This past week I’ve been staying in Killarney, Ireland. It’s on the doorstep of Killarney National Park which is filled with lakes, woodlands, waterfalls and trails set amongst lush mountain ranges. To my surprise, this was a festival weekend to promote all that the area has to offer, from mountain climbing, trail runs, kayaking, yoga, early morning icy water dips, hiking and biking. One thing that piqued my interest was their movie festival showing full length documentaries and short films covering environmental topics and endurance feats.
One film was about a blind mountain climber “as he attempts to be the first blind person to lead a climb of the Old Man of Hoy, a sea stack with sheer cliff faces rising out of the sea, in Orkney, Scotland.” I was struck by his perseverance and determination. While he reached out and felt for the next handhold or foot notch, his climbing partner below would verbally guide him. However, he often climbed to positions where his partner couldn’t see him. He was on his own, left to feel his way along, not knowing if he was climbing himself into a more difficult area requiring him to backtrack, or whether he would confront a roosting seabird which could swoop out at him. (I won’t spoil the ending.)
Another film showcased various grassroots environmental efforts in New Zealand, including a couple who cleaned up and reforested an abandoned and junk-strewn property providing not only a diverse habitat for insects and birds but food for their family and neighbours, too. Another couple and their children were living an almost zero waste lifestyle. They featured an organic farm started by an investment banker who realized his high power, high paying job left him unsatisfied. Now he is. And a doctor, who too left job stress for a back-to-nature lifestyle with a work/life balance that made him much happier.
I share these two stories because they hold a common thread which was summed up beautifully by one of the interviewees of the environmental film. He said, “The place we’re going, we cannot see. … Trust what feels good and feels aligned with who you are.”
Sometimes life can feel like we’re climbing a mountain blind. We can’t see the entire route. Often we’re afraid to even reach for something else. We fear missteps and getting hurt. But I’ll bet that ten, fifteen or twenty years ago, you couldn’t have imagined you’d be where you are right now.
Every step lead you further. New opportunities opened up. Unforeseen forks in the road presented themselves which lead to choices that brought you to this moment.
The truth is, we can’t fully see where we’re going. So why not aim high? Why not create your own Garden of Eden; one that’s fulfilling and sustains you because it’s aligned with your heart?
A forest can grow from one tiny seed. You just have to nurture it.
Is there a seed in your heart that’s ready to grow? Imagine what can come of it if you give it some light and love.
If you’re ready to start listening to and trusting the whispers of your heart but aren’t sure how to begin or you’d like some guidance, I invite you to take my on-demand course called Write To Your Heart. It will help set you on the path to a heartfully happy life. To learn more, click here.
If you’d like to work with me one-on-one, send me an email and we’ll set up a time to chat about what that can look like.
