representing what you wish for. Keep it in a place where you will see it often throughout the year. Seeing it will help bring it into reality.

Daydreaming - Visioning takes steps, and the more you put into it the better. Imagine what you want, how it looks, sounds and feels. Putting your emotion into it helps, feeling what it’s like to have it happen. If you can create it like watching a movie; but from your vision point, like you’re actually playing in the film, it makes it more real. Do your happy dance in it, too.

Meditation -   Taking some quiet time relaxing, and allowing yourself to feel how you want your next year to be can help to bring it into fruition. You can combine it with your daydreaming if you like.

It’s not too late to do this at the beginning of the year. You could spend some time in January doing this as well.   Make this a special time. Make it fun and enjoyable. Make it you; however you would like to do it. You can play your favorite music, have a cup of tea, or anything you like.
I invite you to share it with me on the comment space below. If you have questions, you can email me: terri@terrihofstetter.com

Best wishes for an abundant, joyous and adventurous 2018!

Is your soul calling you to your happy place?

11/22/2017

Sometimes we sit in our world, wanting to be somewhere else.    Sometimes we yearn to be a particular place, but don’t know why. Sometimes, we go on a vacation, not expecting much, and - Whoah! !
It feels like home… or magical…like we were meant to be there.   Déjà vu feelings might even come up.

Recently, one of my friends spent two weeks in Ireland. She said it immediately clicked for her. It felt magically wonderful. She felt aligned and vibrant there, and connected with people right away. I could hear the excitement in her voice. She bonded so well that she planned to go back for a few months.

I really believe when this happens, it’s a soul connection. Either the vibration draws us in, or perhaps there is a DNA connection or even a past life existence there. For whatever reason that place resonates for us. As we discussed this, my friend told me of amazing experiences there, some that she can’t really explain. She doesn’t know why, but she wants to go back, hopefully for a longer time than a vacation.

On the other hand, one of my clients, an expat in Europe, visited family on a short vacation to the city where her grandmother grew up. She felt so much at home in this city, more so than where she currently lives. I’m sure there’s a feeling from being in her grandmother’s stomping grounds, and the energy is there. She said she felt perfectly fine wandering around in an ‘unfamiliar’ city. From our talk, I get the feeling that she doesn’t intend to move there, but being a short train ride, it’s an easy comfort vacation that she can go back to every year.

I’ve lived in Germany for 26 years, and yes, it feels like home. From my first arrival, with the intention of staying for three years, I was fine here. My grandparents being German, and being somewhat knowledgeable with the language, it felt familiar to me. After a couple years, I started to blend in, and feel at home. Eventually, I built my life here, through a gradual comfort.

I have my favorite vacation places. I like to venture to new places, but once I find a place that feels like home, I go back again and again. My husband and I on occasion, have felt immediately drawn to a place and decided to pursue it. It’s always an amazing adventure.

Have you ever experienced this feeling? Guess what? It’s your soul telling you you’re ‘home’.

If you have a ‘happy place’, I encourage you to explore it, and find a way to go back. Whether it’s a perfect place to live or an enjoyable place to visit, you find power and energy there.

If you feel drawn to a particular place, and don’t know why, check it out. Go there, follow the adventure.

I invite you to share in the comments below.

Peace,
Terri

Magic, Divine Intervention, or Chance?

10/13/2017

Recently, I saw an interview with Jimmy Page, talking about how he formed Led Zeppelin. He knew of Robert Plant, John Bonham and John Paul Jones from other bands they were in while Jimmy was in the Yardbirds. He had a vision of what he wanted his new band to sound like, but how it happened, he said, was like ‘divine intervention’. The Yardbirds split up suddenly, and players happen to appear at the right time and the right place. He implied that he met them by chance. Bonham wasn’t even in London. He was in Birmingham at the time.

Page went on to say that at the time he met Bonham, he was not the drummer he would become in Led Zeppelin; or somehow, he was meant to be ‘Bonzo’ of Led Zeppelin. Nor were John Paul Jones and Robert Plant the artists they were yearning to be. They were all good, but somehow the group synergy made the band form in a magical way, and all 4 musicians quickly grew together, revealing their true individual geniuses. Songs were written quickly and easily, and within a year, they were a phenomenal success.

Sure, it might have been divine intervention. In fact, I’m positive it was. I agree that the magic of Led Zeppelin is rare; but I think it happens all around us in lesser degrees and we may not even notice it.

Most importantly, Jimmy Page had a vision. He had been thinking of it before he joined the Yardbirds. He focused on it for a couple years. He knew what songs he wanted to do, and how he wanted them to sound. He could hear them in his head. He focused on that vision, and didn’t lose sight (or sound) of it.

I imagine he knew who he wanted to hire once he started his quest. He contacted them and they joined. It all fell into place. Or they magically appeared at the right time. It was almost as if they were all destined to meet, and somewhere, in another vortex, or time-space, Led Zeppelin always existed.

