Sometimes you need to be lost, to find out where you are.
Over Easter weekend, I took myself on a mini getaway. I had a lot of work to catch up on, and also wanted to prep for my speaking engagements free from distraction.
Last year I went to the beautiful Briar’s Inn on Lake Simcoe, only an hour north of the city and yet a different world, and had a fabulous time (their Easter Brunch is EPIC!). And so I thought I would treat myself again, perhaps make it a tradition. However, this time I would be missing out on the brunch, as I had promised my Father I would join him at Church (yes, forever a people-pleaser at heart!)
Always on a mission to maximize my experiences and my time, I decided to get up with the sun in an effort to get in my miracle morning rituals despite having to be on the road early. I decided I would listen to my meditation while enjoying a beautiful walk (and yes, that was the pic I took on my walk!) in the picturesque region of Lake Simcoe.
I intended it to be a brisk, yet relaxing, twenty-minute power walk.
Famous last words.
Even though my meditation was over, I continued on, trying to give in to the moment and the nature surrounding me. And then when I thought it was time to turn around, instead of going along the road back home, I thought I would stay in nature and cut across the golf course. Seemed innocent enough. Plus, I saw this beautiful and inviting bridge that I simply had to cross. I now know this was the move that changed it all…
Suddenly I find myself in the forest, and then a cemetery, and then on the other side of the mini lake-sized pond with NO idea where the heck I was! I took out the printed map I was given, feeling confident it would tell me my whereabouts, except there was no cemetery on it! I then took out my fancy new phone, opened up my handy Maps app, and typed in the resort address (thank goodness for technology and GPS!). It told me to get back to the main road, and that it would be a 6-minute walk back.
Six whole minutes? I was now already cutting it close if I wanted to have time to shower and pack and enjoy a quick warm beverage before hitting the road. And, I was positive the resort was just through those trees… and on google it looked like nature provided a more direct route. Surely I knew better than google maps.
HA! One sopping wet foot (having broken through a puddle of ice near the pond), one and a half hours, two frantic calls back to the resort (one of them with me basically in tears), and three backyard trespasses (they were all accidental, really!) later, and I finally found my way back. OMG! By the time I found that inviting path and slid my key in the door, I was TOTALLY frustrated, TOTALLY frazzled, and TOTALLY late!
At that point, even if I were to have thrown my stuff in a bag, thrown my church outfit on sans shower (which would NOT have been a pretty sight!) I still wouldn’t have been able to ‘Get me to the church on time!’ (My Fair Lady anyone?!?)
So, I called my Dad, and sheepishly explained what had happened (although he could sense it from the utter distress in my voice!) And even though I knew he was a tad disappointed, he encouraged me not to race back, but to meet him and the family for our own Easter brunch afterwards. I agreed to hide the eggs for the hunt for the Grandkids, which somewhat appeased him.
In any event, all of this pandemonium could have been avoided if Carol hadn’t have been so darn stubborn! (And, perhaps stuck to the path. Or maybe didn’t try to squeeze in more than was realistic given the time frame. Or listened to google maps. Or took a moment to breathe deeply even after my meditation to reset myself on my route…)
Poor Bob, who had the arduous task of attempting to steer me back to safety based on me describing my whereabouts using phrases like: There are trees around. I see an old shed. There is a pond in the distance. Thank goodness for the Green Clubhouse… that was eventually my saving grace!
When I shared this embarrassing story with a friend, the response was: “Sometimes you need to be lost to find out where you are.” Profound. Hmmm… It got me thinking.
Well, whether or not I needed to find out where I am, here are the lessons gleaned from the mishap this week! (It’s becoming a trend!)
- Don’t necessarily assume you’re smarter than google maps, or any map, for that matter!
- When you see an inviting bridge, it doesn’t mean you need to cross it
- Puddles covered in ice are more fragile than they appear
- Attempting to meditate while walking may not always be a good idea, especially in nature. (I did get to check something off my birthday bucket list, however!)
- You don’t always have to maximize every experience, every moment
- When you get lost – stop, breathe, and take a moment to reset (or call Bob!)
- Arriving to church super late and sans shower is probably not a great idea, even if you think you’re pleasing someone
Perhaps next year I’ll choose to stay for the epic brunch instead. (Just kidding, Dad!)
Sometimes you need to be lost to find out where you are. And sometimes you just need to trust google maps. (Click to tweet it out!)
Have a FAB week!
P.S. My first on-line course “Get Going! Goal-setting strategies that actually work” as part of the One Red Lipstick Digital Retreat is now LIVE!!! WOO HOO! Want to find out how you can get access to this course, as well as all nine experts and Master Instructors for FREE? Check it out here.
