 |
   |
 |
     |
My father passed away in 1998 at the young age of fifty-six. Coincidentally, I was at a place in my life where I felt I really wasn't growing—just stuck and not truly living life. I have since marked this experience as the first moment I truly began to awaken, so in his transition my father gave me the ultimate gift. Life.
Over the next several years, I internally contemplated life, asking myself, Did my father really live a fulfilling life himself? Am I living a fulfilling life?
As time passed, I found myself more and more dissatisfied and felt a growing need to follow a new path. I began spending time alone, climbing mountain peaks near my home. I would climb to the very top of a peak and sit for hours. I'd close my eyes and peacefully allow the wind to blow across my face and ears as I just sat listening…thinking.
 On one particular morning, I perched myself at the top of one of the many majestic peaks in the mountains near my home and gazed upon the Saguaro cactus as the morning sun cast its auburn rays upon them. I had been fumbling my hands around the ground beside me and without much attention selected a rock from the ground by my side and gripped it in my hand. In a moment of deep contemplation, I committed to myself to find true happiness from within. The rock would become my milestone marker for gauging my own personal progress—my initial 'Token Rock.'
For me, there were many major changes I needed to make as a result of following this new path, but as difficult as they were, they were absolutely necessary. I wasn't doing anyone around me any good by not being happy with myself or my life path. I felt there was much more for me to experience, to learn, and to share with the world.
Moving on with my life led me through a number of situations which required serious decision-making to ensure I remained true to my commitment. With each and every step along the way, I often gazed upon that rock I had found out on that ledge that day—a constant reminder of that profound commitment I had made to myself.
Since that time, my life has taken many turns, and I have experienced a profound connection with many amazing people and places. I have traveled through many parts of the world, and so many of those experiences have stayed in the back of my mind and are often recalled from my mental life journal. I've traversed the colorful jungles of the Amazon in search of my passion and ascended the high peaks of the Dolomites to afford the astounding views of my future. I've ventured to remote islands along the barrier reef of Belize for a taste of the simple life and have swam across the turquoise waters of Lago Peten Itza in Guatemala to experience the deluge of a warm tropical storm from the vantage point of a suspended palapa on the other side. With every forward step, with every philosophical word, and with every moment of profound inspiration, my journeys of the world have enhanced my journey within.
As much as I've enjoyed these amazing places, sometimes new and unexpected turns continue when I am not on the road—when I am doing ordinary, everyday things like spending time with family or making business decisions. The balance of mind, body, and spirit that I have learned how to attain keep me grounded and living in the moment.
Over time, I have acquired a small collection of Token Rocks and other mementos from various moments that I have found to be milestone experiences. These rocks (and other items) remind me each day of the importance of living life, sharing experiences, and continually rediscovering that which makes brings me the most satisfaction in each and every moment.
Token Rock Journals represents my own life path of growth and my desire to share information, to be inspired, and to inspire others. The Journal tools have been designed for my own use, just the way I have found them to ideally function. As a token of my appreciation for the experiences and knowledge I have gained, I share them with you free to use for as long as it serves you. My Journal entries are primarily public to view, just as yours can be; however, you always have the option to keep your Journal completely private. I share mine in the hope that someone who can relate to it can glean important information for enhancing their own life path.
Bear in mind, too, that it is not necessary to collect actual rocks with your own experiences. We have developed a collection of 'virtual rocks' to choose from, or if you wish, you may purchase a Token Rock to represent that key moment. A portion of your purchase will go to one of our non-profit affiliates. You may also forgo the rock association when posting your Journal entry and simply flag an event as a keystone moment in your life.
Along the way, I have selected special mementos for those who may have shared the experience with me such as my wife, my three sons, my friends, and my extended family members. The recipients of these 'gift rocks' have often felt very touched by the gesture, and this consequentially connected them even more so to the experience than they expected. In tradition of this concept, I have created a feature within the Token Rock Journals that allows you to gift rocks to others. If they are already account holders on the Token Rock site, the event will be flagged in their Journal as a gift rock. If they are not yet account holders, this action will automatically create an account for them.
I hope what has been created here inspires you to continue to find love within yourself and express love to others. To love yourself and all things is the only way the world will find balance, and with balance comes peace—for the individual, and for the world.
Warmest regards,
Scott C. Leuthold |
|
|
