I’m hiking up Aspen Mountain (aka ‘Ajax’) and gasping for air. Two days ago i was holding my breath 40′ below the surface in the Bahamas, freediving for my dinner. Now my heart is beating a tango as i place one foot in front of the other.

My chest is sucking in lungfuls of air like a desperate sailor bailing a sinking boat. More, faster, i need more!

It started out as a quick 5 minute walk after dropping my son Mark off at his summer job at Aspen Bike Rentals. Walking down Durante Street, i saw the ski slope a few yards away. It literally ends right at the town’s edge.

What the heck, i’d rather walk a trail than a street, so i turn left and let my feet find their way up the green carpet of grass on the ski slope.

After a few minutes, my body is liking it, why not go further? Fifteen minutes later, my body is starting to sweat and my body’s thirst for air feels good. Why stop now/what’s over that ridge?

45 minutes into the hike (straight up), i stop to look around (and catch my breath). The town of Aspen is below me, its maze of shops and streets, a bit disorienting from street level, make perfect sense from above. It is a jewel, as pretty as the peaks around me. With my breath caught up, i turn and look up the slope.

Am i halfway up? Why not go to the top? How much longer can it be?

I’m in sandals, not the best for hiking, but they seem to be working fine. I’ve got no pack or food, but the gondola is running, and i imagine there’s a chalet or store at the top. I’ve got my wallet, i can always buy a ticket on the gondola for a ride down. Plus, it will be hard going to hike down this steep slope in these sandals.

I weigh the choices back and forth, but its an easy choice, for my body keeps turning upward, following the slope, the gondola and the ridgeline. I tell myself its a logical decision but my feet are moving before i’ve even thought it.

Another 45 minutes later, i am huffing and puffing and doubting the ‘wisdom’ of my choice. The summit is nowhere in sight and i’m stopping to catch my breath every few minutes. I brought no water (who needs a water bottle for a walk down the street) and the sun is beating down on me. I can deal with being dehydrated and sunburnt, but my lungs, they are working overtime!

As i wait for my breath to catch up, i see another hiker marching steadily in my direction. As she gets closer, i see she is at least a decade older than i, and the bounce in her step tells me that either 1) she’s an olympic athlete, 2) she’s a local who does this daily, or 3) i am in terrible shape!

Then i remember, i am from the ocean! I live at sea level, no wonder my body is gasping for air. I’m comforted by this logic, maybe i’m not in that bad of a shape at all, and as my athletic friend passes i ask her if we’re halfway or more to the top. “A bit more than halfway” she replies. A ‘bit more’? In a flash, i’m suddenly out of shape again.

The look on my face must be evident. “Why not take the path, its much easier than going straight up the slope” she offers, and off she goes. I contemplate the wisdom of her words, i know that! And while i’m a ‘straight up’ kind of guy, well, with this altitude acclimatization going on, i switch my track from slope to trail.

20 minutes later, i’m on the top. Halleluia! I revel in the beauty around me. I find a water faucet and park myself like a camel, slaking my thirst from the cold fountain until i get a brain freeze. My legs are mumbling a mix of complaint, pride and elation, while my head and eyes keep sweeping the skyline, drinking in all the ridges and peaks. That one over there looks very inviting…

(PS: the photo above is from another hike a few days later; the continental divide at Independence Pass)

Joebaby is a shamanic nature guide, writer and dolphin whisperer who champions a joyful approach to life. www.DolphinWhisperer.org

The best New Year’s Resolution i can think of is to celebrate life on a daily basis!

When i remember how lucky i am to be here on this crazy, beautiful blue/green jewel of a planet, i find myself smiling and my stresses and worries fall away… How amazingly lucky we are to be here, in this time and place!

Every moment offers an infinite variety of places to give my attention; i’m immersed in a most outrageous buffet of experiences. After years of tasting lots of different experiences, i choose to feast on the ones that bring me joy :)

I’ve been here long enough to see that whatever i focus on grows. How blessed i am to recognize this! How blessed i am to recognize how blessed i am!

My New Year’s Resolution for 2014 is to celebrate every day; to recognize and appreciate the gifts of each moment.

And that includes you! I love that you are on this journey with me; thank you!

Here’s to a life of celebration! Happy 2014!!!

Love,

Joebaby

Thanksgiving Day – Giving THANKS for YOU!

Today is Thanksgiving Day in the US. The spirit of Thanksgiving is increasingly being embraced by people around the world (i’m currently in Ecuador celebrating w/friends from North, Central and South America, Europe, etc)

My daily JOY button!

