"We are all wanderers on this earth...our hearts are full of wonder, and our souls are deep with dreams." ~ Gypsy proverb

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Chances and choices

When we are removed from our everyday, when we are placed in situations that aren't typical, when we are forced to see ourselves differently than what we are accustomed to, we are offered valuable information. An opportunity to consider that there is so much more available to us than we allow ourselves to know. Consumed with our norm, our schedules, our responsibilities, our established roles, we can miss so much. Whether I remember or not, I am given chances everyday to stretch beyond my comfortable boundaries. They come and go so often, it's easy to mistake them for anything else but a gem hidden amongst ordinary pebbles

Going on the Teton's trip as a chaperone was a chance to step outside the roles of mother, wife, caretaker, homemaker, or whatever else I want to call myself. Though my son was on this trip, it was made clear that my role was as chaperone first, not mother, which of course required a conscious effort on my part:). It reminded me of my trip to Squam last year, a scary yet oh so worthy chance at seeing beneath and between the layers of self. The Teton trip helped me remember someone I once was in a different time. It helped me see the children I was chaperoning beyond their roles of student, son/daughter, and friend, enhancing their individualities, their personalities, each with their own hurdles and burdens to overcome. There, with the backdrop that only nature and earth can provide, we were exposed to the rawness and palpability of our spirits. With no familiar schedules, routines, or roles to hide behind, we found new dimensions in ourselves and in each other in those 5 days--dimensions that challenged, lifted, supported, split us apart and then brought us together again. We were changed whether we knew it or not, and we grew closer whether we wanted to or not.

And such are the gifts of chance and choice. I do believe dreams begin this way, when we open ourselves to things that we once deemed improbable, impossible, inconceivable, like hiking the AT trail or playing the banjo. Opportunities come and go, we just need to give ourselves permission to say "yes", "yes" to finding the glimmer that keeps the light of possibility in our eyes. With this, the promise of another gem awaits :)....

much love to you fellow adventurers...

xoxo

7 comments:

  1. I concur sister
    I concur
    you have expressed this truth beautifully

    : )


    love and light

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  2. 'we are forced to see ourselves differently than what we are accustomed to' - we should be forced to do this more often. beautifully written xxx

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  3. yes! taking a chance.

    our routines bring us security that not only can turn into a place to hide, but mostly i think, just makes us numb. we need to stretch, regularly.

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  4. so happy to see you back here again. one of my favorite aspects of travel is the breaking from the routine. while i see the routine so beautifully works for my almost 3 year old, it does feel at times monotonous. and yes yes, you are so right on when you say that everyday we are given chances to stretch beyond.... and yes yes, it is easy to mistake them. admittedly so, i often mistake these gems for annoyances. Thank you for your words today. I needed to see them.

    p.s. I'm jealous of your backyard creek. enjoy it.

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“Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”
~ George Bernard Shaw