nature — This is Why

Like a Brand New Car...

The Price is Right is part of the morning routine within the Chicola household. Each day, the familiar theme song echoes through the kitchen, while contestants "come on down" to win big prizes via games like Plinko, Cliff Hangers, and Hole in One. While I'm sure the beautiful cars everyone jumps up and down for are spectacular, my Jeep continues to prove its longevity and durability, demonstrating to me that it is the "whole package" despite the naysayers. Would trading in make me a traitor?

Matthew ChicolaJanuary 10, 2018feminine, masculine, energy, femininity, masculinity, balance, whole, wholeness, adversity, uncertainty, soul, soulful, soulfulness, spiritual, spirituality, spirit, nature, hiking, adventure, journey, paulo coelho, the alchemist, robin sharma, who will cry when you die, fear, escape, runaway, avoidance, worry, anxietyComment

Like Warm Blood...

Some tents and sleeping bags are made for freezing cold, pouring rain, and blustering wind; others (like mine)...not so much. I expected the conditions to be warmer overnight as I traveled further south, but the elevation of each of my stops left me vulnerable to the reality of the frigid weather. When life freezes your lemons, what's the next best move?

Matthew ChicolaDecember 12, 2017compassion, love, spirituality, spiritual, nature, mouse, mice, trap, hunting, hunt, kill, soul, universe, meditation, prayer, hiking, travel, colorado, new mexico, utah, arches national park, bryce canyon, grand canyon, marble canyon, tent, backpackingComment

Like Bathroom Etiquette...

After spending a majority of the trip digging holes to...lay waste...I walked into a pit bathroom at Arches National Park and was reacquainted with my long-time friend: the toilet. Why did it seem so foreign in those first moments? Don't worry, I didn't make the mistakes of Number 2 or 3 (or a combo of both), but returning my life back to the flush may require further training...