Travel Connections: Lake Havasu

@GoLakeHavasu

Beautiful am I, bountiful am I, blissful am I, yahey. I got the keys to the wisdom of ages, I got the keys, yahey. I got the love, I got the joy, I got the peace, yahey. We're in this together, we're stronger together. We're in this together, yahey. I learned the Beautiful am I mantra at a yoga retreat. We sang the Kirtan (call and response) all through the class while doing the breath of fire. The words stuck with me and the rest followed after I had a vision of a live retreat in Sedona. I wrote The Anti-aging Secrets of Yoga and dedicated my book to my dad who passed away in October of 2019. He taught me to value freedom and democracy. Little did I know that I was healing trauma and continue to heal as I share my truth with other spiritual beings who are in this journey of life. I felt alone and unloved. I felt anxious and depressed because the people who are supposed to love me didn't listen to me or accept me. They assumed that they knew me when they never cared enough to hear me. I got sick and tired of being treated like a nobody so I just left and began to travel. 

I went to Lake Havasu because I pre-paid for a resort stay and wanted to get away. Little did I know that my escape would bring me to meet so many beautiful souls. I met Larry and Linda, a retired couple who spend their winters at Crazy Horse RV Park. They live a healthy simple life and are free to travel anywhere. They have an organic farm and Linda is a beekeeper. Larry said she does everything better and he lets her do what she wants to do. Linda was a female officer in LAPD and her nickname was Annie Oakley. She said I must learn how to use a gun and gun safety for self-protection because cars kill more people and criminals have guns. Larry said he saw me smiling and liked me right away, that he has no time for fake people. He made me feel like I belonged. 

I also met Howard (Hip Hop Hippie), my brother from another mother while I was visiting Havasu Landing. I was curious about the Chemehuevi tribe and wanted to learn about their creation story. He volunteered to share his wisdom with me. He took me to meet Bridget Sandate at the Chemehuevi Cultural and Education Center. I'm grateful to learn about Ocean Woman who created the earth. Wolf, Coyote and Mountain Lion, they led the way. Grandpa Rattlesnake (wisdom keeper), don't tread on him. Grandma Mountain Lion/ Cougar, quiet, cautious, protective and always watching. They pray to Wolf for wisdom and ask Coyote how they can learn from their mistakes. I felt like I'd known them and  Ocean Woman in another lifetime. I said that I am part of their tribe. Little did I know that I am 99.6% East Asian and Indigenous American (https://www.23andme.com). Here's a photo of Howard and Dino, his bearded dragon and companion. My friend said he looks like a movie star.

Recently, I went back to visit my friends in Lake Havasu and took the Sunset Cruise with Sunset Charter Tours (http://www.lakehavasuboattours.com) Here's a photo of the Dragon over the Lake.

@fitnesswla

Water is life, water is wealth. Love and respect Mother Earth. Love and respect the Chemehuevi people who have lived in the area for over 3,500 years. Love and respect Lake Havasu (Ha means water, Vasu means Blue Green). www.earthmagazine.org

 P.S. Join my free online creative writing class, DM @fitnesswla

Travel Connections: Grand Adventures

@GrandCanyonNPS

I took my mom on a roadtrip of a lifetime last November. I booked plane tickets and lodging, told her we were going to the Grand Canyon. We flew from LAX to Phoenix, AZ. Then, I drove us to Sedona and checked off one of our bucket list when we visited Grand Canyon, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The funny part was when we were in Sedona, there was an overnight snow storm so the temperature dropped from 60's to the 30's. 

"It's too cold, my teeth are chattering and my toes are all frozen! It's hard to walk" My mom said.

"I told you to bring a puffy jacket and you didn't listen." I replied.

"Well, I'm going to stay in the car and sleep. I didn't get to sleep much because you made me wake up so early."

Mom is a night owl and I'm an early bird. I often feel like the chicken talking to the duck. My dad passed away in October of 2019 and mom has been very needy since then. I made a conscious decision to spend quality time with her to get to know her better. It hasn't been easy dealing with someone who's so bound by her culture and upbringing. I tried to be patient, but being locked down with a 79-year old widow who holds onto the past for dear life tested me. She became addicted to the news and the negativity. She became like Dr. Jekyll/ Mr, Hyde. She drove me crazy and I just wanted to leave her for good. "Ah Dai" my big sister who lives nearby "stayed safer at home" and didn't make time to help. She was "too busy" and made us take the Covid PCR test every time before we "visited" her. I went along with "Ah Dai's" rules because I thought I had no choice. That was the limiting belief that cost me more than I realized. Looking back, I should've asserted myself and demanded that she respect my healthy boundaries. My dysfunctional, co-dependent family didn't serve me and I kept giving pieces of myself up to gain their love and respect. In doing so, I lost my self-love and self-respect. 

As women, we've been conditioned to sacrifice ourselves for our families. We often put others before us and don't prioritize self care. We over give and become people pleasers until we run empty and burn out. I got burnt to the ashes but I rose up like a Phoenix because I reclaimed my divine rights. We're all created equal. No one is better than another person. No one has the right to bully, shame or put down someone. No one has the right to make me feel bad or guilty. They may call my crazy, but it takes a crazy person to change the world.

A Murder of Crows: Coins can kill birds. The American Crows are very social, inquisitive and sometimes mischievous. Crows are good learners and problem-solvers. They are aggressive and protect their territory by chasing other birds away. Birds of a feather flock together. Did you know that the color black is made up of a rainbow of colors? I love the Rainbow Crow, a supposed Lenape legend, symbolizing the value of selflessness and service. It is also a modification of a Cherokee story of the "First Fire". After a long period of cold weather, the animals became worried. They decided to send a messenger to the Great Sky Spirit to ask for help. The Rainbow Crow, the most beautiful bird offered to make the arduous journey. He carried the gift of fire in his beak back to his people, but upon his return, his plumage was scorched black and didn't appear to be the same bird that he once was. His voice was made rough and hoarse by the smoke, but in certain light, you can still see his rainbow colors.

Did you know that a California Condor (a critically endangered species) recently died of zinc poisoning from swallowing coins? She was a breeding female, possibly seeking a calcium source before laying an egg. Other wildlife has been harmed by ingesting litter. "Give a hoot! Don't pollute." Woodsy the Owl is an icon for the U.S. Forest Service. His current motto is "Lend a hand - care for the land!"

 

Bee the change, bee the change, bee the change we want to see. I believe we can bee the change we want to see. Buy local and organic. Please save the bees.

I am so grateful for my Superpowers. I am Monkey 🐒 and Scorpio ♏, a free spirit and a bridge between two worlds. I am an empath and a light worker. I am the change I want to see in the world.

Ingrid Cheng

Author of The Anti-Aging Secrets of  Yoga, The Adventures of Monkey, Sparky Rescued Me, Island Life: Hawaii ABCs, A Cat's Life: Kitty Paws and Travel Connections.