Sojourns: 100 Trails of Enlightenment

"How do you manage the life you lead? What helps you achieve balance, calm, and clarity to do the things you do? Our lives are filled with the minutiae of a day-to-day existence. Family, relationships, education, and career either align or compete for our attention as we try to balance it all. These commitments, obligations, and responsibilities may be foundational, but they can also add to the stress in our lives. A commerce-driven society with a 2"4/7 news stream consumes our waking hours, and yet we take on more and assume it will somehow roll out. We do our best to navigate the demands of developing technologies across multi-media platforms and upgrade our devices to keep up with the global discourse. Much of this, at the expense of our mental and physical well-being. It’s a lot. I walk for many reasons. To de-stress and recharge, to reflect or find resolve, to seek solitude, or simply, to connect with nature. These sojourns quiet my mind, inspire my spirit, and broaden my understanding of the world and my relationship to it. Walking the trails makes me forget any stress of the day and brings me back to center. This is especially helpful in my work as an artist, educator, curator, art historian, marketing strategist, podcaster, and writer. I generally get away for about an hour, which fits into my schedule. A quick walk or slow and steady hike elevates my mood and provides a welcome change of scenery. Each path offers an exquisite adventure that changes from season to season. One might experience a panoramic view of the Pacific coastline from a cliff overlooking the horizon, a brisk walk through a cypress grove or eucalyptus forest after the rain, a peaceful stroll along an estuary surrounded by the gentle sound of wind through the trees, a wander of intrigue among 800-year-old oaks through foliage-lined paths, or a hike up sandy dunes and a scenic hillside with vistas as far as the eye can see. The trails showcase nature at her finest and give us pause to the richness of the environment in our appreciation of it. It is hard to believe that I have walked 100 trails in the past two years. The paths explored include those in Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Avila, Big Sur, Cambria, Cayucos, Los Osos, Montaña de Oro State Park, Morro Bay State Park, Paso Robles, Pismo, San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo County, Hearst San Simeon State Park, and Santa Margarita. Sojourns: 100 Trails of Inspiration offers a visual narrative that captures the essence of my journey. In this book, I share my favorite trails on the California Central Coast, resources on how to find them, and why they are my go-to for balance, reflection, and a bit of exercise. The photographs taken of my treks, favorite quotes, and a visual narrative of the region reflect adventures that beckon to the wunderlust of my imagination. I hope they will in yours." - Jill Thayer, Ph.D.