by Tammy Cameron
Put one foot in front of the other. Do it again. Celebrate you!
Life presents many choices. It is up to us to lead, participate, or sit out an experience. The decision is not as important as the alignment with our feeling. We all have our seasons of active participation and of quiet reflection. When we make a decision and our core is screaming something different, this is where we self-sabotage ourselves. Are we sitting out an experience because we are afraid, because we do not want to disappoint someone, or because society tells us it is not the right action or the right time? Are we worried about regrets, misfortune, or potential calamity, doubting our own ability to make the best choice? Are we overextending ourselves saying ‘yes’ to everything when deep down we know we desperately need rest? Are we stuck in a stage of gathering information and not feeling quite ready? Are we simply overwhelmed by so many choices? Stop. Breathe. Listen.
In a quiet village, exploring the sights, enjoying the life of a tourist, soaking up the sunshine, I walked through the street with two friends. The vegetation was lush, the cobblestone path was welcoming, and the road led to one spot – the entrance to a trail up a mountain. What was absent from this moment was the stress of a packed work schedule and memories of emergency hospital visits and operations. What was ahead was adventure and I wanted that adventure. One friend agreed; the other did not. This was a huge quandary for me, wanting consensus, wanting to please both parties, and wanting to be true to myself at the same time. In the end, I put myself first, a life lesson that has taken time to learn.
I was ill-prepared to climb a mountain, dressed in high-heeled sandals. Nevertheless, the climbing experience called to me. The climb up was exhilarating and breathtaking. I navigated a winding path upward. I met vendors along the way, selling handmade jewelry along with raw and polished stones, all small items that they had carefully selected and carried up with them. I admired both the workmanship and their dedication.
Finally, the heat took a toll and fatigue set in about three quarters of the way up. Nevertheless, I had started that climb to reach the top, not to stop. I rested. I drank water. I imagined the view from the top. I began again. The view at the top was spectacular! The sun was beaming gloriously. The homes and businesses below were tranquil from such a distance. The air was fresh and all of the tourists at the top were basking in their triumph. Hello, Tepoztlán! You are etched in my heart.
Put one foot in front of the other. Repeat. Celebrate. This was my choice. I could have stayed paralyzed in indecision, afraid to disappoint someone or deciding I was not prepared with my high-heeled sandals, and time would have passed by. I could have wallowed in my concern about some imagined emergency that could have happened along the way. Instead, I decided to listen.
Stop. Breathe. Listen. What does your core being want to do in this moment? What is stopping you? Allow yourself the time, space, and opportunity to celebrate your unstoppable self.
Stumble in imperfection along the path to your goal. I certainly stumbled on that mountain, tripping on tree roots along the way; I do not regret a moment of the experience. You deserve your mountain-top! Step forward with one foot. Repeat. Say ‘yes’ to you!
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