I LOVE giving thanks, its one of my favorite things to do. Its my secret ‘ON’ switch, my ‘INSTANT GRATIFICATION’ reward, my always-in-reach ‘JOY’ button! I’m thankful that Life has taught me that no matter what’s going on, there’s ALWAYS PLENTY to give thanks for. (There are many turkeys giving thanks today for all the vegetarians in the world!)

I APPRECIATE YOU!

I appreciate that I’m on this earth with YOU. All seven-plus BILLION of us are on this crazy, wild ride together, and when I trust and relax and hold the reins of this life loosely, the craziness of this journey reveals the most incredible and amazing magic… such as our interconnectedness :)

I was planning to hike in the mountains this morning. Instead, i took a minute to write on my son’s Facebook page, to tell him how much I love and appreciate him. It felt so good, i got inspired to write and give thanks to YOU!

I LOVE your COURAGE!

I deeply APPRECIATE YOU and the COURAGE of your spirit to be incarnate here NOW. Through our collective love and passion, we’re taking this planet to totally new levels of joy and collaboration and love, and for that I LOVE and CELEBRATE YOU!

Happy Thanksgiving to you, mi hermano y hermana (my brother and sister). Amo y aprecio a usted! (I love and appreciate you!)

THANKS FOR BEING IN MY LIFE AND MY WORLD!

Love,

Joebaby

Sometimes i see the dance of my mind and my heart so clearly…

Last night, i was watching the full moon rise, the sky was filled with huge billowing clouds, made even more mysterious and alive by the soft reflected light of the moon. Enraptured, i stared…

A thought of someone came to mind, and, being in an expanded ‘celestial’ space, i so clearly saw the response of my mind and my heart. I saw that this dance takes place with everyone and everything i meet…

My mind would say that I can trust you, or that you hurt me once, or any number of assessments about you and I and our history. And my heart, this beautiful, expansive, ‘give me a hug I love you’ kind of organ/chakra/energy center, this heart just looks at you and swoons… It sees the beauty of you, the sparkling radiant brilliant essence that you are, and it celebrates you, champions you, smiles and loves and bows before you…

Yesterday, groups of cetacean lovers around the world sent love into the sea. One of many ocean blessings organized by ocean-lovers around the world, we splashed and played in the shallow waters off the west shore of Bimini.

It was a beautiful day…

We got a bit playful, playing footsie in the clear shallow water, and got some fun photos! Here’s a few!

We’re doing the blessing again today (and tomorrow).

Please, join me, right now, in seeing the Ocean in her full essence; vitally alive and abundant!

Namaste! Sending you love from the sea!

Joebaby

Someone sent me a link to this YT video… it totally enriched my day!

Call someone you love, and tell them why you love them! (i dare you!)

I spent three months camping on the beach in Hawaii and in Maui this winter, hanging out and leading several custom family dolphin retreats.

While i was there, i had some absolutely amazing encounters with humpback whales.

Here is the story of one of those encounters…

(Check out this story of an amazing spiritual connection with these two whales… including a video of our encounter!)

Joebaby is an author, speaker, dolphin whisperer and spiritual guide who leads spiritual nature retreats around the world and facilitates self awareness programs for those on the path of joyful awakening.

A guest on National Geographic, Fox TV and Oprah, Joe reflects back to people that this world is already a Heaven on Earth, and that the tools to find joy in the moment are around and within us. He offers workshops, internet programs and nature retreats that awaken us to our divinely joyful nature.

Wild Dolphin Trips – http://DolphinWhisperer.org

Self Awareness Programs – http://PlanetaryPartners.com

Corporate Leadership Seminars – http://OnenessInCommunity.com

“Joy is the most infallible sign of the presence of God” Tielhard de Chardin

© Joe Noonan

Dec 21 – An Invitation to PARTY!!!

Dec 21, 2012 has captured the attention of people around the world. UFOlogists predict a mass landing, Mayans speak of a new beginning and skeptics predict the end of the world. I’m looking forward to a PARTY!  :)

From the perspective of God/Source/All That IS, every moment is divine; there is no more or less God/Love/Joy in this moment than any other. Yet from our humanness, the part of us that believes we’re separate from the Divine, this coming December 21st is a super significant day.

A Celebration for ALL ages!

End of the World? I asked a friend of mine, an Asian event organizer, what December 21^st means to her culture. She replied, “Oh, you mean the doomsday?”  I see advertisements with an image of a comet slamming into the earth. I hear prophesies and predictions that astound me, make me chuckle at our creativity.

