Lost My Mindfulness Blog

Category: Epic Adventures

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  • Birds of a Feather

    Birds of a Feather

    Journal Entry/ Sept. 09 2026: Early in life I was not much of a believer in Jung’s ideas on synchronicity. Looking back, I should have payed more attention to the signs. Strange shiz is happening all the time.

    Third Rock From The Sun

    We are, after all standing on a giant rock hurtling through space, orbiting the sun, in a universe full of galaxies that appears to be limitless.

    Or so the theory goes. It is enough to make you lose your balance if you think about it too much.

    Quoth the Raven, I am a Crow

    I sat in the churchyard in the early morning in Villes De Tardenois , France.

    I was trying to improvise expresso in my water jug and talking to my Self.

    I spat out some expletives at people in the past who could no longer hear me and asked for a sign.

    My Self said,

    Let it go , Billy, Let it go. You came to France to forget about all that crap and the more you think about it the worse you feel.

    I looked up above the church roof.

    Three crows flew over the peak and did a tight circle in formation and flew away!

    I said,

    Thank you!

    Smiling at the sky

    Spiritual Messengers

    My mind was blown! Crows carry messages from the spirit world and I am told if you ask the Universe for a sign it will give it to you in a way you will know.

    If crows have no meaning for you then they have no meaning for you.

    They have great meaning for me because I set them as my synchronicity.

    I use birds as my personal Tarot.

    If birds do something unusual. I pay attention!

    As if flying is not unusual enough.

  • A Raven By Any Other Name

    A Raven By Any Other Name

    it’s not every day a raven will sit and pose for a photo opportunity. The spiritual messenger pictured above is none other than Gabriel the archangel mentioned by name in the Bible.

    It is not mentioned in the Bible but we are telling you now. If you are lost in the desert in Spain and call upon Gabriel by name. Do not at all be surprised at the answer.

    William found his sendero blocked by another highway while walking towards the Pyrenees he could see, touch, taste, and smell in the distance.

    Why Run When You Can Walk

    Feeling frustrated as France seemed to get further away with each step. William stopped stressing and threw down a blanket in the shade and threw up his hands asking Gabriel for guidance.

    Remembering Buddha of the big belly’s words of wisdom.

    “Why stand when you can sit ? Why sit when you can lie down?”

    buddha of the big belly

    William took a much needed break.

    Natural Tarot

    After resting, William packed his bag and walked out to the road wondering which way would be safer with no breakdown lanes in sight.

    The sight he saw was this freakin Raven on the opposite side of the highway!

    No mistake, this dude was alive. Maybe injured, maybe not. The only question is what does this mean?

    is he blocking the path? William hates turning around, doubling back, repeating himself, William was interrupted by the sight of an overgrown tractor path over the shoulder of the elephant in the room.

    (The elephant being the Raven and the room being the great big world..)

    Buckling up and feeling the wind at his back William marched into the horizon saw the Pyrenees mountains.

    The Raven did not step aside nor utter a caw. He turned his head to allow safe passage.

    Ornothology 101

    If you are wondering how to tell a Raven from a crow, you have come to the right place.

    If you say to yourself,

    “Wow! That is the biggest, ugliest crow I have ever seen, and he looks pissed. “

    Edgar Allen Poe?

    You are looking at a Raven.

  • Back In The U.S. of A Holes

    Back In The U.S. of A Holes

    hdr

    William is back in the United States.

    Do not even ask how he managed that incredible feat. Flying straight outta Dublin to the crazy azz city of Boston, Massachusetts.

    Boston, the home of dirty water you can use to clean your unholy soul.

    Hats off to The Standells, we are waiting for permission to link to the song, “Dirty Water”. Until then, please enjoy this link to youtube channel.

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    Still rocking his Kafka with a cuff and a crease.

    Whatever that means.

    [Pictured above is Doestoyevski’s semi autobiographical novel describing just how long, cold and bleak the winters in St. Petersberg Russia could be.]

    The paperback novel proved to be integral to learning French on the road.

    Although a bit confusing as the French translation of the title is , “Le Reve d’un Homme Ridicule”

    A much more polite translation of the original title. “The Idiot. “

    Remember we got this party started with Doestoyevski when William left his online Russian bride standing alone on the corner of Boston University.

    Oh so long ago doors were closing on us, left, right and center.

    What an Idiot!

    We suggest following these instructions to relax, access your intuition and recognize your opportunities.

  • Where Angels Fear To Tread

    Where Angels Fear To Tread

    Please beware when we speak of William’s 1200 kilometer Camino de Santiago; this was no tourist trap trail you book online! This was a throw your phone off the cliff and rely on your knowledge and experience and faith to guide you.

    Knowing there was no hotel or even promise of food at the end of the day.

    William chose Spain to begin his European Spiritual Journey because he learned Spanish bit by bit in America working with people from Mexico, South America, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

    In Spain he met many migrant workers who were happy to help him with food , water and a quick ride if he was lost.

    When he told people of his journey and his no map, no phone approach. The response among old school Catholics was,

    “Camino con Dios”. (You are walking with God. )

    William always smiled and said , Yes.

    This made people nervous and they would drop him off , saying,

    “The angels will guide you”

    William smiled and winked,

    “Thank you, Angel “

    Thank you for being you

  • How To Live Dirt Cheap In Europe, Part Two:

    How To Live Dirt Cheap In Europe, Part Two:

    When I was a child I aspired to grow up to be a farmer. Contrary to popular belief; Dirt is not dirt cheap. All apologies to AC/DC. Angus rocks!

