Notice that..go with that…
Notice that, go with that...
These words seem to be popping up more often in my practice these past few days.
I started recognizing a few months ago, that words seem to come up more frequently almost to the point of establishing a theme for the week. Therefore, I decided each week to focus on a theme word that popped up towards the end of the week and remind myself of this theme for the week. For example, prior to this week there was a week that savor was the theme, another week it was “lean into this”. Whatever the word or phrase that arrives in the here and now, I feel an obligation to hold it and understand the impact. Sometimes, it appears in my language and other times it appears in the many I meet with or hold space for.
Whether it is impactful to savor the moment presented before us, or lean into the challenges we are facing both can be traced to the idea of acceptance and allowing. It is hard sometimes, when we want something and it seems that every time, we voice our desires we are met with a block that prevents us from achieving our desires.
I can recall several instances as of lately that I have been met with this theme. On my trip to Central America, I can remember voicing several times out loud to my friends, “it just seems like every time we turn around, we are being met with a challenge to test us if this is really what we want or not”. This was particularly valid in our day set to go see the sea turtles laying their eggs on a beach south of where we were staying.
We woke up pleasant and had originally planned to leave for the turtle beach y 3pm or so as our tour was not scheduled until sundown around 6 pm as that is when the turtles are best arriving. After a small discussion, it was decided we would head down that way and stop at a few new beaches along the way instead of spending time at the beach we were staying at currently.
We proceeded to pack the car for the day trip expecting to get back late, left a light on the porch and headed out for the day’s adventure.
We had our first decision to make and that was to drive the beach road, which we were advised by the Airbnb host that it was not possible without 4-wheel drive, or the highway roads (which take longer of course). Deciding on the highway road was optimum and decided for us after discovering we needed gas and the only gas station was in a big town about 45 min to the east on the highway path.
Driving through the towns and heading down south took longer than expected and arriving at our first beach was a cluster trying to find our way. We had brought our snorkeling gear expecting snorkeling, although arriving the road was destroyed by rain and we couldn’t drive down to it.
Now walking down this rutted-out hill, the first time I said aloud “the universe just is testing us to see if this is really what we want” and noted the experience as a challenge. The tide was in and the beach was almost non-existent not ideal for body boarding, snorkeling or even walking so we didn’t stay to say the least. Back in the car, and navigating to the next beach closer to the sea turtles.
As we drive closer, the road slowly was disintegrating before our eyes. Huge potholes filled with water appearing more and more, soon a water way covering the entire road. We got out of the tiny compact car with extra small tires, and took inventory. The mud was a sinkhole and I immediately got caught sinking beyond my ankle and needing help to pull my leg out. One car passes us, only speaking Spanish he rolls down the window yelling out “No passe, Rio” and pointing further down the road. No WIFI or data, we decided to turn around to the last town and find a place to get WIFI and ask the tour guide about transportation.
We eventually found a place to connect to the internet and reconvene in a small town called Nosara. It was Café de Paris. Ther owner was very nice and spoke great English, he also owned the organic store across the street. Messaging the turtle guide woman, her response was “sorry this is the only way to go”. Disappointed and frustrated we shared some coffees over conversation of what to do next. We had come all this way, and turning back now seemed silly, plus we still had another 2 hours before dark and 3 hours before our planned tour.
Another challenge the universe decided to throw in the way, the inability to get where we are going, the statement again repeating in my head “is this really what you want now?”
After much deliberation, it had been decided to drive as far as we can and either hitchhike in, or walk the required distance to the beach with the sea turtles.
We actually made it farther than we expected and gathering all of our belongings we parked the car as far off the one lane dirt road as we could possibly manage.
As we start making our way down the narrow dirt road with extremely large potholes and water ways moving through it, we notice we are in the middle of swamp land on both sides of us and the sun is setting. My one friend asks, “are their crocodiles here?” and is met with the answer “no they are down south” as we continue walking. Arriving at the beach another group approached us and points to the side behind us, “Crocodiles beware”.
Needless to say, we saw the sea turtle and hiked back in the dark.
These obstacles placed in our path can feel like sometimes they are unable to be hurdled, yet we overcome and take challenges in stride. That so called “block” that has been put on our path and our journey perhaps is just to allow us time to slow down and think is this “really what I want right now?”
