COMMIT TO THE WHY

I love those days where the sunrise brings with it conversations about courageous encouragement and passion for compassion. This latest trip to Colorado, a place I truly love visiting, was filled as always, with inspiration, love and motivation from friends, Mother Nature and these mountains. Ahhhh, these MOUNTAINS!!!

This trip was especially special because Khloe, Jacelyne and Adam were with me during the first leg of it. With them I learned, well pretend-learned to rock climb, which I came to know is VERY different than climbing rocks a/k/a mountains (honestly, it kicked my butt) and learned how much better Easter brunch tastes when the chef is a hyped-up-on-candy 5-year-old. We hiked, told stories, dinnered with old friends and made new ones. I was able to reconnect with amazing women I love, all of whom have made a beautiful impact on my life. We caught up, spilled things, talked about cigars, practically closed down a restaurant and laughed and laughed and laughed.

I decided after this morning’s meetings that I would take the reminder of the day to explore. Since I have slightly over 4 months to complete my 48-by-50 goal of visiting what Alaskans call the lower 48 states before my 50th birthday, I figured I’d take advantage of a beautiful day in Colorado Springs, which is perfectly located on our map to accommodate making two of the pendings doable in 9 hours or so. That was 9 hours of adventure, exploration and meeting new places. I was all in, with or without a 5-Hour Energy.

The trip provided lessons and opportunities for some thinking, exposure to new music and amazingly beautiful views. Very different to what we’re used to in Florida, the route I took led me through some vast, what seemed like hundreds of acres farmsteads and lots and lots of land. When I was younger, Jorge and I talked about having a huge property/farm in the middle of nowhere with horses, animals and agriculture. As I drove through some of these roads, I realized that I don’t really need so much land (I’m speaking for myself mind you) and can’t really live anywhere unless a Publix, Starbucks and a Target are within walking distance. Oh, or anywhere that is not Florida either.

My tank was nearly full, still two bottles of water and all was well until….. I lost my GPS signal. I have to admit I’m one of those people who still MapQuests things, prints the directions and takes it with me except today, I was being totally spontaneous (and didn’t have a printer) so I was relying on my phone’s GPS. What could go wrong right? I had reception, or at least just enough reception for the voice to say “GPS signal lost” but not enough for GPS signal itself. Immediately I got that lump in my throat thrill (thrill? No – that’s not right, let me Thesaurus that one) feeling that says “Ohhhh shit!” Adrenaline rush – that’s it. Not thrill but adrenaline rush.

I thought about how life has taught me that it doesn’t exist in a reality where everything is handed to us in perfectly wrapped little boxes with perfect bows. The truth is I’ve learned that there is perfection in the imperfection. Knowing this, I still keep my expectations high and my expectations rarely if ever disappoint. For that, I’m grateful to God.

I thought about the gifts and lessons I’ve received while I’ve been lost. Lost happens quite a bit for me since I try as often as possible to veer off the beaten. I’ve seen beautiful sights on trails that I wouldn’t have found if I hadn’t been ‘lost’. Both of the homes we’ve been blessed to live in during our nearly 30 year marriage, were new developments we stumbled on after getting lost looking for a different development. Being lost can sometimes be a beautiful gift.

I tried to control my sudden urge to panic and just thought to myself that although this route was a bit more deserted than I should feel comfortable with, eventually reception would return and if not, I could always hang a U-turn and head back to a bit more civilization or make it to one of the many tiny towns I drove by. Besides, wasn’t my WHY to explore, adventure and see new things? I focused on staying committing to my why rather than the how.

Then it hit me. So many people, family, friends and coaching clients come to me about feeling stuck. It occurred to me that people who aren’t moving forward or making progress are more committed to the how than their why. I’m sure like me, you’ve read or heard a million times when they say “If you focus on the why, the how will take care of itself.” I’m as much of a dreamer as I am a doer because in all honesty, one without the other doesn’t get you anywhere. Having said that, I don’t want what I’m saying to be misconstrued as any indication of us not having to take action to accomplish what we want to accomplish in our lives. However, the commitment HAS TO BE on the WHY, not so much on the HOW. Truly, if you are determined to commit to your WHY, and function from a position of taking action and opportunities in the direction of your dreams, the how will in fact take care of itself. I have proven it to myself time and time again – from vision board to vision board.

A commitment to your WHY will wash away any excuses, lack of motivation, lack of energy and procrastination, I promise!!!

When my GPS signal was regained, it turned out I wasn’t lost at all. God was just providing an opportunity for me to really explore. I was able to visit Kansas and Nebraska so check and check. By the way, what constitutes a visit for me is walking in the state, breathing in the air and eating a hot-fudge sundae. I’m out of WW points until August but it was well worth it. I ran into hundreds, no probably thousands of wind turbines in clusters throughout the hundred miles in Colorado just before the Kansas border. I love how Colorado is such a blazing-the-trail state on so many levels. By the way Florida, we voted already – what’s up??? I saw some beautiful sights and no, these pictures do not do them justice but I loved every minute of the adventure.

All of this to ask you to please COMMIT TO YOUR WHY!!!