An Austrian-flavored lesson on the value of being present:

• Vienna is beautiful, yes. More beautiful than Madrid or London? No. More beautiful than the redbuds and flowering trees on my Ashburn Street? Also no. Different flavor. Something to experience? Sure, but much more about how I am in Vienna than what I do.
• Palaces. I think I'll take or leave them now. They are big, opulent displays that are the shells of riches and triumphs long ago. The people and the times feel dry and dusty. It's so much more about imagining who they were and how it would feel to be there. And that's usually up to us! What was that chaise like when the upholstery was new and it was the empress' favorite chair? What was it like to be the livery boy on the 67th carriage out of 98 at the wedding procession? Was it any big deal? So, perhaps I won't ditch palaces, but if I go…it will be with a different lens.
• Coffee houses. Well, so far, I'd have to say that, again, it's up to me. They could be frayed and smoky or they could be charming and inspirational. The list of coffees and tortes could be exotic sounding, but if you get something that doesn't suit, it's no longer exotic.

Rather than set my expectations for gorgeousness like I've never known or for history to engage me or for the sweeping inspiration of a romantic atmosphere, I find that I am happiest when I shed those expectations and just be fully wherever I am and follow what I want to do. This is true when things exceed expectations and especially true when they don't. Did I love my fancy coffee and cheese torte? Nope, but I kinda loved realizing that it's not the perfect torte and coffee that will make my Vienna experience. It's me! I'll try something different the next time…get a good feel for the scope of things. And, I'll still enjoy my venti decaf soy latte with two and a half pumps sugar free vanilla syrup and two and half pumps sugar free cinnamon dolce syrup from the Starbucks in Ashburn when I want that too.

And when something is truly like nothing I've ever experienced before…well, I'll be there doing that too! Expect reality and you'll never be wrong. Be fully engaged in your reality and, I hope, you'll come out richer every time.

There is something very profound here…not sure I can quite explain it, but again….I'm sure I should be looking into Buddhism!

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