It has taken time to write this article. Partly because of a lot of second guessing. But I think it is time to dive in.
In my previous article G.O.A.L.S, I encouraged y’all to Go Out And Learn Something. Simple, yes? ……NO! Not when you choose yourself as the lesson content!
A week ago, I had the pleasure of repeating a beloved destination – Hellsgate (Kenya). As I sat in the vehicle, I would occasionally turn to chat to my fellow passengers. As the ride wore on, I started comparing the scenery from the different sides of the car. As human perception would have it, my window didn’t seem to have a nice view, so my neck had to get used to one position for most of the ride. Why is it so? Why does it seem that the ‘other’ side, person, view, experience is better than where we currently stand/sit? I’ll tell you…perception! The perception that the ‘other’ is better.
On the same trip, at some point, I was on a bike slowly enjoying the ride through the park…looking at the resident herbivores calmly a few metres away. Lost in my world, I heard someone say, ‘Lets catch up so that we aren’t left behind’…and I found myself cycling for my life…! When I got to thinking about it, I wondered why I had to catch up…there was no clock, no race, no prize…plus, the speed didn’t allow me to savour the wildlife that I zoomed past. Why is it so? Why did it seem that we all had to cycle quickly? There were other teams so in terms of safety, I wouldn’t have been alone in the wild. I’ll tell you….perception! The perception that going against the grain wouldn’t be taken well.
I have not any words of wisdom for you
I have not any words of consolation for you
All I have is,
“What is behind your eyes holds more power than what is in front of them.”
Gary Zukav
From what I have written, I would like to think that I’m not the only one who experiences such…and also that we are aware of ourselves when we have such ‘reactive’ moments. The moments that have the question ‘What will others think?’
At the end of that trip, I kept on asking myself, what if I had followed my heart while on the bike? What if I had appreciated my side of the window instead of craning my neck to see through the other side? What if I had been true to myself?
What if?
💯👏👏👏