    Bivouac. It Is Not Just A Village In France

    Another popular belief in many parts of the world is the countryside does not belong to the common man.

    They (them) can put up miles and miles of fences but if you are on public land, it belongs to you. John Q.

    VOX POPULI, VOX DEI

    If you need a place to bivouac or sleep for the night and you are not being an ass. People will see your situation and often will offer food or water or even a cot to keep you off the ground.

    We have experienced this over and over throughout our journey across Europe.

    Please check out these wild reads from Clara Ferrand Wild Road blog

    There is no higher authority.

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    Thank you for being you

  • How To Live Dirt Cheap in Europe, Part One

    How To Live Dirt Cheap in Europe, Part One

    If you are looking for a safe place to stealth camp in Europe, you will be surprised by this little known fact. Long ago the catholic church decreed that all land owned by the church is public land.

    What’s more is the church must offer sanctuary to all who seek protection.

    This means if you need shelter you can ask and you shall receive. You do not need to be a member of the church or even be catholic.

    All you need to be is one of God’s creatures., big or small.

    Divine Providence

    This protection extends to catholic cemeteries. This hallowed ground is your ground, this hallowed ground is my ground.

    Just be sure you get last rites before falling asleep or you may wake up in purgatory!

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    thank you for being you

  • Thank You For Your Generosity

    William is an American citizen currently living and urban, suburban and rural survivalist lifestyle in Europe.

    This is not his choice but as the ladies say in France, “C’est la vie, baby”

    If you wish to support William in his travels it would be greatly appreciated!

    Click Here to Purchase Coffee or Send any amount you wish.

    This link will open a new tab at Wise where you can use your local currency to choose what you send and the payment method you prefer.

    Wise is money transfer app but you do not need to create account.

    William uses Wise for it’s low fees and access to local currency at a rate that doesn’t put him on a restricted diet.

    You do not need to pay any fees or sign up for anything.

    Thank you so much for your help!

  • How To Sleep Under The Stars

    Take a deep breath and know you are safe in your faith. Whichever God or Gods you choose to follow. Believe it or not you can believe in yourself. Trust you have done everything you can to stay safe.

    Passion Play

    Know you can choose where to focus your attention. Doing simple abdominal breathing exercises will cause your pineal gland to release it’s own melatonin.

    You do not need to buy it at the pharmacy and it will wear off as soon as the sunlight strikes your eyes.

    Surprised?

    Night night.

  • I Second That Emotion

    I Second That Emotion

    Journal Entry: August 29, 2026

    Filling my water bottle from a fountain in a town someone forgot to name. Germany on the border of France. Judging from the trail markers.

    My compass sits on a French tourist map lined up with due North. I hope.

    The high tension wires will send it spinning.

    Trying to remember where my grandfather was stationed.

    “Dropped behind enemy lines .”

    Keeps popping into my head.

    That would be my uncle.

    Wrong country, wrong war.

    He was a paratrooper in Vietnam.

    Crazy enough to jump out of a helicopter.

    Crazy enough to volunteer.

    Twice.

    They say it runs in the family.

    A car pulls in the drive across the street.

    Mom jumps out , runs into the house without turning in my direction.

    The daughter, a toeheaded youngster is heading to the garage to do what she can to help bring groceries inside.

    She sees me and looks confused.

    I smile and give a short , two finger salute.

    She smiles and waves

    Dad notices she is outside and quickly steers her by the shoulder towards the door.

    Everyone inside and i realize I am scaring half of Europe to death with my backpack and bedroll and too long , too old for this shit, hair.

    My thoughts wander to the past and the future and back again.

    The wind blows the map onto the ground. Doestoyevsky’s, “The Idiot”, turns out to be heavy reading but not a great paperweight.

    The threat of thunderstorms draws me back to the present.

    Folding the map and hooking the compass to my beltlloop, checking to be sure it’s packed.

    Walking past the family house , turning back to watch the thunderclouds approaching.

    I see the young girl in the upstairs windows, watching, worried.

    I smile and give another two fingered salute.

    She smiles and waves,.

    She only wanted to be sure I am okay.

  • Conscious Breathing, Repressurization

    Conscious Breathing, Repressurization

    This is a wonderful way to rest and replenish your core after expending energy.

    Breathe deep into your abdomen and explore. How much do air can you fit in there?

    Is that it? Are you sure there is no more room in your core for more air?

    Yes, Your Extremities

    Pull more through your nose and push air down your legs to your toes.

    See how it goes.

    Try again with your arms and hands and fingers.

    You may be surprised how much air you can fit in there.

    Your Brain And Body Thank You

    Do this a few times and each time you exhale pull your abdominal wall in and expel all air.

    Be gentle, no need to force yourself. Just explore what you can do.

    The point of the exercise is to directly experience the breath in your body and explore how you feel or experience your inhales and exhales.

    Stretching your abdominal walls signals to the brain the stomach is full and it’s time to relax.

    Bonus Brain Chemistry

    The act of focusing your attention on the breath expanding your abdomen creates a little seek, find and reward loop in your brain to get the pleasure chemicals dopamine and serotonin flowing naturally.

    This is a double bonus because stretching your abdominal walls directly stimulates the Vagus nerve to release acetylcholine. (Vagus Stuff)

    Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter which acts a catalyst for other neurotransmitters.

    It plays a large role in your body’s relaxation response. Cigarette smokers are looking for this each time they light up. Nicotine in tobacco products mimics acetylcholine and binds to the same receptors in the brain.

    This can be useful to know when trying to quit. Your brain will need the real thing.