My girlfriend and I went for a hike the other day. Neither of us had hiked at this spot before, but we had looked at the map and we felt pretty confident that we knew where we were headed. We chatted about whether the trails were originally man-made or whether they were a path that animals or Native Americans may have used. We marveled at the root structures of trees and the number of chipmunks we saw on our way. We saw the yellow marker at the fork in the path and assumed that the trail would continue to have identifiable markers for us to follow.
Nope.
We walked through a meadow and back into a wooded area. We were still on a path, but there were no markings. When the path started to get really steep, we thought we might be lost. Not ones to admit defeat easily, we hiked down and then up another hill to see if we could find the path. We couldn’t. We admitted that we were lost.
My first thought was to call for help. We had cell service and I imagined myself calling 911 and saying, “my girlfriend and I got off the path and now we are lost.” I decided not to share that idea out loud. Too embarrassing.
My girlfriend suggested that we backtrack. Okay, sure. My anxious voice started to nag at me.
After about three more unsuccessful attempts to find a path, we found something. It was unmarked but it looked like a trail. We took a chance.
Don’t worry – we made it back. It took a while, but we made it.
Here are my takeaways about getting lost on your journey…I think that they are an amazing analogy for following your path through life.
* It feels really uncomfortable but it is going to work out. No one likes to feel like they are lost, but keeping your inner narrator positive will help you get back on track.
* It is better to have someone with you that you can trust. When we are off our path, we need the people we love and trust to be with us and to support us in order to not freak out and stay focused.
* Drink lots of water. Don’t forget to take care of yourself when you are frazzled or frantic. It’s like on the airplane where you have to put on your own oxygen mask. Self-care is essential. Give yourself permission to meditate, do yoga, go for a walk, journal, or get a pedicure. Whatever works best for you.
* It might not look like you planned but it will be worth it. Did I forget to mention that hiking was my planned date for me and my girlfriend? I definitely did not plan on us getting lost, but we had a great time even though it was very different than my initial vision. Even if you feel lost, have faith that you will end up where you are meant to be.
* Enjoy it. Even when we were lost, we were laughing and talking about things that we saw in the woods. Let go of the anxiety and take a deep breath. The journey is the destination, remember?
Take a minute today and reflect on where you are today. Are you lost? If you are, it’s okay. Find a friend to share this part of your journey with and enjoy the scenery.
