This is about an interesting drive I had last fall to see the colors of the mountains.

I woke up about 5:00 am on that day and you can look out at the world and everything is quiet. . . Because it is so early in the morning, the brain has not really kicked in yet. It is kind of quiet inside. . . All the problems have just disappeared. . . They are just not there. . . Perfect peace and quiet. . .

Later on, as I was driving:

The sun is shining and it is warm. . . I know it is going to be one of those days

Everything just seems to go right. I am driving down the road and I am already getting into that automatic pattern where my hands just know what they are doing.. I know the way that I need to go, because I do not even have to think about it... All I can do is allow my attention to drift across the road to the other car that happens to be there and to just enjoy the sunshine,. . . and beautiful greenery along the road which I have not seen for such a long, long time. . . While I am driving comfortably, peacefully with all my attention focused on the road, the direction that I am heading in. I do not feel the miles and time. . . just comfortable enjoyment. . . I am feeling that this is just going to be one of those wonderful experiences that I need to share.

I like driving in the Fall. . . the leaves are turning color and whole forest with leaves readying for the new growth of Spring. Brilliant reds, oranges, yellows . . . Green . . . The deep blue sky above . . . Like all the colors of the rainbow. . . The white light of the Sun makes all the colors of the rainbow, but at night it is black. . .

You could think you have nothing or everything at once, or remember there is a whole spectrum in between. . .

At a forest rest stop, watching the colorful hillside, I imagine what it is like to be a caterpillar on a leaf. . . What is it like. . .to rest comfortably on a leaf and be nourished by the leaf, high up in the tree? What is it like to look down at the rest of the forest, to see all around? All the animals scurrying around, so busy, in a hurry. You want to just tell them slow down. You gotta make the morning last? . . . Just be looking for fun. . . feelin relaxed. . . unconcerned. . .All the pathways run through the woods like a maze. How many different ways there really are to get from one place to another? All are hidden when you are down on the ground yourself. . .

Imagine your leaf letting go of the tree. . . You can float gently down upon the soft breeze, riding it easily---a gentle see. . .saw. . .rock. . .ing. . .as you float down---deeper. . . down. . . drifting easily and comfortably. . .all the way down. . . You notice how nicely the leaf supports your body. . . I do not know if you would feel very light, as you continue to float, or feel a kind of comfortable heaviness as you drift down and further down. . . You feel comfortable relaxation as you drift down. . .

As the leaf settles gently on the ground, you might wonder where you are going next. . . In response to Alice's "I do not know which way?" Wonderland's Chesire Cat said "Well it does not much matter which way you go then." . . .

The caterpillar crawls onto a bush and begins to spin a cocoon. I wonder what it is like to nestle comfortably and easily in that cocoon—sort of like being somewhere in the middle of nowhere. . . In the middle of nowhere you can let go of doubt, let go of worry, of demands, of fears, or pressures. . . Your mind knows exactly how to take you there. . . There is nothing you need to do. . . There is no one to question, criticize, evaluate, or judge you here. . . All the wisdom, the answers, and solutions, all the pieces of the puzzle come together here... You know "I can do it" I have the energy, I am just right, I can take charge, I can solve this. The puzzle comes together here. . .

For a moment, just reflect on all of the positive aspects of yourself: your creativity, your intelligence, your talents. . . People see you as a good friend, a good worthwhile person. . . Just imagine yourself doing. . . See yourself confident, certain of your abilities, very certain, your correctness, certain of your talents, and appeal. . .

New awareness is like planting a seed in the garden. . . You know you can put that seed into the ground, cover it, provide it with water and sunlight. From that point on there is not much you can do. Water it and pull away the weeds. . . You can not tell the plant how to grow. One day you look and see the results. You see it and understand. . . You know that some important work has been going on without your help. . . And this work will continue. . . Likewise your mind will continue to work and learn for you long after these seeds have been planted, and nurtured with needed watering. . .

When the caterpillar comes out of the cocoon, a transformation has taken place. It emerges as a bright, beautiful butterfly, with all the colors of the rainbow. You gotta know when it is time to let go of what you no longer need. . . You gain new freedom. . . The butterfly flies high above the trees, one tree to another. With such ease of movement, such flexibility. . .you can look at life from so many different perspectives...

Oh my imagination runs away. Where did the time go?

I was hungry and remembered a restaurant a few miles back. Upon entering the restaurant I hear the clanging of pots and pans, the smell of food, and the noise of many people talking. Feeling refreshed, relaxed, alert, and simply fantastic, I told the waitress that I wanted some country fried steak.