My New Year Adventure

I awoke New Year's Eve with my eyes puffy from tears, and my heart sad. I needed some healing. "We need the water of Harbin Hot Springs," my reflection said.
"Now reflection," countered I, "is this not the scene of the crime? Is this not where the trouble began? We went there, consciously opened up our heart, and now look at us."
"The water didn't do that. We can't let others dictate where we go and what we do. Is that not one of the reasons we left Oklahoma, because we were living our life for other people?"
My reflection glared defiantly at me. Together we took a deep breath.
"You're right," I told my reflection, "I don't want to go and be around a bunch of drunk people I don't know. I'm not going to argue with you, I can't think of a more perfect way to begin a New Year than in those hot springs."
The Eve
So I packed and off I went. The scenery all the way was breathtaking. Harbin was full up with no vacancy, so I got a 24 hour pass to the springs and planned to sleep in my car. I was right about those ghosts in the water, I was surrounded by them. Lots of couples. When I saw them I would dunk my head and let the water wash my spirit clean. In the community kitchen I made myself dinner, met some lovely peeps who gave me cookies and suggested I should study cranial sacral therapy, as massage therapists with that training are in short supply in the bay area. Wonderful food for thought, I will look in to it, but I'm still not sure what kind of schooling I want to get in to yet. Still exploring my options.
I watched a movie they showed (The Waitress, and I HIGHLY recommend it), then I went to this common room with a nice fire in it. I read and eventually fell asleep. No one asked me to leave, so I slept there, cozy in front of the fire.
The Beginning
I have been waking up very early here. New Year's Day was no exception. I awoke and saw the first orange crack of dawn. I delighted myself with the experience of doing the Sun Salutation to the breaking dawn of the New Year. Honestly, it doesn't get more perfect. Another person who opted to sleep in the common room was awakened by my movement, and joined me in greeting the day with yoga. After we stopped we hugged, and thanked each other for sharing such a beautiful experience. It was the first time for both of us to actually greet the morning sun with a Sun Salutation. As we looked out at the beautiful day, we saw more people gathering for yoga further down the hill. So we joined them. I had a yoga fiesta to start off my new year.
The Breakfast
After that I went to breakfast, I enjoyed a little writing before this lovely German artist named Martina came to sit with me and talk about life. An older gentleman came along with his breakfast and joined in our conversation. We talked about the horrible things going on in our planet, and how do we, as individuals, respond to the gross injustices being done. If we react to these things with anger and frustration- which we do, I personally find it hard not to- we are feeding the very beast we despise. We all felt at odds living in a nation ruled by fear and the glory of material wealth. As a way to counterbalance these world problems that upset us we agreed that instead of reacting with anger, what we should focus on spreading love and compassion as a daily walking prayer. In the very least we can help our immediate world by giving these things to those we make direct contact with in our waking life. We all hugged goodbye and I made my way to the springs with this new gentleman friend.
The Baths
Well, don't it beat all that this gentleman had romantic inclinations towards me. I thanked him for the compliment, but let him know the timing was off. I allowed him to talk and share with me, but that's as far as I'm willing to let it go. I guess the experience showed me that finding another man who enjoyed my close company would be easy, but honestly, it brings little comfort. I don't really want to allow anyone else in. I will have to wait on time to heal that. Mr. Gentleman and I shared a picnic and then back I went to house sitting.
The New Year
On the way home the majesty of the mountains moved me this time to tears. I let them flow because they felt good; I lovingly accepted the gift of beauty laid out before me. I plan on sharing the gifts I received from my New Year's experience to all I encounter, and that, my dear ones, is my New Year's resolution. Wasn't planning on making any, but as I wrote that last sentence, I discovered I just did.