Re-routing

Sunday, once again, I joined the group Adventure-ish for a morning hike. This week the word was WET. (Last week it was ICY.) Soon it became apparent that we would be walking beside the trail more than on it. At certain points we had to traverse new spring streams. This was accomplished by walking further up/down to cross, jumping and getting a soaker, or, and this was my idea, throwing a bunch of sticks and twigs in order to cross relatively dry.

At first it was a pain. We weren’t getting anywhere fast, which felt like a big change-up. I approach the hike like exercise, something to get done. Walking in cadence and letting my mind wander. Sunday’s hike was more about logistics, hopping on and over logs and figuring out how to not fall into water. But soon, the problem solving became motivational, exhilarating; I loved being about to figure things out and outfox the stream.

There was at first complaining, moaning and groaning, then laughter. It reminded me that as humans we get stuck (sometimes literally in ruts). We wish/want things to be one way—for good reason! It’s easy. But when forced to go out of our way and exert more effort we enter a discomfort zone, which is exactly what we NEED to do—again, as human we have to innovate or die.

I see it at work with customers who are unhappy with their sedentary life and hope to get out more and exercise. I hear it from friends, despondent over the state of the world/our country. We feel hopeless and wonder: What can I do?

Re-route. Find another way. It might be difficult and take more effort, but you can do it. Not fast and easy, but slow and steady wins the race. And, along the way take notice that the grass is changing from brown to traces of green.