A Small Tear on my Heart

It’s been a month since we said farewell to Gandaulf. I still have moments in the day when my eyes fill with tears and the words get stuck in throat. Times when all I want is to feel his thick, soft fur between my fingers, and smell his musky odor. At night I swear sometimes he is still there at the bottom of the bed snoring. Of course I sit with the feelings, let the tears fall and, like the clouds in a blue sky, it passes and I am left in the present moment…to move on.

Playing in the water was a favorite past time

We continue to sell off all our possessions and donated 4 big boxes of women’s clothing to the women’s shelter and odds and ends to the DI. Our shed is becoming more and more vacant everyday. Getting rid of “stuff” is fun, freeing and terrifying all at the same time. What I want to get rid of, Chris thinks we might need someday and sometime visa versa. No matter we settle and the item stays or goes and we move on to the next.

We have started our trial packs. It takes almost as many clothes to be gone for a week long vacation as it does to pack for a year. Save a nice outfit for the occasional fancy dinner or cafe hopping, a few more necessities for hiking or swimming, and an extra pair of shoes…they make a thing called a washer and dryer, so…just like at home, you still need to stop for a domestic goddess day.

The farewells continue almost daily. I have hooked up with some healers that are concocting some plant medicines for me to continue my journey of good mental health and a balance of mind and body. It’s been almost six months since I went cold turkey on anti-depressants and entered the world of good, wholesome plant based medicines. The journey has had its ups and downs, but I am a whole new person, not better, just changed and more energized and grounded.

Between this change and my spiritual endeavors, I have broken through the ancient fortress built around my heart and mind, and found a strong, safe foundation to build a new life on. Yes I have many small tears left on my heart, but I am free from this old baggage and free to build a new adventure in loving kindness and peace.

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Author: Two Travelin' Chicas... A Grand Adventure

Welcome! My name is Johnna, and for as long as I can remember, I’ve been captivated by travel, writing, and photography. I’ve always believed that the world is far too beautiful and fascinating to stay in one place for long. In 2017, I began the third chapter of my life—a chapter defined by adventure, discovery, and the pursuit of experiences over possessions. Alongside my soulmate, Chris Williams, and our faithful Pembroke Corgi, Gandaulf, I set out to explore the world one destination at a time. This blog is a collection of our journeys, stories, photographs, lessons learned, and memories made along the way. My hope is that through these pages, you’ll travel with us, find inspiration for your own adventures, and discover a few hidden gems of the world. So grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and come along for the ride. The road ahead is sure to be filled with unexpected turns, unforgettable moments, and stories worth sharing. Welcome to our grand adventure.

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