Power of Love – One loving thought vibrates at a frequency many thousands of times higher than a fearful thought. So even if billions of us are in fear, a few million of us celebrating with joy is much more powerful. This, my friends, is cause for CELEBRATION! J

 What You Can Do – There’s LOTS of fun things you can do to join those of us who will be celebrating on this day.

–          Play some funky music and move to it!

–          Eat something yummy and totally give yourself to it! (Chocolate anyone? J

–          Give something to a stranger (a dollar, a meal, a hello, a smile)

–          Call a friend and tell them what you appreciate about them

–          Count your blessings, make a list of 50 things you love about yourself (I dare you!)

–          Clear some clutter, clean your room, make a cup of tea, put up your feet and smile!

Wherever You Are – Every place is uplifted by your loving presence. You can join an event or celebrate right from work or home.  Wherever you are is absolutely perfect!

Your Unique Contribution – In all creation, there is only ONE of YOU! Just by your presence, you bring something totally original to our world. Thank you!

Have Fun! What you do is secondary to the love you feel. Have fun! Let it rip!

Join us! Wherever you are, imagine your love and joy joining ours. Envision our combined energy embracing our planet with such love that everybody everywhere feels the warmth of our collective humanity. Life’s a party, here we are!

Joe Noonan is a shamanic nature guide, author and international speaker who leads trips swimming with wild dolphins and celebrating the joy of nature. http://www.DolphinWhisperer.org  ©Joe Noonan

Dec 21, 2012 is a most amazing opportunity, a day that has captured the attention of cultures from around the world. UFOlogists predict a mass landing, Mayans speak of a new beginning and skeptics predict the tumultuous end of the world. I’m looking forward to a great big PARTY!  :)

From the perspective of God/Source/All That IS, every moment is totally divine; there is no more God or Love or Joy in this moment than in any other moment. Yet from our human perspective, the part of us that believes we’re separate from the Divine, this coming December 21st is a super significant day.

On this day, literally billions of us will be in a state of anticipation. What we anticipate depends entirely on our fears, hopes and beliefs. For those of us blessed enough to know that we co-create our own reality, this December 21^st is an INVITATION TO PARTY! (As is the other significant date of December 12^th, the “12-12-12”!)

As quantum physics reminds us; we live in a world of light particles that flash in and out of form in response to our expectations. If you’re a pessimist, you have oodles of evidence to support your pessimistic view. And if you’re an optimist, you too have plenty of evidence to support your optimistic view!

What are you giving attention to?

The concept that ‘we create our own reality’ has gone from a far flung idea to acceptable reality. Thoughts become things, and what we focus on comes into fruition… Given we’re all creating our future, by default or by conscious choice, what do you wish to create for our collective Humanity for the new world we’re entering?

End of the World?

I was speaking to a trip organizer from Shanghai, China the other day. I asked her what December 21^st means to the Chinese. She replied, “Oh, you mean the doomsday?”

I see advertisements for December 21^st with an image of a comet slamming into the earth. I hear prophesies and predictions that astound me, make me smile and chuckle at our creativity.

Power of Love

Any time you get a group of people aligned in common thought, their ability to create amplifies. And for a moment a part of me got worried of over a billion people thinking ‘doomsday’.

And then I remember the power of love, and how one loving thought vibrates at a frequency thousands of times higher than a fearful one. One person holding a focus of love is more powerful than thousands in fear. This is good news, cause for celebration! :)

 What You Can Do:

There are many simple, fun and significant things you can do to join the millions of us who will be radiating loving thoughts on this day.

You can play some fun, upbeat music!

Hum, tap your toes, sing and dance!

Make some food you love, and eat it with gusto! Buy yourself some chocolate! :)

Give something to someone, water a tree, enjoy a flower, say hello to a stranger…

Call a friend and tell them what you appreciate about them!

Count your blessings, make a list of 100+ things you love (I dare you!)

Wash your car, clean your room, make a cup of your favorite tea, put up your feet and smile!

Yes, there’s an infinite number of things you can do on December 21^st. You can do the same thing you do every other day, just be sure to put your loving energy into it with the intent that your love joins with the rest of us!

Wherever You Are

There are many cool places to gather on December 21^st. You can tune in to the magic of the day from the comfort of your bed, your bathtub, from under a tree, outside in nature… wherever you are is absolutely perfect!

