"Going Out" In Order to "Go In"

Yesterday, we went to the White Sands desert.

I've been to deserts before. Many, actually. But never one quite like this.

You drive out into this desert and because the sand is white and because there's winds that move it around throughout the year, it actually looks like you're in a giant snowstorm.

But it's 85 degrees out and the sand is white gypsum crystals.

We hiked a few miles into the desert following this system of sticks that basically get pushed into the mounds of white sand as markers.

They are placed about 50 yards between each other.

All you can hear as you're hiking is the sound of your feet and your breath, and perhaps a few people in the distance sliding down some of the desert mounds on snow sleds.

But aside from those people, it's pretty isolating out there. In the best way.

A couple times throughout our walk, my dad and I sat down to meditate.

And it is so incredibly quiet out in the desert. Probably one of the most quiet places I've ever been.

And when you do go into a desert like this, it really makes you understand why a lot of the great masters, yogis, saints, artists, and philosophers of all time would go into the desert in search for Truth.

There's a quote on the wall at the visitor center by the famous naturalist and great writer and explorer, John Muir, that said:

I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.

I've also been really thinking about how the founders of companies - their job is to really be a visionary.

And then they hire people on their team to help take that vision that they're channeling down and actualize it.

Being a founder of a company is actually an incredibly spiritual act.

And any founder will understand this.

This morning, I woke up at 6:30, prayed and meditated, did some reading, and enjoyed a coffee alongside my dad.

And now writing this to you, looking out into nature, hearing some birds.

It's so quiet.

There's a woodpecker in the distance. The sun is grazing the trees, painting patterns on the canvas of tree trunks.

There's a bird feeder that the Vrbo host provided for us. I think I'm going to set that up now and look at that as I do a little more work before we head out today.

Today we're going into the forest.

I'll report back what truth that brings.

- Arlin