My morning walks make me happy. I’d already walked out of Domaine Valent several times, taking the road to the left and taking the right turn at the T-junction. Going up the dirt path to the left. Walking anticlockwise in a circle, back to the Domaine. A gorgeous hike with views of the Pyrenees, just over an hour. A route I’d spotted on Google Maps and it worked. Hey, I even tried it the other way around, take the right out of the Domaine, walk clockwise, and enjoyed breakfast afterwards.
At dinner that day, we had a conversation. Amory asked me, “What truly sparks joy for you? How do you show your desires? For example, why do you pick red as your nail polish color? Do you pick different jewelry depending on your mood?”
These questions came up completely out of sync with the business book I was writing here. That book was about how leaders can design moving change narratives and create real business impact. But these questions, especially the big one underneath it all, intrigued me. What was my true desire, and how could I live it out?
Yes, I always wear red nail polish. To be honest, I like it best, and it suits me. I have a pair of earrings my daughter gave me that I wear 99% of the time. I have four rings, two I wear day and night, and two I put on as soon as I wake up. When I work as a professional speaker, I always wear a blue dress. I have 27, but blue it is. You see the pattern, right?
I’m a woman of routines. But deep down, I’m also abundant, vibrant, and adventurous. So how does that show? How do I express myself and bring my desires to life? Not in the big things, like walking a solo pilgrimage of 1,000 kilometers through Italy (yep, that was a real adventure), but in daily life. In the little things.
As I said, it intrigued me. It puzzled me. Had I become dull? A 53 year old flatliner?
Hell no. That was my immediate answer. But how do I show myself, the universe, and tap into those desires every day? More consciously?
The Desire Map was the suggestion Amory gave me. So I downloaded the audiobook by Danielle LaPorte and started listening. It was early morning, 7 am, the sun was out, and I had my earbud in. Time to hit the road and enjoy my morning routine.
I took the road to the left, reached the T-junction, and this time, I chose the path to the right. I passed an abandoned caravan. “Please let there not be some kind of creep in there,” popped into my mind. But of course, there was nobody. I continued along the grassy path and took the first road to the right. Another dirt road, lined with trees on both sides.
My heart sang. No creeps, just me, walking, thinking, enjoying the morning. But then came the bump in the road, metaphorically. The path stopped. All I could see was tall grass. No clear way forward. Just grass, trees, and a meadow in the distance. I pulled out my phone and checked Google Maps. There should be a path. Now what? Turn back and retrace the road I already knew?
No way. That wasn’t what I was going to do. I saw a little opening through the tall grass and kept going. Grass brushing my hips, me feeling like an explorer. A real adventure, right here, offered by the Universe. Tapping into my desired feelings.
Several thoughts tried to break my stride. What if I fall here and nobody knows where I am, and I die? What if the creep from the caravan lives in these bushes, attacks me, and I die? What if? I listened to my own devilish thoughts, said thank you, and also said, I desire adventure, and this is it. Adventures come with scary thoughts, doubts, and hurdles along the way.
I kept going on the ‘not a path’ and finally saw the bend that Google Maps had promised. It led up into a meadow, though still no real path. I spotted a little villa at the top of the hill and just hoped nobody was home. Would there be a big fence? A barking dog?
Of course, none of that happened. I followed the ‘not a path’ to the top, passed the house, and found myself back on a regular road. I kept walking, on my way back to Domaine Valent.
That morning, I learned how I show my desires to myself. I love little adventures on my daily walks. Choosing paths, or letting paths choose me. Whether it’s the route I already know and encountering two deer, or the path unknown with grass up to my hips. Pioneering, taking some risks, and enjoying the thrill of it all.
That is what Domaine Valent gave me, a true Valent experience. I looked it up, and “Valent” means courageous. I loved that little adventure Domaine Valent offered me that Thursday morning, making me feel both courageous and adventurous.
And did you know that another one of my desired feelings, one that also fills me with joy, is to be inspirational? To take paths and show others the way? Now you know too! You can go left or right at the T-junction when you go for a hike, either take the road well paved or take the grassy not so much taken one. But you will return to your desk to write. Or even better, enjoy a fab breakfast prepared by Amory.
Oh my, did I just live out two desires in one? Bam. A big smile of joy on my face. To all the walkers and wanderers out there: may your paths, like mine at Domaine Valent, be filled with joy and adventure.