Yesterday, we traveled from South Carolina back home to Tennessee. We got to ride on the small opening of the Blue Ridge Parkway (the rest is closed from COVID). The portion of the parkway we rode was BEAUTIFUL.
The first time I rode on the parkway we got lost and stuck on there for hours, 5 to be exact. We were 3 hours late on our original arrival time… We saw a baby bear in the middle of the road (just as surprised as we were), ran into an old acquaintance from over a decade ago at a random restroom stop, and got to stop and hike at the highest point of the parkway. It was a great trip until we ended up at the top, at 9 pm, with no cell service to lead us home… Thankfully we chose the right side of a fork in the road to lead us out and back to civilization. I remember laughing but being pretty nervous we were going to run out of gas on the parkway and have to sleep in our car…
Today gave me some perspective. When I was on the parkway previously, I had a lot of anxiety and parts of my life that seemed to be falling a part. I remember riding and observing the trees, water, landscape, and realizing I was focusing on the wrong things. I was so heavy from multiple outside sources… I carried burdens that I was not meant to carry (both from myself and others). I remained silent through that struggle and worked through those emotions the best I could on my own (and I am certainly a talker). Today reminded me of how low I was when I had previously been there and how good I felt at that particular moment today. A moment where I thought I would never break through the silence and there I was, back riding the parkway. Happy, Healthy, and Growing.
Life is spontaneous, whether we want to describe it as that or not. We never really know what will happen. Constantly losing, gaining, taking, leaving, growing, arriving… Life is about riding that wave of uncertainty and how inspiring can it be? I know a lot of us feel lonely at times and then have times where being alone is all we long for. Where is the happy medium you ask? It’s where you are and finding out how to remain there. Feeling those feelings immediately and embracing them with open arms (even if they aren’t the best).
I can’t relate to everyone and I certainly don’t try to but I can relate to the feel of uncertainty and not knowing what is ahead. What would life be like if we actually knew everything God was leading or building for us? Would we still embrace those gifts and opportunities as we do when they arrive now? Probably not.
I’m thankful for today and small moments to realize how far I have grown. I pray for anyone going through a challenging part of life to embrace it and stand strong in the waiting. It too shall pass. We got this!
XO- Love, Joy, Happiness
Be Where Your Feet Are. 