Last month I had the opportunity to realize a dream that I'd held for
42 years, to hike the Swiss Alps. That dream began on a July Sunday in
1963 when I was a student traveling in Europe. On that particular day
I took a chairlift out of Grindelwald up to the top of First Peak. The
experience was extraordinary. Perhaps it was the high green meadows where
cows chomped, their cowbells jangling. Perhaps it was the chalets and
the profusion of geraniums cascading from their window boxes. I remember
too the trails that meandered through wildflowers from farm to farm. But
most of all I remember the mighty Jungfrau with snow blowing off it's
pointy summit into the deep blue sky. Right then I vowed to come back
to hike one day, when I had time to absorb the beauty and the grandeur
and the simplicity.
And so just two weeks ago I found myself back in Grindelwald with my
patient husband who let me savor memories and reflect on all that passed
since that day so long ago. It took a bit of research to locate the chairlift,
which has since been replaced by a gondola. What was then a base lodge
in an open field is now in the center of town. (I verified that with some
locals.) But nothing else has changed. The Jungfrau stands timeless, just
as I'd left her. This time I was able to hike those trails from village
to village, picnic among the wildflowers and revel in the cacophony of
church bells. I walked through valleys where cows dominate the economy
as they have for centuries and where waterfalls are so high they seem
to tumble from clouds. On Mother's Day cherry blossoms reigned down on
the trail from Lauterbrunnen to Stechelberg. It took my breath away.
Looking Back – I Didn't Have a Clue
Forty-two years ago I wasn't a mother, but a kid standing on
the threshold of life. I had hopes and dreams, but like everyone else,
I didn't have a clue of what would unfold. None of us does. Revisiting
a spot of such beauty and poignancy is a little like placing bookends
on a slice of time. One is tempted to ask questions such as these: What
have I accomplished? Who was I then, and who have I become? What would
I do differently? What turned out better than I could have ever dreamed?
It wasn't a heavy exercise, just a little searching of the heart.
What I came away with was an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for all
that has transpired. Certainly, had I known forty-two years ago some of
the trouble that would come along, I would have been paralyzed by fear
and self-doubt. Has life turned out the way I'd hoped then? Well, yes
and no. The fact is that it is much better than I could ever have imagined.
Have I accomplished all I'd hoped? Yes and no, but I've been shown paths
that I didn't discover until later. What would I do differently? I did
the best I could with the resources I had at the time. Regret is a waste
of time anyway. Who have I become? I'm pretty much the same person as
that kid who was enraptured by raw beauty. I still don't have a clue what
will unfold. None of us does.
Let Go and Enjoy the Trip
This trip to Switzerland crystallized a truth for me that we
all find hard to accept. Life will take us where it will. In order to
get the most out of the trip, it is important to plan the itinerary, and
then let go and stay open to what comes along.
How often we set our goals and strive to reach them only to be thwarted
by circumstances. We think we know what is best, what the outcome must
be, but life is so much bigger than anything we can plan. We rail, we
fight, we struggle to bend our dreams into reality, but it is the struggle
that causes our unhappiness. How much better to make a plan, work like
everything to make it happen, and then sit back and see where that leads.
How much better it is to be curious about where the road will lead, instead
of insisting on its direction.
In my practice the biggest roadblock clients encounter is the inability
to let go of anticipated outcomes. What they find, as we work together,
is that when they let go of the “must-haves” new opportunities appear.
When they let go of unhealthy relationships or jobs they dislike or hopes
that are thwarted, they make room for better relationships, jobs and opportunities.
It's as though the Universe is waiting to fill the vacuum that is created
when focusing on a negative situation is released.
One of my clients complained that his business was a failure. As we
worked together it became apparent that he was hyper-focusing on what
was wrong, namely that he wasn't getting the type of work that was laid
out in his business plan. When we began to analyze the shape the business
had taken, it became apparent that the market was quite different than
he had imagined. He began to see that he had potentially quite a nice
business, and set about making it even better. Once he let go of his negative
chatter and started to focus on what was possible, his business took off.
Where Has the Road Taken You?
Do you remember when you were at 19? What were your dreams? What
have you accomplished? Who have you become? What would you have done differently?
What turned out better than you could ever have imagined? I encourage
you to take some time and answer these questions. I think you too will
see that life has handed you many hardships and gifts, and that paths
have opened to you that you couldn't have know existed when you were a
kid.
How well are you enjoying your trip through life? Are you satisfied
that you've given it your all? Are you grateful for what has happened?
When you review where you've come so far, do you feel your attitude could
use some fine-tuning? Would that help you in your business and relationships?
Do you feel your life could be easier and happier and richer than it is
today? If so, I hope you'll give me a call. I'm trained to help you get
the most out of every day so you can live with no regrets.
Back To Top
