
"Let go or be dragged" is one of my favorite Zen proverbs. I definitely struggle with letting go, especially of control. After a rough couple of months of feeling like we were dragged by life towards one direction, we gladly welcomed celebrating our anniversary in Portland where we hoped to find some peace and quiet. The Japanese Gardens was the answer to our weary souls. We left behind our stress and woes with each step that we took deeper into Washington State Park towards the Japanese Gardens. Our breaths were taken away as we explored every nook and cranny of this intricate garden. As we admired the view of the waterfall, koi pond, and beautiful greenery, we didn't talk much but that was more than okay with me. It reminded me of how comfortable we were already with silence in our early dates. Being in such a beautiful and peaceful place was the perfect way to kickoff our stay in Portland.