june 2022

Waterfall along Monroe trail in Duxbury, Vermont

"Let go of the ways you thought life would unfold, the holding of plans or dreams or expectations. Let it all go." ~ Danna Faulds

On this solstice day, I'm reflecting on how to let go of expectations and beliefs about how I should be or how life should be. This helps make room, in both big and subtle ways, for the magic in the present moment so I can love what is actually here with my whole heart.

I was hiking this past weekend on a new trail and watching my mind as it flowed through several stages. first, I noticed excitement for the adventure of a exploring a new territory and anticipation for what the summit would look like. then, I started to worry as I tired and my boots grew more and more uncomfortable. Thoughts like, am I going to make it to the top? Is it supposed to be this hard? stirred in my mind. I wanted to feel inspired not tired. I wanted the moment to be different than what is actually was.

I decided to let go of these expectations and surrender to the experience I was actually having. Yes, maybe it is supposed to be hard sometimes. Yes, I might choose to turn around if it feels like the best option for my body. Perhaps letting go doesn't always look passive. Once I accepted the experience, I was no longer wasting energy fighting the experience. With the extra energy, I was able to see the next wise step and the hiking experience felt richer and more fulfilling. Aligning with life takes practice and patience. Keep coming back to it.