Skip to main content

Day 1: Getting There


I have arrived. Through the turbulence of my flight, the continuous threat of a bad rainstorm driving in my rental car, the menace of my phone slash GPS slash lifeline dying and leaving me with no direction, and the constant fear that I would just zip down the treacherous but magnificent curves of the mountain (having never driven mountainside before), past all of that, I finally made it.
            Though my travel must have lasted only about 5 hours (approximately 2 hours flying, 3 hours driving), I arrived in such a tired state. For all my fatigue, the beauty of this place did not go past me. In fact, it was one of my dangers as I was driving; I must confess it was sometimes difficult to keep my eyes on the road as they were too busy consuming the loveliness of the vista. In addition, my rental company had given me a complimentary upgrade to a 2018 Chevy Impala. Imagine that, in a sleek, black car, shades on, beautiful view by my side, just me, myself, and I. Pretty badass.
            You must be asking yourself “Where are you and what are you doing there?” Well, I can answer that. I’m in the quaint, little pueblito town of Taos, New Mexico, 7,400 feet high up in the mountains. I’m on a Writer’s Retreat with SMU-in-Taos. I came here for some quiet, alone time and to lose myself in deep thought and reflection before returning to the bustling tempo of modern day life. I’ve been meaning to get back to writing longer than I care to share and this was the perfect opportunity to push past the fear of writer’s block. It also helps tremendously that this place is designed as a “grown-up” campground, suited with a dining hall, bunk beds, and an endless possibility of trails. It reminds me of the time I came onboard as a chaperone to my then 10-year-old brother’s overnight camping trip. The ambiance was beautiful and inspiring then and it is beautiful and inspiring now. 
          I’m certain the natural charm of this place will serve as my medicine for good writing. The next 4 days are going to be so splendid. I can’t wait to see and write about it all. And you can read all about it here. Who knows? You might be the next one to experience this breathtaking journey.












Labels:
Location: Taos, NM 87571, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Young Professionals Rise Over Competition With New Secret Weapon—Me!

You've seen me as an editor, catching pesky typos and streamlining book and newsletter content to perfection. You've seen me as a writing and professional communications teacher, assigning writing prompt after writing prompt, enough to foster an appreciation for the written word in my students. You've seen me as a copywriter, pitching ideas and pushing past any and all creative boundaries. But yet, there is more I can offer. More I can do. That's why I am excited to announce the launch of my new writing and editing freelance business! Nice to meet you. I'm Alejandra Torres, I help young professionals and small businesses write the precise copy they need to achieve their career and business goals. Throughout the years, I have served as a writing resource to friends and family. They come to me seeking a second pair of eyes or they come to me with only thoughts and a vision and ask me to piece together the rest. And so I do. "Alejandra helped me...
Post a Comment
Read more

Be the Inspiration Our Students Need

Friends and Family, as you may or may not know, I am now a high school teacher in Dallas. I teach 9th grade Professional Communications, which involves practical learning that applies to the real world, such as business writing, business etiquette, ACT prep, college and career readiness, and much more.  One of the first things I’d like to do for my scholars is connect them with people who work in the same industry they’d like to join. So far, my scholars have expressed an interest in dentistry, business, engineering, marine biology, nursing, medicine, acting, law, and journalism. They have also expressed interest in the following universities: UCLA, TCU, Florida State, MIT, Johns Hopkins, Harvard, Yale, and Berkeley. My scholars are very eager to learn more about these college and career paths and what it takes to succeed in them. I am reaching out to all my colleagues to assist my scholars in their networking. Please know that if I reach out to you, it is because you ar...
Post a Comment
Read more

Stop Using Candy to Motivate Students

Looks like it is my unpopular belief that candy is one of the worst motivators in teaching. Let’s just think about this for a bit. Candy, literally pure SUGAR, is a common method teachers use to motivate students to work. Forget the fact that candy is a direct way to harm a child’s health; candy is no different than any other type of currency for children. You are paying them to be students. Teachers using the candy-motivation strategy are failing their students. They are sending the wrong message. If your goal is to help students motivate themselves, it won’t be accomplished by throwing candy their way. It is such a short-term effect that using it in the classroom won’t make any difference in student motivation. If, in fact, student motivation is your goal, then you need to create an atmosphere of positive learning. If you want students to care, if you want students to motivate themselves, the motivators you offer them as a teacher should not be extrinsic, but rather intrinsi...
1 comment
Read more