We could use this example with other bands, theater groups, creative collaborations or even businesses. Someone has the vision, or all the members have the same vision, and it takes form. If everyone is in sync with the creative forces, it works like magic. I’ll add that people on the same wavelength attract each other when everyone is on the same frequency.

Have you ever met someone by chance, and look back years later, and you can’t imagine not having them in your life?

We’re all on a path to excellence. Once we are in alignment with our dreams, everything falls into place.

What do you want to create?

Do you have a Wanderlust?

8/30/2017

My friend Chad loves to travel. It might stem from growing up in Australia, where one has to fly 5 hours to get to the next country, and traveling is a novelty. Whatever the reason, he’s learned that his travels have led him to meet amazing people and experience different cultures. If he stays home too long, the Wanderlust, as he calls it, pulls him so strongly that he can’t ignore it or refuse the call.

He talks about his wanderlust in personified form. ‘When it calls me…” but I know he wants to call it he or she. To me, the Wanderlust is an unsettled feeling, an inner searching for something we really need to find for ourselves.

Not all of us have a calling to travel. Photographers sometimes wake up with an overwhelming urge to go out and take pictures. They might say their camera calls them, almost like a dog scratching on the door to go for a walk. Musicians say their instruments call them to pick it up and play. B.B. King named his guitar Lucille. I see snowboarders fidget when the first snow falls in the mountains, even if the mountains are a couple hundred miles away (actually, that’s me). I’ve watched surfers running across the beach at dawn to catch the first waves. Artists pick up their paintbrushes or pencils not knowing what’s going to end up on the paper, while writers jump to their keyboards in a flurry.

Some of us like to try different things in order to find out what’s calling us. One day it’s a flea market; the next day a museum; another day a concert or sports event.
I truly believe all of us have had the call come to us in one way or another at times.

Sometimes we answer and sometimes we don’t.
When an unsettled feeling comes over us, we can be sure that we didn’t answer the call.
My theory is the call comes from our inner self or our soul. It knows more what’s better for us.

I get called to a particular vacation or weekend trip, a class or retreat, a project, write a blog, or go for a walk – all kinds of things. I get curious, and find out what it is – then I go.

Have you heard the call?

What happens when you answer?

What happens when you don’t?

Chad visited us for a few days. He shared with us stories of his previous visits as we watched his posts on facebook the preceding weeks before his arrival. He seemed to enjoy everything he did and didn’t seem to judge any experience or prioritize. We introduced him to friends and saw how eager he was to ‘interview’ everyone he met. People seemed to be drawn to him and strangers started conversations. It looked like things just fell into his lap – but then I think he let things happen.
He said that ‘the Universe provides’ what we need. All he has to do is answer the call.

The call can be a long-awaited move to a new lifestyle, or it can be a nice experience that we don’t want to miss. It could be an urge to take a course or apply for a certain job. You never know what it brings you.

Find out what your Wanderlust is….

If you haven’t had a call, or remember doing so, I encourage you to watch out for it for the next couple weeks and see what comes up. ….and let me know what happens.

Please feel free to comment below if you have something to share.

If this post sounds familiar to you, and you want to find out more about wanderlust or calling,
I would be happy to talk to you about it.
You can schedule a free 30 minute consultation with me here

Join other calling searchers on my Facebook group - Soul Adventure Network

You can find more stories on my blog: http://www.terrihofstetter.com/blog

To find your soul's calling, you have to look for it.

6/29/2017

While visiting Sifnos, Greece recently, I enjoyed chatting with the shopkeepers. Most were friendly, especially the pottery goods and gift shops.

One particular shop was a Greek food product shop. The shelves were packed with teas, honey, spices, and sauces - more than anyone could dream of taking home. It would take a good 45 minutes to actually see everything in the shop, much less to read the labels and really think about what you would want to buy. The shopkeeper was enthusiastically friendly and apparently very proud of his products. He was eager to talk about each item and the source, and even perhaps the history of the product or it’s source. If one was patient and listened to his spiel, he might offer a sample of some of his local wines or liquors.

My friend Emily asked me if I would join her on the last day before her departure. She wanted to pick up a couple of gifts for her friends and, she admitted, perhaps you can rescue me if that guy talks too much…

So Emily looked around, through the soaps, wooden spoons and other gift items, while I made small talk. “It seems you really love what you do here; you offer such nice items and enjoy talking about them to your customers…”

He frowned. “Actually, I don’t. I had a great career working with television in Athens. That was what I loved, but I had to give it up.” My curiosity got the best of me. I live for getting to talk to people about their careers and life’s calling. “What happened?”

