“Don’t ‘I wonder’ through life. Just make it happen.”
― Alex Banayan, The Third Door

Finding myself in New Mexico for two days, I was excited to explore the area and discover some of the unique cultures, see vast landscapes, and discover new places.

This year I’ve taken a lot of action in my life. I’ve made things happen. In each activity, I’ve worked to be aware of the experience. Traveling to Albuquerque was no different.

Walking around the charming streets of Old Town and seeing the century-old adobe houses, walking into the quaint shops and talking with the storekeepers who get to meet people from all over the world in a town like this one. Established in 1706 when a group of Spanish families settled here, not far from the Rio Grande, Old Town has withstood the test of time and is one of the most visited areas of Albuquerque, and not to be missed. I had the pleasure of sitting in a Plaza Don Luis and captured some photos of a fountain while listening to some local music being performed by a group of musicians hoping to sell their CD to the passersby. It reminded me of how I love live music and enjoy meeting musicians.

The day before, I’d discovered the Rio Grande Nature Center, a New Mexico State Park located adjacent to the Rio Grande river.  I wanted to go and stand next to this body of water, and imagine what it would be like to experience all the views that can be seen by people along the river north and south of where I stood. I found peace in the still water and stopped to meditate for a few moments. As I sat watching the water, I took deep breaths and worked to be so thankful for that moment.

Just outside Albuquerque, the Sandia Peak Tramway is not to be missed if you enjoy traveling up the western side of the highest portion of the Sandia Mountains, from a base elevation of 6,559 feet (1,999 m) to a top elevation of 10,378 feet (3,163 m). A trip up the mountain takes fifteen minutes to ascend 3,819 ft (1,164 m), and the normal operating speed of the tram is 12 miles per hour (19 km/h). The view from the tram includes all of Albuquerque and roughly 11,000 square miles (28,000 square kilometers) of the New Mexico countryside.

It’s not hard at that moment, standing at the top, looking down, to be present. I explored beyond the overlook platforms. I climbed down to the hills, walked along the mountain ridge overlooking the ski lift and imagined what the view will look like a few months. Snow-covered hills, visitors bundled up and ready for taking on the adventure of skiing down the hills. It was at that moment I knew I wanted to learn how to ski. Why is it so hard to stay in the present? I feel like it is easier to be in the moment when traveling because everything is new, undiscovered. I attempt to take that into my everyday life, yet it’s work to be happy about the present when I’m constantly thinking about what has been or what will be. I loved this quote when reading this book recently. It will be a book I read again.

“Accept — then act. Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it. Make it your friend and ally, not your enemy. This will miraculously transform your whole life.”
― Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now