The Good, The Bad, The Ugly…and The Good Again.
I sit in my living room, on a quiet Sunday morning. I am coming off a week of vacation.
Each summer we enjoy spending a few days in the North Conway area of the White Mountains. We started this tradition many years ago when the kids were small, and the area keeps drawing us back. There’s the vacation we plan in our heads, you know the one you post pictures of on social media, and then there is reality.
As a family we stopped at the Flume Gorge in Lincoln, NH. The rocks, the greenery, the rushing water is all simply magical. Something about those surroundings helps one to relax. I snapped picture after picture along the way, working to somehow capture these moments and memories so they would not be forgotten with time.
I snapped picture after picture of the rocks, the greenery, the water, the mountains. I took a few photos of the family too. The boys were not in the same Zen space that I was in. One of them complained and complained and complained with each and every step. I took a photo of my family at the end, it was ugly, but it was reality. It’s not likely a photo you will see posted on social media, but it’s my family and it’s where we are right now in this season of life.
We wrapped up the hike and drove to our accommodations. Somehow between the time we left the Flume Gorge, drove through the Kancamagus highway and arriving in North Conway, the mood had changed, everyone was enjoying the day, a good day. This rollercoaster of emotions continued throughout the remainder of the week.
The night before we left, I was sitting outside Ben and Jerry’s enjoying an ice cream with the family. I have a friend that lives in the North Conway area. I hadn’t shared with anyone where we were. I went back and forth in my own head if I should let her know I was there. She had mentioned weeks prior that if I was in the area to let her know. Admittedly this was a moment, where I needed to step outside of my comfort zone. This was yet another situation where, although we were on a family vacation, with one vehicle, this was my thing. My husband and the boys were not interested in any visits listening to two women catch up. I had to move beyond the what ifs. What if she didn’t have time, what if she did have time. Where were we going to meet (I don’t enjoy navigating places that I haven’t been). Self-doubt can take over, over the dumbest things. These are all dumb things, yet they are still thoughts that hold me back.
I thought about my friend and decided to give it a shot and see what happened. I sent her picture of where I was, and she immediately wanted to get together if I had time. I said to myself, ok, let’s do this! We made arrangements for her to pick me up early the next morning. So, while the boys had a lazy morning, I got up early, enjoyed a GORGEOUS sunrise over the mountains and was able to catch up, in person, with someone I hadn’t seen (in person) in ages!
Here is an example whereby getting out of my own head and stepping outside of my comfort zone I was able to create joy in my life. This meet up with a friend was one of the things that made my day great. When I can surround myself with positive people, people with good energy and friends who want to connect and accept me for who I am, these are the people I want in my circle.
These encounters are the ones that fill my cup up so when I have to get back to reality, the reality of raising two teenage boys, who think their life is hard (and believe me, it’s not) I have a well of energy to draw from.
On this beautiful Sunday, as I enjoy the afternoon ahead of me, my last moments of vacation, I reflect back on the week behind me. I wasn’t working, as a family we were not scheduled. I was able to do some reading, I did some writing, I laughed with my family and enjoyed mother nature too. No, the week was not perfect, but it was perfect for me.
What fills your cup? I’d love to hear in the comments below, or check out my new Contact Me page and send me a note.
