May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. Edward Abbey
Without trails that are crooked, winding and dangerous, we would not appreciate the view. It is important to get out there and enjoy the trail, even on days where you feel that you just can’t. The liberation of having completed it outweighs not wanting to do it in the beginning. Some days I would much rather just stay in bed, but something in my subconscious makes me get up and get out. Today was particularly bad, with my dad in the late stages of dementia, and me 8000 miles away, I had read an FB post on a related subject, and all I wanted to do was stay in bed and cry. But, I reminded myself that I have to carry on, especially for those who can’t, I picked myself up and took off on the trail with my steadfast companion. I solved all the problems that I had been mulling over, came up with some amazing ideas and thoughts, and was ready to deal with whatever sadness and guilt overcame me for the rest of the day. I started a conversation on FB over the post, which helped me immensely, and was put in touch with others in the know going through similar situations, and with immense knowledge of dementia and effective compassionate caring. For that I was very grateful (who know it would be in the form of a previous college professor from like 100 years ago). For one, I have put the guilt aside because I was reminded that my situation is what it is, and there is nothing I can do about it. I am ready to climb those mountains into the clouds!
