Review: Pathfinder Course

I really have no idea how I first “connected” with Karen Walrond or started following her website Chookooloonks, but I was quickly impressed enough to purchase her lovely book The Beauty of Different back in January.  Although I finished reading it months ago, I’ve yet to write my review & it was a book that I’d pick up once or twice a month and read a chapter in bed before I feel asleep.  Her words and stories came to me at a special time in my life, I’d always seem to read just the right chapter for the right challenge I was facing in my life.  In August, she promoted an online e-course she was offering called Pathfinder.  I only knew it involved some soul-searching, journaling and 4-weeks of emails for me to read Monday-Friday mornings, but I took the plunge, looking to indulge my Right Brain a little more.

I’ll start out by sharing that this course was one of the best things I’ve done in a long time!  The past year has been a time of personal struggles, growth, frustration, and questioning.  I feel as if I’ve accomplished everything on my “You should do this” list and I have everything I could really ever want, but something was still missing and I was still seeking something. So much of my time was allocated towards busy tasks and accomplishing things.  The rest of my days filled with meaningless things and squandered time.  The first order of business in the class was to start a daily journal & I pulled out this beautiful one I’d purchased at Barnes & Noble many months ago.

By taking this journey through Pathfinder, I committed to making time for myself.  Time to slow down and journal.  Moments to daydream and let my mind swirl.  Space to let my thoughts roam near and far.  Freedom to look deeply at myself and the things that really mattered most to me in my life and brought me joy.  Permission to step back and look around at the bigger picture in life instead of rushing to complete the next item on my to-do list.  Acceptance to honestly evaluate my life without judgment or regrets.

Each morning, I eagerly looked forward to reading Karen’s email and seeing what task she had laid out for the day.  Some mornings I had time to journal and free-write, but sometimes I just  focused on the prompt throughout the day.  Many days I did it first things when I arrived home or made sure it was the last thing I did at night.  All of the tasks were working towards the ultimate goal- identify the things that we want and need in our life.  Several of the tasks were easy and enjoyable, a few assignments were a struggle for me or pushed me into heavy introspection.  Each day brought me a few small answers closer to finding joy and meaning in my life.  I’ve fallen in love with journaling- not just block of paragraphs, but beautiful & colorful sketches, mind mapping, exhilarating lists, precious photos and memories.

We learned to cultivate a daily gratitude practice & there were many days that I just did free brain storming.  I was so inspired on my trip to Denver & Breckenridge that I wanted to write down all things that I want in a beautiful life and a happy home one day.  It’s not a solid plan to move, but I know that my heart will take me and my family some place else one day filling with the type of home that makes my heart sing.  It probably won’t be in 5 years or 10, but I’m being intentional about following my dreams and moving somewhere inspiring is near the top of the list.

One of my favorite projects was creating a vision board.  Yes, I totally felt like I was back in elementary school with scissors and glue.  It felt so good to “play” and dream while identifying images and feelings that I wanted to fill the next year of my life.  This is poster size, but I loved and cherished it so much that I took a photo & also attached a picture inside my journal so I could have it with me and reflect on it while I’m on the road.  For some reason, this exercise was emotional one for me- to let myself believe that I do deserve all these things & that I desperately want them.  It was cathartic and my vision board now sits right next to my desk where I can look at all the desires of my heart several times every day.

My journal was filled with my daily writing & lots of “To Do” lists- something I was able to fit in almost everyday.  Other places are filled with lists and organization for all the things I am planning for the future.  It felt like a stress was lifted just to have things written, planned, and with me at all times.

The core of this course was about self-reflection and our efforts were focused on identifying the things that made us tick.  Through brainstorming and love lists, we found words and desires of our heart.  This photo is intentionally very out-of-focus since I don’t intend to share the details.  My word for this next year is Light- with all the multiple meanings and variety of things that the word encompasses.   Analyzing the things that I love to do in life, they all involved problem solving, growing and being balanced.  Over several days all these things came together and inspired me with ways to be Light through all these things in the next year of my life.

For some reason, I really enjoyed keeping my “TO DO” list in the journal.  It was hard to give up my index cards, but it was nice to write everything down every day.  No carrying tasks over for days or weeks on end- lingering on the list and pushing guilt that I hadn’t done them yet.  Only the most important things get written down & it’s nice to cross things off the list and look back at all works I’d accomplished on each day in the past.

One of the other awesome exercises that we participated in was the Life Menu of Awesome- much like the 101 Things  in 1,001 days that hubby and I had crafted as newlyweds.  With my new list I’ve got many exiting and challenging things and a much longer time horizon (the rest of my life!).  I’m very excited that I took the time to document these & I’m already getting started working towards a few things on my list.  Several pages of my journal are filled with photos- mostly of Hubby & I, but I took this new family photo as an assignment in the course & I felt the need to include my girls and articulate why I love them so much.

Near the end of the course, life got a little crazy busy with personal and work travel.  I put off a few assignments that were going to be difficult and time-consuming. I still plan on doing a letter to myself and working on a Mission Statement, but I need a little time and space to be in a better place personally before tackling those items.  It was an amazing experience & I did so much growing through this course with journaling and the exercises.  It was difficult for me to make time every night/morning for daily journals and find time to sit deep in thought on some of the more deep topics we were asked to explore.  I want to personally thank Karen for this course & her amazing book (I promise I’ll get it reviewed soon), and for turning me onto the benefits and richness of an online course.  On her recommendation, I am now participating in the Ordinary Courage course by her college Brene Brown.

The last Pathfinder course of the year starts on Monday October 31st.  If you are struggling with where you life is going and how to chase your dreams, I’d highly encourage you to check out the course and commit the time to yourself for learning and growing. It might be a scary step to take- doing something for yourself and splurging a little time on your searching for who you are on the inside, but it’s so worth it.

GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY: Crossing off one of many things on my new list tonight by going painting with girlfriends.