I’m typing this on the porch of our Airbnb which is situated in the wilderness halfway between Duluth and Two Harbors Minnesota. This is the final day of our four day getaway. Even though today’s been the only time we’ve seen the sun in four days, the trip has been a wonderful psychological reset for the both of us.
My friend Juan (
Sometimes there’s no better therapy than having huge swaths of time to do nothing but listen to the rain hit the tin roof and the late summer breeze rustle the trees. After this past year and a half and all of its chaos, forced changes, and losses due to Covid, I needed it and I think Juan did too.
I’ve thought about how grateful I am for this blessed life I live, a spouse and family who support my dreams, and how valuable true friendships are. As we age it’s awfully easy to feel like we don’t have time for friends and to even sometimes feel that maintaining friendships are a burden. It’s worth it to make the effort.
“It takes a long time to grow an old friend.” - John Leonard
Tomorrow I’m going to pull out of the driveway of this Airbnb towards the Twin Cities, recalibrated, rejuvenated, and ready to tackle my goals for the next year. One of my main goals will be to put the finishing touches on my next novel which I can’t wait to share with you all. I’ve also invested some time in contemplating what will come after that. I’m almost certain those future plans include some coddiwompling.
I hope you enjoy this short montage of photos and videos from my last ninety-six hours. If you find yourself planning a North Shore trip, please look up Steven and Jeannie on Airbnb, they've been fabulous hosts.
All for now.
With Gratitude,
Eric Vance Walton
(Photos and videos are original.)
Poetry should move us, it should change us, it should glitch our brains, shift our moods to another frequency. Poetry should evoke feelings of melancholy, whimsy, it should remind us what it feels like to be in love, or cause us to think about something in a completely different way. I view poetry, and all art really, as a temporary and fragile bridge between our world and a more pure and refined one. This is a world we could bring into creation if enough of us believed in it. This book is ephemera, destined to end up forgotten, lingering on some dusty shelf or tucked away in a dark attic. Yet the words, they will live on in memory. I hope these words become a part of you, bubble up into your memory when you least expect them to and make you feel a little more alive.
Pick up a copy of Ephemera today on Amazon.
Most of us have experienced a moment of perfect peace at least once in our lives. In these moments we lose ourselves and feel connected to everything. I call these mindful moments. Words can’t describe how complete they make us feel.
These moments are usually fragile, evaporating in seconds. What if there was a way to train your mind to experience more of them? It’s deceptively easy and requires nothing more than a subtle shift in mindset. My new book, Mindful Moments, will teach you to be much more content despite the chaos and imperfect circumstances continuing to unfold around you. Upgrade your life experience today for only $15.99 on Amazon.com.