Running Down Booger Hill

This morning I decided to get out and hike a trail near Sugarcreek, and is often the case after we've had some rain, I came to a creek crossing and the rocks were covered with water. Normally when this happens, I say a few cuss words and head home, but this is Christmas Eve, a beautiful day, and I ate way too much yesterday to turn back now! As I stood there staring at the creek, I realized that of the hundred or so times i've run this trail, i've always gone in the same direction, like a hamster on one of those obnoxious, squeeky wheels. I decided to go the other way and see how far I could get. As I made my way around the back side of the park, it dawned on me that though I could traverse this trail blindfolded, from this direction, it looked vastly different. There is a hill that I call "Booger Hill" that is 25 yards of "straight up" and usually leaves me huffing and puffing. As I hit the hill from this direction, however, I thought, "hey, this is Booger Hill!". I ran down it, hands above my head like a roller-coaster, screaming... (it's winter, there's nobody around!)

I then came to another crossing covered with water. Still exhilerated from my new perspective, I found a big branch to throw over the rocks. As I crossed I thought, "Shelly will be really glad she's not with me today!" (she said yesterday that she needs to remember to wear her boots if she goes anywhere w/ me--even dinner. Today you would have needed mukluks, girl!).

They say you learn something new every day and I think that's certainly true for me lately. Today I realized that I have been looking at my life with an old perspective and missing that which is no longer there. But though the trail is essentially the same, the terrain has changed. Meaning, I am the same person only completely different, if that makes sense. There are new people, new opportunities, and the hills that were once so difficult may look different if I could see them with new eyes. So, here is my promise to myself this Christmas and New Years: I will look all around me and see what is there, rather than what is not. I am truly thankful for my new friends and for my old friends. I wish you all great joy this holiday, as you have given me. God Bless!

Life's a dance, you learn as you go
Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow
Don't worry 'bout what you don't know
Life's a dance, you learn as you go!

Just dance!
Lory