50 miles in 50 states in 50 weeks…on my 50th birthday

On February 7, 2011, I began a 2500 mile “walk the walk and talk the talk” journey for Peace. My intention was to walk 50 miles, in all 50 states, in 50 weeks, in conjunction with my 50th birthday, while spreading the message to anyone who would listen that Peace is our natural state and, to assert that conflict is generated by fear. Moreover, to declare that fear is the result of uncertainties about life. With support from my husband, family, friends and many complete strangers, I achieved this goal on January 21, 2012.

As humans being provide an integral role in the biosphere (indeed, we are the embodiment of Nature) , I became determined to illustrate that our precious Mother Earth not only demonstrates our inherent peacefulness, but is the perfect model for equanimity. I felt that by demonstrating Nature’s synergy, her impulse to grow effortlessly in an expression of life, to adapt and seek harmony, to thrive efficiently and without waste and to protect only when growth is threatened, that she reflects the most sublime aspects of our being. I believed that with thoughtful consideration, the obvious conclusion would be that something against our nature was creating fear for, devoid of Ego or uncertainty, Nature is certainly fearless!  The effort to capture this concept produced a small book entitled, “From Fear to Eternity: A Path to Peace” that I distributed in every state.

For me, the Peace Walk was both confirming and illuminating. As most of the 2500 miles was completed on trails, paths and walkways, I was privileged to witness a variety of natural ecosystems and their exquisite coherence. What I didn’t expect was that there is a flourishing network of parks and trails that is literally, reconnecting our country to Nature and to each other. Urban and rural, metropolitan cities and small towns have been and are creating pathways to encourage outside activity, alternative transportation routes and unity amongst the residents. Given the “nature” of the walk, I was most encouraged to find that a majority the 100 or so trails that I traversed were very well-kept and inviting.

I was also instilled with an abundance of hope for our future. Despite what may be perceived in the media, our country is truly ready for a return to a simpler, more natural time which, invites and requires a reconnection with one another. I found this evident in the profusion of markets, community gardens, outdoor gatherings and ubiquitous “green” practices, as well as, the many discussions about the desire to find a “common ground.”

Anyone who has read the miraculous Conversations With God series knows the primary tenet is that all Life is unified and its essence is Love. Never, in the history of the world, has the need to evoke this awareness been more crucial. Where we have slowly disconnected ourselves from Nature, we have also disassociated from one another and, until we restore that unity, we will suffer the mire of internal and eternal conflict. We have created a world, disparate of Peace, because too many have allowed the belief that we are separate to supersede our knowing we are ONE.  Now is the time to cease our illusion of division and move “from fear to eternity.”

(Cassandra Curley, BA, LMT, Author and Messenger of Peace, has studied and been active in the fields of Wellness and Spirituality for more than thirty years. Her journey on the path to find her own inner peace has led her to understand Universal Truths that have been veiled by a false paradigm of judgment. During this critical time in history, while there is willingness for change, her mission is to help illuminate these hidden truths and assist others toward a movement of PEACE. She resides in Winter Springs, Florida with her husband of 28 years, Mark and can be reached through www.cassandracurley.com .)

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Comments

8 responses to “50 miles in 50 states in 50 weeks…on my 50th birthday”

  1. Buzz Avatar
    Buzz

    It’s really great that you have found so much hope and optimism in the way Americans have been forced to adapt to this rapidly changing world Cassandra. Your reference to green practices and community reconnectivity programs is inspiring. I have heard of similar initiatives all over the world, like Spain and Greece, where some ancient tribal practices are returning as practiced by people who not long ago lived in the suburbs, worked in the city, and shopped for food in a supermarket. What concerns me is that the number of people alive on Earth today would require 10 Earth sized planets to support everyone like that, and the population is rising rapidly. What will happen to them, which includes my friends, family and I, and probably you and everyone you know? Will we have to choose between killing or dying, genocide or suicide? Will people resort to cannibalism?

  2. Deborah Avatar
    Deborah

    What an inspiring account! May the light you spread on that Peace Walk grow ever stronger.

  3. Cassandra Curley Avatar
    Cassandra Curley

    Buzz,
    I understand your concern and wonder why you stated the figure 10 times the Earth sized planets? I too, wonder if humanity will awaken enough in our lifetime to understand the consequences of our excess. Perhaps our planet, as a biosphere will make the necessary adaptations to achieve balance.

    We are currently on divergent paths toward either self-sustainability or self-destruction. I believe the spiritual awakening is providing us access to viable solutions to the socio-economic, environmental, governmental and spiritual inequities we have experienced in order to preserve our species. Don’t despair!

    Cassandra Curley

  4. Buzz Avatar
    Buzz

    I’ve been in despair for over a decade on this subject, and I’ve been anxious and depressed about it since age 5.
    My main point about land usage is allocation. How much is required to grow trees for converting carbon dioxide into oxygen? It is a lot more than what we currently have left. How much for fields of grain? How much of that grain goes to feeding livestock? Where does all the drinkable water for crops and livestock come from? How will these industries adapt in a changing climate? How will people and food travel when fossil fuels become too expensive for lighting and heating homes, boiling water for purification and meals? The Wikipedia page on Survivalism, called preppers , provides no category or advice for a systemic breakdown of all systems and reliable constants. There’s no mention of an “All of the above” category to prepare for. Read the page and you’ll understand why: we can’t prepare for our own extinction.
    But we could if we had 10 habitable planets like Earth …

  5. Erin/IAm Avatar
    Erin/IAm

    Very cool journey, Cassandra! I have 2 friends who started such a trek right out of high school…they combed every state…3-4 states a year, returning home to share their travels in between. They ended up in Alaska last…and have been there ever since…turned out that the end of their journey was where they found their greatest peace. One had amazing dreads & as they traveled, it never failed that someone would end up wrapping or adding a charm to one of these dreads…he literally had a head of connects & there was a wonderful story to be told of each & every one!

    Dearest Buzz…Blessed be to you…I wish you ‘no worries’.
    There are a million ants to every single human. Not only do they not despair for space or food, they could easily consume us, in a heart beat, if they so desired. It is wise to prepare for ‘stuff’, much like packing & planning for a journey, but Knowledge & Connect with your environment (Nature) will serve you in longer lasting, more sustaining ways. This is a pretty incredible place, this Earth…Know it, Be with it, Learn from it…Your body was made of it, embrace this…You cannot & will not ‘die’, move without such fear.

    Good Journey, Beloveds!:)

  6. Buzz Avatar
    Buzz

    How can we effectively focus the law of attraction to achieve positive outcomes for situations and
    circumstances that are built on negativity and have no antonymous terminology or conceivable solutions?

  7. em claire Avatar
    em claire

    Beautiful, Cassandra. Thank you for imbuing our shared reality with Peace, and Love, and Hope and Light!

    And congratulations on your amazing “walk the walk and talk the talk” accomplishment!

    em claire

  8. sunshine huie Avatar
    sunshine huie

    i fully agreed your point of view and this is what i’m currently encountering. i will make use of these negative thoughts to bring out necessary change in my life! thanks alot! 🙂

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