MidSummer, MidWinter, MidLife

It’s been a very eventful month.

In June, I celebrated my 50th birthday here in
Uruguay. Because I was so far away from many friends
and family, my oldest daughter got stealthy, contacted
my Facebook friends asking them to send her a birthday
video or image, and she put it all together in a ten-minute
miracle video of love and blessings. It was the best gift I have
ever received, hands down. You can watch it here:
http://www.mayafrost.com/blog/2010/06/19/fifty-years-love-adventure/

Tom and I spent most of June traveling around Uruguay in order to
escape the most disruptive stage of the remodel of our farmhouse.
We spent time in Montevideo and also in Punta del Diablo, a small
beach town that’s very quiet during the winter but crazy in summer.
I had an idea for a book I wanted to write there, so I was doing
research and soaking up the vibe of the place. We stayed in a hostel,
which is something I haven’t done in years. It was a fantastic
experience. If you’re headed that way, I highly recommend El
Diablo Tranquilo Hostel: http://www.ElDiabloTranquilo.com

It’s been incredibly exciting to be in Uruguay during the World Cup
and to be part of the celebrations as the country reached the #4 position.
The small town near us (home of one of the players) went absolutely crazy
with each win. You can see some of the videos on my blog at
http://www.MayaFrost.com/blog

And speaking of the blog, I’ve made a big shift.
I am no longer blogging about education.
Rather than writing about skipping the SATs or saving thousands on
study abroad, I’m focusing on things closer to home: life in this
rural area of Uruguay. I wrote a blog post describing my reasons
for making the switch. Here it is: http://bit.ly/crq7B2

So, if you visit my blog, you’ll find stories about the stray dog
that adopted us (and was hit by a car two weeks later), a stray pig
that showed up, the ongoing remodel, the quirky and delightful things
we are learning about life in Uruguay and updates on my writing as it
continues to morph (now finishing a Young Adult novel).

Of course, it’s still about learning and mindfulness, because LIFE
is about learning and mindfulness!

Those of you in the north are celebrating the middle of the summer,
but down here in Uruguay, it’s the middle of the winter. Every
day is an adventure as we test new windows and roof, the roadworthiness
of our decidedly bare-bones car, our ability to make long-lasting
fires in the woodstove, and our patience in living a rural life with
very limited access to the outside world.

Life is full of change, and at 50, I’m grateful to have a chance to
embrace all that lies ahead.

I hope you’re finding your own ways to delight in the changes around you.

(And if you need a little help in seeing your own possibilities, I invite
you to contact me. I’m working with clients by email only these days–
it’s a wonderful way to thoughtfully communicate and TAKE TIME to ponder
the road ahead.)

Happy mid-whatever to you!

Maya

Maya Frost
writer/mindfulness trainer
http://www.MayaFrost.com

How’s your summer/winter going? I’d love to hear from you!
Please drop me a line at Maya@MayaFrost.com and tell me
about the surprises and challenges in your life right now.

U.S. Address:

Bold School Group

14525 SW Millikan Way #15705
Beaverton, OR
97005
US