It’s All About Me!
And Then It Isn’t.
“New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment, exploded my reality of what life could be. The land, the people, the culture and the expansive sky mesmerized me over and over. I arrived here June 26, 1995, just about noon time. After just three weeks I was hooked, and it became the Land of Entrapment which is kind of an inside joke for people who move here. And life in New Mexico became an adventure. Imagine a guy who went to school in the heart of Boston experiencing the likes of which I had never known. I went on a rattlesnake hunt. (No snakes were harmed). I was a judge at the Pie Town Pie Festival. (Delicious)! I explored a box canyon in a town called Bland. (It wasn’t). I became a member of the Zia Balloon crew and got to ride in a hot air balloon, multiple times.
My life became full in ways I could only imagine. I took singing lessons and performed a duet in front of 250 people. I grew an art collection and met many wonderful artists. I even tried painting. It doesn’t come naturally to me, but I gave it a go. I play golf year-round. I learned to lead a drumming circle and hold the space for others. I was introduced and fell in love with Amma the hugging saint who travels through Albuquerque on her world tour. I met my second long term spiritual mentor, Judy B. For over twenty years, I participated in her AWE program (Authenticity, Wonder, Expansion) and meditation group. She has taught me to sit in the Silence. I’ve made lifelong friends through this group. We would meet four times a year on her 20-acre learning center in the midst of New Mexico’s beautiful landscape.
Albuquerque is approximately 6000 feet above sea level and sits at the foot of the Sandia Mountains which rise to 10,600 feet. I’ve climbed it at least a half dozen times. Besides being a chiropractor, I’ve been an extra in the film industry in such fun shows as Breaking Bad and In Plain Sight. I worked in the largest independent bookstore in the Southwest as I was preparing to open my first clinic. I became a Wedding Officiant and joined a dozen couples in some of the most spectacular set-tings, mountains, meadows, under rainbows, backyards, and lovely chapels. Obviously, I’ve made some wonderful friends to share time and activities with. But visits from my family and friends from out of town have dotted and highlighted my stay. It has been wonderful to share this space with others; traveling around the state to Santa Fe, Tent Rocks, and even as far as the Grand Canyon. (only 4.5 hours away).
“Just as the earth breaks apart in order for the flower to burst into expression, sometimes our lives look like they are breaking apart as well. Or are they simply making room for something more beautiful to emerge?” (anonymous).
No one escapes the way experience forms us. My life should more accurately be called my life situation. We mainly think about where we are going instead of listening to where life is taking us. It is only in the “naked now” that we can participate in the fullness of life. Remembering the stories that have shaped us, doesn’t need to cause us to retreat into the past, but opens a storehouse of resilience that we can enter and access. Our past is not something to be mired in. But the story underneath the story produces Myth. This is the purpose of myth; to carry timeless tools that we can use now.
One man’s spiritual journey – this book offers insights and the joy of living through the decades.
It’s All About Me … and Then It Isn’t contains delightful and insightful poetry, and stories which will uplift you, enhancing your soul’s ability to expand your own awareness of life while absorbing and reflecting upon realities of the world around you It contains non-denominational meditations and quirky observations about how we view ourselves, how to both realize our foibles and consciously either accept or metabolize them to align with our higher self.
It’s All About Me …. and Then It Isn’t is now available – Click HERE.
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This is a beautiful and engaging walkabout of the spiritual journey. Everyone can find something in it that sings to their soul. I cherished every page of it.
—Rev. Dr. Brenda Cole, D.C.
For over three decades Rod Hodge has offered thoughtful, grounded, and deeply reflective messages rooted in the new thought movement. With vulnerability, humor and spiritual depth, he invites us to look within, gently move beyond ourselves into a larger life of love and Spirit.
—Rev. Gordon Keyler
Unity Spiritual Center Albuquerque
When the blend of story, wisdom and experience come together, potential exists. This becomes evident in reading Dr. Rod Hodge. Timeless and so relevant.
— Dr. HM Beatty
It is rare to read about a man’s journey, honestly seeking wisdom, throughout all the peaks and valleys of life. Dr. Hodge’s insights and integrations of other wise souls are not only helpful for anyone’s life journey but also inspiring to keep one learning and growing.
—Jan Tras MA LPCC Therapist, Artist, and Author of “The Joy of Imperfection”