Now don't get me wrong....I LOVE traveling with the various members of our extended family....kids, parents, in-laws, brothers, cousins, friends....I have a pretty freakin' awesome family. In fact, I'd rather hang out with them than anyone else, except for maybe Larry Bird or Magnum PI, but you get my drift. However, a few months ago, I realized I had an opportunity to actually travel for work and fun with my husband! I did what any "#almost super mom" would do...I manipulated the schedule to allow this trip to happen! So here was the plan....leave today for Las Vegas to attend a national conference that is important to my work. On Sunday, move to the Venetian in Las Vegas because, well, it's The Venetian. Next, spend three days playing in and around Las Vegas with Space Cowboy and two of our dear friends who are co-workers and part of that crazy wonderful extended family. On Sunday, we drive to Utah where I will have a couple days of work while Space Cowboy gets to indulge his love of skiing at a Brian Head Resort. We can even do some cross country skiing together! And the kicker.....Valentine's Day is Friday WHILE WE ARE AT A SKI RESORT IN UTAH. Yes...the perfect trip.
So back to my "gently awaken" alarm....I jumped up, got showered, began thinking about my packing job of last night and mentally taking things out of my bag to see if I can actually hit the magic 50 lb limit. And then the text came ...our flight is cancelled due to weather.
I went to tell Space Cowboy that he could stay under the warm covers...no early flight today. I suggested we begin driving, which he shot down - #funhater. Next, I started looking for alternative flights, determined that this trip is going to happen. Meanwhile, I know that my friend and co-worker is on the phone with an agent at United trying to get us rebooked. However, I went on with my furious search...."there has to be something I can do to fix this!" I searched all airports within a four hour drive from home. There were lots of flights...good news!...we weren't going to get one for less than 1000.00 a person...horrible news! I start mentally checking the bank account...can we swing this cost? NO...ugh. And then, as I was waiting for my coffee to brew (OMG it's taking forever!) it hit me....I need to do nothing. Nothing. I need to breathe and wait and allow the system to do its thing. My friend will call when she has news from the agent. In the mean time, I enjoyed my coffee, and actually brewed some tea, watched the weather and the news and had some breakfast. I practiced mindfulness and felt myself become calm. As I focused on my breakfast and the hot tea mug in my hand, my anxiety subsided. I am not in charge of the weather. I am not in charge of the airlines. I am not in charge of the conference.
I spend a great portion of each day teaching and encouraging mindfulness, and helping others realize and understand that wherever you are, whatever you are doing, you ARE living the journey. Too often, we believe and live as though life can't happen until some other condition becomes real, when the truth is that every moment is life. We can choose to live it or allow it to slip away while we wait......for some condition to change or some event to occur, which we believe will allow us to live. In the mean time, we are missing precious moments of our journey. Live every breath; be in it; enjoy it, even when it's stressful. We are always exactly where we should be.
And so, as I prepare for a changed travel agenda, I'm grateful for the opportunity to be with Space Cowboy in our kitchen that is still mid-renovation with a hot cup of tea and the anticipation of our adventure, whatever it turns out to be.
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Location:Flag Run