If you can, why not join a pod of kindred souls? You might find a local gathering, join an internet broadcast, visit a sacred spot. Its fun to be with a group of people who share the same loving intent as you!

Keeping It Simple

Its easy to get caught up in the significance of events, and in doing so, to feel harried or stressed about ‘getting it right’. If you notice yourself feeling any stress around this magical event, just take a big breath and let the significance go (nothing is as important as your peace and joy!). Keep it simple, be light about it, levity is next to Godliness!

Your Unique Contribution

In all creation, there is only one of you; you bring something totally unique to our world. Your innate love of life, your joys and your passions carry a vibration, a color and frequency that no one else can replace. On this day, (and every day), let your love flow and your light shine!

Have Fun!

December 21^st is a fun opportunity to vibrate your love of life. What you do or where you do it is secondary to the love and intention you put into it. Have fun! Let it rip! Smile and laugh out loud!

Join us!

Wherever you are on December 21^st, imagine your love joining with ours and the millions just like us! I’m celebrating the event with a group of kindred spirits while on a wild dolphin retreat in the Bahamas, and we’ll be sending our exuberance out into the ocean and the ethers! (for more info on our retreat, click here)

Imagine all our collective love and joy encircling our planet with such light and goodwill that everybody everywhere feels the warmth and love of our collective humanity. Have a blast, it’s a party! I’ll see you there!

Joe Noonan is an internationally recognized speaker who leads trips swimming with wild dolphins and celebrating the joy of nature. A guest on Fox, National Geographic TV and Oprah, he is leading an “Awakening Your Divine Joy” Wild Dolphin Retreat in the Bahamas this Dec 19 – 23, and he invites you to join him energetically or in person. http://www.DolphinWhisperer.org

Joe Noonan is an author, dolphin whisperer and shamanic nature guide. Joe reflects back to people that this world is already a Heaven on Earth, and that the tools to find joy in the moment are around and within us. He offers workshops, internet programs and nature retreats that awaken us to our divine joy and connection with Nature.

Self Awareness Programs –  Corporate Leadership Seminars – Wild Dolphin Trips

“Joy is the most infallible sign of the presence of God” Tielhard de Chardin

© Joe Noonan

Its gusting 50+ here in Bimini and Hurricane Sandy is blasting the more easterly Bahamian islands with 100+ winds… there are whitecaps in the bay, the birds are roosting in the trees and my neighbor’s shingles are being torn off his roof by the wind. I pulled my rubber zodiac ashore this afternoon with the help of my neighbors, and it reminded me once again why i live here on this small friendly island.

I keep my boat on the dock at Fab’s conch stand, and i put it up on dry land between his and his brother Brave’s house when i go away, as i will next week when i leave for a month.

But this afternoon, as i pulled my boat up onto the beach, taking the motor off and anchor out, before i had a chance to ask for help, four neighbors shooting the breeze at the conch stand marched out into the rain and each grabbed a corner of my boat.

“You can put it over here, Joe, next to Fab’s boat. The wind won’t be so bad to have to carry it across the street.”
“Just tie it off between those coconut trees; it’ll be fine there.”

Five of us, more than was needed, did the job in a moment. The support i felt moved me deeply. Simple acts, born of friendship and generosity. My shyness came up, touched by their kindness. We all went into the conch stand and i listened as they told stories of pulling boats off of reefs and beaches in other, more powerful; hurricanes over the years.

The eye of the storm is 120 miles east of us, and the National Weather Service in Florida is predicting seas of 20 to 27 feet tomorrow, just twenty miles west of us. Nature humbles me yet again.

Karen shows up with a huge tray of fried wahoo head and backbone; it was delicious. I’ve learned to never throw a fish head into the sea again. Matt and Kuna make fresh conch salad for a few workers who ventured out from the closed resort up the road. I buy a round of beers and sit; doing my best to keep up with the stories flying back and forth, feeling warm and dry and in good company, while the wind blows around us.

The sky on a much calmer day

Joe Noonan is an author, dolphin whisperer and shamanic nature guide. A guest on National Geographic, Fox TV and Oprah, Joe reflects back to people that this world is already a Heaven on Earth, and that the tools to find joy in the moment are around and within us. He offers workshops, internet programs and nature retreats that awaken us to our divine joy and connection with Nature.

Wild Dolphin Trips –  Self Awareness Programs –  Corporate Leadership Seminars –

“Joy is the most infallible sign of the presence of God” Tielhard de Chardin

© Joe Noonan