I’d been telling Joe all summer that what I really wanted was to visit the lake. It’s less than 10 minutes from our house! …I think. I haven’t actually been there even though we’ve lived here for over 2 years.
Actually, let me back up… I have been there, only not as expected.
The day was rough, I was tired, and all I wanted to do was get back to my house and EAT. You know that hangry feeling, don’t you? When it’s all you can do to keep the Hulk at bay. Well, that was me. Hangry and distracted. So much so, that I completely missed my exit! Then the next one (because I tried to speed past someone but misjudged the distance. UGH!). Let’s just say three exits later I was finally getting off the freeway in a part of town I didn’t recognize.
And all I wanted was to make my way back to home and food.
I asked for a few directions, figured I had it made and began driving on a back road I thought would take me where I needed to go.
I was wrong.
Only I didn’t know I was wrong until the road dead-ended into the state park by the lake.
Photo by Alexey Topolyanskiy on Unsplash
There it was!!! One parking lot away and do you know what I did? I turned around, upset that I’d missed the road I was looking for and drove the 10 minutes back to the intersection I needed.
It wasn’t until I was almost home that it dawned on me…
I’d been mere feet from the lake that I’d wanted to see all summer and I didn’t even take the chance to get out of the car and enjoy.
Oh my wizard farts and brownie blossoms!!! *head slam*
I’d been too caught up in being lost and confused that I didn’t see what was directly in front of me.
Not all “screw ups” are ugly. Nor should they all be discarded. Some mistakes can actually turn out to be fun and beautiful and can take us to places we never expected to be. Whether or not we enjoy that destination is completely up to us.
To this day I still haven’t been back to the lake. But I’m not sad. I’ll get there!
Instead, I’m grateful for the awesome moment that taught me to enjoy the adventure instead of getting caught up in the destination.
(And to pack food… always have food.)
Loves & hugs,