Emily glanced up from the coffee mugs, trying to hold back. He went on to tell me about his experience. It appeared that he had been a news reporter and loved getting the real story, hearing from the people, “I loved being behind the camera,” he paused “but I was forced to stick the camera in the people’s faces.” He hated it, but he had to leave, ‘because that’s what I really wanted to do…”
I added, “It sounds like the job went against your integrity.” He nodded. By then Emily (also a coach) had her purchase at the counter, and was jumping in. “Is there something else you would rather do? What would you enjoy?” We were just warming up, and he was saved by the bell – phone. He put the things in the bag as he spoke in Greek to the caller. I wanted to ask him, if he could go back in a different situation, would he do the work again. I’m not sure if I could have conveyed the concept with the language barrier, or if he would have wanted to discuss it.

An hour later, we were having lunch and both sorting it out. We agreed that we couldn’t shut our curiosity off or resist trying to help, but we knew it was none of our business. “You know,” Emily began, “He could do so much for this island, doing TV programs or features for the culture and businesses here. It would be amazing. He loves his camera, and can do so much for the world in a positive way. But I don’t think he’s ready to hear it. He would have to discover that himself.”

Sometimes people have to find their own way to live their passion and life’s calling. No one can show it to them. It’s a journey we all have to take on our own. We both knew we could help him find it, but he would have to be ready to take that first step, and we both sensed that he was too filled with anger to see it.

Had he been ready to see his calling, he would have expressed his wishes to do something else with film, brought up an idea he had, or in some way talked more about what he liked about his career. At this point, all he could see is that he was stuck in the store, trying to make ends meet.

I didn’t see him again before I went home a few days later. It would be interesting to see what else was going on – perhaps that’s just my curiosity.

We can be so blocked in our current situations; we’re not ready to see a new possibility. However, if we wish for a way out, we can get help with the blocks that are holding us back.   Some of my clients come to me at the point where they are still in that hole, with the job that goes against their integrity and values. They feel sold out. Sometimes they reach me at the stage our storekeeper was: they bailed out, but don’t know what to do next. Either way, I’ve been able to help them conquer the blocks and brainstorm with them on reaching their dreams. It’s amazing to me when I see the person make the shift to new possibilities.

Live your adventure, find your soul's calling.
Terri

If this story sounds familiar to you, and you want to find out more about finding your calling,
I would be happy to talk to you about it.
You can schedule a free 30 minute consultation with me here

Join other soul calling searchers on my Facebook group - Soul Adventure Network

You can find more stories on my blog: http://www.terrihofstetter.com/blog

Greece Discovery

5/30/2017

I've recently returned from my Greece Discovery trip. It was an amazing trip, and much more than I expected. The week included 3 hiking days through walking paths over 400 years old, (each with a different flair but with breathtaking views over sea or mountains); plus one cultural discovery day, featuring a visit to an organic farm to chat with a farmer/restaurateur; a pottery shop where we learned about 3rd generation pottery business; and a medieval fortress where people still live in renovated 300 year old homes with 1000 year old columns on the sidewalks. Each experience had lessons to learn, and our teachers were the local villagers, dogs, donkeys, cats, goats, birds and even lizards. Everywhere we found messages for ourselves, and we learned that once we set an intention, the Universe aligns to give us our answers.

Walking on paths used for centuries gives a new outlook. We can learn from following the trails, visualizing where people went and what they did, and from observing our surroundings and thinking of how people lived during earlier times. Though the paths are renovated and organized in a modern scheme with downloadable apps, and most people travel with cars and motorbikes; some of the locals still use the trails for foot passage (or by donkey) to their farms or some of the 365 chapels and churches on the island. We met hikers from the UK, Germany and France along the way, sharing the joy of discovery.

We were guided by the warmth of the sun, the sound of the wind, rain and ocean, and the feel of the earth beneath our feet to discover more of our inner self and purpose. Watching the sun drop into the sea from a 600 meter mountaintop was a perk.

We visited George at his farm and heard about his family history, ‘water-free’ gardening, Sifnos history and the change of culture in the early 80’s with tourism; all while sampling goat cheese his father still makes and the wonderful organic wine; then we drove to the restaurant on the beach where his son serves the tourists the fantastic local products with a view.

Giannis greeted us at his pottery workshop with the familiar form of hello – Yiassu - and offered us a cappuccino freddo and chatted with us about his family history and the island’s history of pottery making while he busily worked away on an order for a hotel in Athens. We came to learn the hospitality of offering guests something when they visit, as we were distinguished from average customers.

A highlight was the visit to the ancient acropolis, dating as early as 1300 BC., with evidence of human activity in the area dating 4000 BC – even hiking past olive terraces dating to that time period. We used our intuition and imagination to tune into what might have occurred in the area before reading the historical data. It was quite an experience, opening up connections to people passing by thousands of years earlier.

Not to miss the amazing churches and chapels, some just big enough to seat 2 or 3, with incredible energy from the prayer power. Just after Easter, some of them were adorned with lovely arrangements of lilies, and garden fruits.

Live your discovery --
Terri

Look for more blog posts as I recount stories of all of our adventures in Greece at:
http://www.terrihofstetter.com/blog
To find out about my 2018 Greece Discovery trip, sign up for my Greece Discovery newsletter:

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