Lessons From The Trail

There are woods behind our house with hiking trails. We LOVE the trails and are on them almost daily, especially now.

I often get creative ideas when I move and definitely when I’m in nature, so as such, I often go there to start my day and to ignite my creative process.

When you start out on the trail, pretty much after the first 5 minutes or so, you have to get up a pretty tough hill. It’s no joke. I stop a lot to rest some days, other days I scale it much more easily and actually don’t notice it as much.

This morning, I began to think about why. Yes, some days I have more energy, but what I noticed was something else.

I didn’t want to do the trail this morning. I told my husband, I just wanted to walk the streets.

After some convincing, he coaxed me to the trails and I said ok.

I was deep in thought and walking up the big hard hill, stopping to rest, stopping to talk, noticing the leaves, what had fallen during the storm the day before and noticing how green everything was.

Before I knew it, I was at the top of the hill and I actually enjoyed it! The part that always felt so hard.

I thought about why.

1st, yes, the more I do it, the easier it gets. That is true with anything we do in life, yes? My husband walks the trail much more than I do and he can now RUN up that hill! I’m not quite there yet, nor do I necessarily have that goal, but I know it’s because he consistently walks that path and goes up that hill. Therefore, he in a way, has mastered the hard part.

2nd, if I start out on that walk, with my first thought about how hard that first hill is gonna be, that is what I will notice and feel most. How “hard” it is. It will feel hard and it will feel like it takes forever, and I won’t enjoy it, but instead, want it to just be over with already!

If I start out on that trail with no focus on getting past the “hard” part, but instead set my mind on just being on the trail, I will more than likely have the experience I had today. I actually enjoyed it.

I didn’t constantly look ahead at the top of the hill, hyper-focusing on getting to the top. Instead I looked to my right and to my left and to each step I was taking.

Wanna know what I saw? I saw incredible colors of red, orangey-yellow flowers fallen on the trail, I smelled and saw bushes full of honeysuckle that took me right back to my childhood summers. I breathed in the scent. I chatted with Chris. I saw tiny wrinkled mushroom tops that looked like tiny fairy hats. I noticed green buds shooting out from old, mature trees and thought about how even when we are old and wise, we will always be growing and learning new things, always. I thought about what’s possible this summer, instead of being stuck at home. My creative juices began to flow.

Before I knew it, I was at the top of that hill and I had enjoyed the journey.

I was clear on where I was going. I had the map of the trail in my mind, but after that, I let the outcome go. I didn’t focus on the end the entire time, but instead focused on the now, the step, the beauty and the gifts. The difference was I enjoyed the journey and got to my destination, instead of just focusing on the destination and missing the journey.

It’s a lesson I’ve learned many times, but somehow, always need a reminder. A refresher course, if you will.

Now, to take this reminder into the rest of my life.

For me, I’ll take this reminder into the land of summer time with kiddos. I don’t know the outcome or even the end date of this pandemic, social-distancing world, but I do know how I want to feel and what I want to experience with my family. Each day can be its own trail with that first thought in my mind. What do I want to experience today? How can I create that right now? How can I be present to each day and what is? How can I look to my right and to my left and at each step as I take it?

It will be my mental trail journey. I can enjoy it or dread it. I get to decide.

What will you create when you hold the outcome or the destination more loosely and let yourself be in the journey?

Where can you apply this right away? With your health goals? Relationship? New career?

What do you want your journey to feel like?

What might this look like in your family this summer?

You are so very loved,

Laura

Ways to connect and receive support:

Community building and connection:

Another thing I know for sure, is you are not alone my dear friend! I know that life is sweeter when we choose community and connection.

This month, come and connect and build community in Soul Sessions! It’s a virtual circle where we share our hearts, hold one another and allow ourselves to be held. It’s a place to set powerful intentions and actions to see them through. It’s a place to be witnessed on your healing journey.

If you are curious, reply to this email and let me know! I’ll let you know how you can join us.

We are also building community in our Soul Sessions FB group! It’s free and a safe space to be and to connect! Come BE you with us!

Private Coaching:

Are you in a place where your heart is asking you to answer the calls and whispers to your heart to take a step forward toward your true calling, your truest self? Are there old wounds, fears and unhealthy patterns that hold you back from really stepping fully into your desires?

I’m here to guide you on this journey. This journey back to you, is a holy one. It’s the greatest soul assignment you are given. Transformation, though, doesn’t happen alone.

It happens when we first say yes to those loud whispers on our heart and then we find that guide to walk beside us, unpacking old stories and beliefs, releasing and witnessing old wounds, cracking open the desires and gifts you are given and stepping confidently into them. This is not easy work and it requires deep commitment and intention.

It’s my calling to be this guide and hold this sacred space for your healing. If you have ever been curious about working with me or about coaching in general, I invite you to book a call with me. What greater time than now to leave behind what is ready to be let go and begin to curate your life by design. You are meant for more, just as your heart told you.

Let’s create that together.