Today my husband and I went for a hike through the woods. It didn’t start out that way, but rising water and missing track markers resulted in a long and steep adventure.
I love to be outdoors most of the time. I’ve never been a fan of excessive heat or humidity, but beyond that I really enjoy being outside. It tends to calm me. My mind is usually in thousands of places at once, so going for walks gives me some room for consideration.
Everyone has days where they feel overwhelmed. The trouble is that it’s entirely relative. People who have seemingly normal lives, strong careers, healthy families, money in the bank – these people all have their crosses to bear. The good news it that sometimes all we need is to take a step back. Most of the things I’ve spent hours worrying about…make that almost all of the things…either never came to fruition or worked themselves out. My mind has created terrible scenarios, probably as a means of defense. Yet time and again, there was no cause for alarm. The problem was smaller than I realized.
I try to be supportive of the people I care about, though I’m not perfect. Sometimes I don’t know what to say or do, and that frustrates me. I realize that they too have their anxieties, and maybe they are no closer to understanding them than I am mine. I do believe, though, that if you care enough, you can make a difference.
