Day 1,402 – Finding Joy in the Journey – Sunday – 9/5/2021
Hamilton Lake
I haven’t been on Hamilton Lake in over 20 years. It was fun being back in my hometown for a few hours this weekend. I loved showing Steve where I grew up as it is such a part of who I am.
As I steered us around the lake, it reminded me of being the captain of my life. I am responsible for the choices I have made and where I am in my life today. Many of the decisions stemmed from my childhood and the things I learned by growing up in a small town. Good and bad choices all got me to this moment. I am grateful for both as they are all part of my journey and who I am today.
About “Finding Joy”
And I’m off…. the 16-day adventure begins. The timing of this trip is interesting so I’m naming it “Finding Joy in the Journey.” I’ll be doing one dedicated post each day (at the end of the day or next morning). Since I typically post more than once a day, you’ll find it as a black and white photo. I’ll share the joy of the journey (on the trip or through this season), where I’m finding it and what I’m learning. I hope to inspire myself along the way. And if I can inspire others too, that would be a gift. So let the journey begin…
It was November 2017 and I was ready to head off on a sixteen-day trip. Nine days before leaving, my mom unexpectedly passed away from a heart attack. It shook me to my core. I had always been told the 40’s are the best years of your life. And in a matter of three years, since turning the age of 40, I had gone through a divorce and lost both parents.
I contemplated canceling the trip though I knew my mom would not be happy with that decision. She would want me to continue living my life. My parents did not raise me to sit back and watch life; instead to fully participate in every moment. So I promised my parents to find joy in the journey everyday on my sixteen-day trip and share my experience with others.
Little did I know what “Finding the Joy in the Journey” would turn into when I acted on the prompting to share my experience on a daily basis. It helped me see life differently and my wish is that it will inspire others find joy in their journey.
