A Lost Earring, an Unexpected Gift, & an Epic Opportunity

My hippy dippy chiropractor friend Devin Vrana gifted me a pair of epic earrings. They were

handmade by a friend of hers—simple wooden beads holding multi-colored feathers from

roosters and other fine feathered friends. When I wore them, the brown feathers intertwined

with my hair, making me feel wild and wise. I loved them.

And I wore them on this particular day because “epic” described both the earrings and the

moment. I was traveling on horseback with an Eagle hunter, his two daughters, their two

eagles, and my friend Mary to the Eagle Hunter’s winter home in southern Mongolia. The five

of us were alone, surrounded only by the vast barren landscape, mountains coated with snow

and topped by a broad, blue sky. Epic, indeed.

The trip was an unexpected gift. I had been traveling in France on a tour with Tania Teschke,

author of “The Bordeaux Kitchen”, when I got a direct message (DM) on Instagram. Some

follower said that I should visit her in Greece. “Sure!” I said because I’m a “yes” girl, even

though I had no idea who she was.

The next thing I knew, she followed up with an email, explaining that first she would be

traveling to Mongolia, and that afterwards she planned to go to Turkey and then Greece (her

home country). And would I like to join her for any of the above? In that moment, I realized that

it was Mary Ruddick who had DMed me, a nutritionist who I had interviewed on the Wise

Traditions podcast. And this was no scam. It was a legitimate offer, worthy of consideration.

After a quick glance at my schedule, I sent Mary an email turning down her offer. It was a “no”

because I didn’t think I could swing the trip. I had other commitments on the calendar. And it

was going to take a large investment of time and money.

But then it struck me.

This gift presented an EPIC opportunity, one worth scrubbing the calendar and draining the

bank account for. I could connect with indigenous peoples in Mongolia, stay with them in their

gers (yurts), share traditional meals with them, learn from them. And I would be able to get to

know Mary, a brilliant anthropologist whose smile was as bright as her mind.

Were I to stick with my original plans, I’d miss all of the above, in exchange for the familiar and

comfortable (and, yes, a few more zeroes on my bank account balance).

It strikes me that every epic opportunity starts with this turning point: a chance for you to

accept or reject the offer. How can you be ready to respond and receive the unexpected gift

that comes your way?

- Keep in mind what lights you up. Which answer (yes or no) brings the most joy? Move

in the direction of the light.

- Consider your personal growth. Which outcome feels expansive? Which feels

contractive? Which feels like a stretch or challenge? Which perpetuates the status quo?

- Look beyond numbers when weighing the pros and cons. It’s not just about dollars and

cents or dates on the calendar. Think about the overall value of the experience.

I don’t know what 2023 holds for you. By definition, you can’t expect an “unexpected” gift. But

you can prepare your heart by making small choices every day that keep you open, aware,

eager to grow. This will help your heart say “yes” at the right moment and this just might lead

you to an epic opportunity.

So, back to the Mongolia decision. In light of the value of the experience, the potential for

growth, and the growing light in my heart, I emailed Mary back with a “yes.” Within two

weeks, I dropped everything, booked my flights, packed my bags, and landed in Ulanbaatar.

Outer Mongolia was frigid, by the way. I wore over 5 layers of clothing during our horseback

ride and still felt the chill. I lost one of my epic feathery earrings en route to the Eagle Hunter’s

winter home.

But I also experienced:

Milky Way star-studded skies

Stunning sunrises over majestic mountains

Yak milk tea with added cream and butter

A ger warmed by burning Yak manure

Waking to the sound of camels grunting

Embraces from strangers who quickly became friends

Camel rides from hospitable Mongolian hosts

A 35-lb. eagle perched on my arm

Continuous wonder

And I have no regrets. Not a single one. There’s an old saying “A ship in a harbor is safe. But

that is not what ships are made for.”

We were meant to sail, weather storms, and explore new horizons. Stay open, curious, ready to

grow, so that you can say “yes” to the gifts that come your way in 2023.

And let me know in the comments below what unexpected gifts you received last year. Tell me

how they stretched you and any lessons learned.

I will be posting more about what I learned in Mongolia, here and on my YouTube channel. This

is just a little foretaste of the experience, at this time of year filled with unexpected gifts and

epic opportunities.