Sonnenberg “Stepping  Stone” Paradise

 What special places do you consider as “stepping stones” to making your life better right now?

“There are two paths you can go by, but in the long run there’s still time to change the road you’re on.” (Robert Plant, Stairway To Heaven  song lyrics)

Stepping Stone – An event, experience, or opportunity that serves as a necessary and helpful step toward attaining a future goal.

During my self guided travels stateside and abroad, I’m usually open to consider following travel destination itineraries which leave some degree of uncertainty. A major reason why I make such spontaneous journey decisions usually involves serious consideration of potential self growth opportunities I perceive through my active sensory awareness at the time. With that goal in mind, during our westbound road trip stopover near Geneva, New York, I allotted a few hours vacation time to take a Sunday afternoon look at Sonnenberg Gardens State Historic Park along with its adjoining Victorian era mansion.   

To begin my tour, I’d read that the Sonnenberg Gardens setting was originally planned as a honeymoon escape by wealthy New York City banker Frederick Ferris for his wife Mary in 1887 with ornately restored features of English, Italian and Japanese  designs of striking shapes and colors. So making good use of the free estate map handed out at the visitor center, I thereupon followed a self guided path crossing though numerous entry/exit portals distinctly showcasing these diverse arrays of cultural representation that I so desired to see. In doing so, I thus observed that many of these bridges, pathways, staircases, towers, door passages and  hallways I traversed on this day felt like meaningful “stepping stones” toward staying more mindful of a “now” presence in my daily life.       

So I share the following photo set from this Sonnenberg estate visit in conjunction with some of these positive “stepping stone” thoughts of a “moment to moment” nature that happened for me on that occasion. They included 1) Avoid being in a hurry, (2) Breathe deeply, (3) Examine fully the smallest details, (4) Trust my emotions more, (5) Make facts matter, (6) Ask myself critical thinking questions, (7) Savor silent reflection. 

Blog Source:

https://www.sonnenberg.org/about-us/historical-perspective-on-sonnenberg/