This is a lesson learned blog post. I believe that we can learn from each other and grow from what we share.
And for as long as our lives are, we can keep growing strong like these trees.
In my life’s journey, I have learned that you and I have everything inside us to be happy today and forever… in contentment and empowerment.
Both very powerful internal happiness tools.
But it took me years to discover that secret.
It’s a secret until it’s visible.
It was in me (and in all of us), but I didn’t know how to make it visible.
Until unfolded, I found it’s a life secret meant to stay invisible to the human eye.
Because it’s in the choice to flip the mind script with thoughts that can be turned down. And that changes feelings and moods. And the new lens is how we get back our happiness from disappointments.
I practiced this, this past weekend…
When I headed to the same mountain I’d be visiting for the past 3 weekends in a row to do some fall hiking. 🍁
On this third trip, as I pulled up to the mountain park entrance, I noticed a few cars in front of me and a line forming quickly behind me. Each car was being stopped one-by-one, by one of two forest rangers.
I thought the rangers were going to provide information or maybe ask for identification for whatever reason.
When it was my turn to pull up, I learned it was neither of those reasons.
The forest ranger asked me, “were you coming today to hike?” And she proceeded to tell me that wouldn’t be happening due to unforseeable work vehicles in the park.
When I asked if they’d re-open today, she said, “possibly around 2:30.” That was a solid 2 plus hours later and didn’t sound like a guarantee.
I asked if I could use the restroom before leaving, but I was denied and redirected to the local country store.
So like everyone else ahead of me, I drove to the cute country store less than a mile down the road. On my beeline trip to the restroom, I heard someone’s male voice mumble, “we drove an hour and a half to come out.”
In that moment, I knew exactly what I was going to do after my visit to the Ladies Room.
I had a choice.
it was in the slight thought pause.
I immediately thought there were plenty of of other trails available to visit in the state, and the day hours weren’t going to wait.
I had a vehicle full of gas and ready-to-hike legs, so I wasn’t stuck.
But staying stuck with my initial idea and plan would have been tragic for that day. And that’s where many minds stay.
Time waits for no one…
If we sit around, a day goes by, a year passes, and a decade grows. When you’re older, that’s nothing.
When we’re younger, time doesn’t pass fast enough.
And in life’s journey, while closures happen sometimes and endings disappoint no matter what, there’s a better way to look at it.
(Because sour moods won’t change anything.)
And you can snap into a happy place quickly when you change your scenery on the outside and in your mind.
So in the 2 hours that came to pass, I could still be waiting (worrying?) at a country store.
…But that wasn’t my story.
I hopped back in my car and re-routed to go to another mountain.
Yup, I technically visited two mountains in one day. And I got out and did a new hiking trail. ⛰️⛰️
Sounds impressive? The truth is… it was easier than the alternative.
I knew I wouldn’t sit around waiting for what may or may not happen.
That’s a good lesson for life.
Keep going.
Let go of what could be (but wasn’t).
And I stopped off and looked at flower fields along my new unplanned scenic route. I remembered to stop and smell the flowers (a slow down lesson learned before). 🌺
I also found a new hiking trail that I mapped out thanks to modern maps.
When I was growing up, those were paper maps; and to this day, I don’t know how we ever found our destinations. 😮
But that’s how life for all of us has improved today… and so we have even more options to benefit us than in the past.
So staying stuck doesn’t have to be an option.
Being and feeling content always can be.
And the more content, the better.
There are no downsides.
Like, I was enjoying my new hike and I temporarily forgot all about the country store and drive up to the first mountain earlier that day. 🍂
That’s how happy can be.
And my suggest to anyone else who crosses setbacks (that’s all of us 🙋🏻♀️):
Choose another adventure.
Let go of the old one.
Get unstuck.
Ohhh, and I know you may have made the same decision I did at the country store… you would’ve drove off in that situation too if you were alone (or with an agreeable partner), but maybe not with so-and-so company or a group in tow dead set on the original mission and sticking around waiting. Or not with little ones where it’s harder to just hop and go.
Believe me, I get it because in my childhood I felt so stuck most the time. In my case I was tagging along on weekend adult errands that I was so bored with, and fed up with as a child looking for childrens’ adventures. Nothing was in my control. I was stuck.
So because of those early-on sour mood lessons, that’s why one of my happiest places today is at the grocery store. Because those adult trips foraging food (aka sweets) that I chose were empowering and happy moments.
I use those lessons to help me today.
And you can do the same with your today teaching lessons and past lessons learned situations to help you noodle out of your thoughts no matter what you’re facing with life-in-play situations.
Make it easy for and on yourself.
And whatever your country store decision would have been, I’m suggesting you would have been happy anywhere else where you could choose.
And let go of the past (that ego energy clings onto).
ANYTHING is better than sitting around disappointed energy all around you.
…Including yours.
Get fresh new air.
It’s still free and abundant.
And getting out of stuck, you could Google new ideas like what farms are nearby (or ask the country store people). Take a clearing head field trip.
Because out in the country there are always produce farms (the same ones that provide strawberries and apples at farmers markets 🍓).
And animal farms.
You probably even passed a few cows and horses on your drive up.
Whatever it is you come up with when you’re stuck, pick a new adventure.
And if you were like me, untethered that free day… drive ’til you can drive no more.
Empower your day, hike another trail and make it your best day ever despite the start.
Don’t waste beautiful days and nature’s perfectly balanced leaf and bark weather changing all around you in this moment.
The season won’t wait.
And neither should you.
Ready for your next adventure?
