Hold Back the River

I'll be the first to admit that sudden change gives me anxiety. I know from conversing with other people that it's pretty much a normal thing to experience gut-wrenching fear associated with change. And that bothers me. I'd like to give up that fear of change and replace it with peace. Recently my family experienced a sudden change. We lost another family member, and while he was ready to go, and his time came when it was destined, it's still hard. 

So to combat my normal feelings of anxiety, and to put aside the overwhelming emotions that come from training your brain that change is okay, I took a small opportunity to spend some time apart from the world. Sunday afternoon I spent 4-5 hours with my parents in the mountains. My mom and I walked around looking at all of the varying plant life, taking pictures, making jokes. My dad put on his fishing gear and became one with the river. While he waded up and down, looking for the perfect spot, we unfolded our chairs and sat underneath the shade of this perfect little tree. 

And all the change in the world vanished. All the unknowns of my life evaporated enough for me to breath in that sweet mountain air and relax. My family has always had a passionate affair with the mountains. You can look in any direction and see them in Utah. I love that! When I'm in the mountains, and I'm gazing up at tall peaks covered in thousands of trees, my problems, my changes, feel miniscule. And life is supposed to be a grand adventure. 

You're probably viewing this from a computer screen. I challenge you to go outside. Leave your phone, leave your world behind you and step into the natural way of things. The soft, easygoing, sweetness of life is what we're missing.