A cloud does not know why it moves in such a direction or speed, it feels an impulsion… this is the place to go now. But the sky knows the reasons and the patterns behind all the clouds, and you will know, too, when to lift yourself high enough to see beyond your own horizons. Richard Bach


What began as a simple discussion of The Alaskan Sweepstakes turned into a great escapade. I suppose that’s how all ideas start, with a conversation. Not many families choose to spend their vacation traveling across their state, especially when their state is as big as Alaska. Not true of ours, we chose to do 1,400 miles across the State of Alaska with 24 potential Sweepstakes team dogs, and three snow machines. You would have to be crazy to take a family vacation with your family for that long right? My husband lived out most men’s worst nightmare – sharing what was jokingly called the Lindner Harem tent with his wife and little sister. Most men would rather sleep in the snow bank.

I could tell you here all the crazed details of our trip, from packing food for six people for 3 weeks, to ground storms, wildlife sightings and all things in between, because those events really do change your perspective. I promise that tale will come but this first. The entire trip changed me in many ways, some of which I won’t find out until later, some I know now. You never really now how much your adventures and journeys change you until you come home. Back to reality, back to your job, your desk, your car, your house, your day to day existence.

What I can say is testing yourself, doing new things, being brave, bold and not being afraid to live within the confines of your social status, physical abilities, or pressing emotional boundaries can expand your consciousness, and give you faith in the person you need to have the most faith in - Yourself. Because you obligation in life is to be true to yourself, any other obligation is false.


I can’t yet say how much I’ve changed, but I know my thoughts are simpler. It seems for me at least that as a child my thoughts were simple, they got complex for quite a while as I broke down every single thing I had for morals, tore myself and my learning apart, now I’m back to simple. I know what I love, I know what I cherish and I know the traits I want to grow within myself. My experience simplified a lot of things for me. Just how much I can go without, how much I can withstand, that pain does not kill you, and that a woman no matter how she is viewed is just as strong as a man, in ways beyond muscle structure.

I don’t wish for everyone to do a 1,400 mile expedition across the State of Alaska; to be honest most of my friends think I’m fanatical and certifiable for doing it and even I at times questioned how much I really wanted to be where I was. One particular moment was having to pee in 60 mph winds while hiding behind a snow machine. Not fun. But what I do wish for everyone is that something extraordinary comes in your path to give you the chance to do what I did. Some grand adventure, big decision, cataclysm or journey that forces you to realize how potent you are and how magical life is. Because even if you live every day with magic in you life, you still lose touch of the sheer overwhelming magnificence of the world when you don’t shake yourself up once in a while.



So here’s to you on your own expedition, wherever that may be. I promise the journey will come in written form, right down to every little ground storm and intimidating event…