The Climb – Lessons from a Morning of Healing

This past summer, I had what I would consider a magical experience. It was unplanned but yet it felt very planned by some other forces. It started out that I was going to go and do Yoga at the beach while we were camping. It started early at 8am which I find very early actually on our holiday days. I decided I would only go if I happened to wake up early, have time for my coffee and some leisure time. It ended up I did wake up early and decided to take the opportunity to do yoga on the beach. I wasn’t quite sure of the location though and Brant was even helping me by bike riding to different locations to find out where it was at. We couldn’t find it happening anywhere. At 8:15 I ended up texting the organizer and asking the location. She apologized and said today wasn’t a regular class at the beach, but it was a hike up the valley, yoga on top of the hill, and a healing circle. It was an all-morning experience. I had previously read about it, and it really felt like a lot of work on my holidays, so I had chosen not to sign up for it, but I got the dates wrong on when it was happening. The instructor said if I got to the field where they were meeting quickly, I could still attend. 

Kevin had said he would drop me off and in a flash of decision I decided to grab my runners, a hat, and a bottle of water. We went to the field location and there was no one around. I figured I must have missed it because now it was past 8:30. Then a truck pulls up behind us and a girl gets out and comes over to the window. She says she is running late and is wondering if I wanted to go hiking. I said “sure.”  She was a complete stranger, but I hopped into her truck, and I quickly said that I hadn’t signed up for today nor did I know the list of everything to bring. She assured me that she would share everything she had with me and without even knowing me for 2 minutes, said that she felt that she was late that morning, so I was able to come along. It was a strange feeling, but it was a warm enveloping feeling, so I just went with it.

The truck drove through the paths in the field at the edge of the valley of thick tall trees and after about a 5-minute ride where I had no idea where I was, we saw a little shack and a group of yoga ladies gathered. My new acquaintance had said she would carry my water bottle in her cooler up the hill and asked if I needed sunscreen, mosquito repellent or another bottle of water as she would share and pack for me. I felt like a most precious guest in a place I didn’t know I belonged. The ladies started to go around the circle giving the instructor their cup to fill with cacao and pronounce what they were trying to heal that morning. Of course, I had no cup, but the instructor had an extra and handed it to me before the round table started. I listened to everyone on their different paths of things they would like to heal and when it got to me all I could think to say is “Hi, I’m here for some unknown reason and I feel that I was meant to be here this morning by outside forces falling into perfect order, I don’t know why right now but I am meant to be with you all this morning.” “Also, I’m sorry I didn’t bring any snacks to share or anything else because I truly didn’t know I was coming.” They all had a bit of a laugh, and all agreed that I could share whatever they had.

We started climbing the dense trail, we were told to sing/hum along to some mantras being led up ahead to ensure the bears knew we were peaceful and coming through. About mid-way up the hill, I started to get physically tired, and the trail started to get steeper. There were big rocks sticking out of the dirt that almost felt to me like a helping lift. I was thankful for everyone I came across; they started a bit of a symbol in my mind of just giving it a little bit more, one more stone, one more push, one more stone, one more push, I carried on. Sometimes not really knowing what you are doing or why you are doing it is just the right amount of naivety needed to survive a challenge. Had I known how much steeper the trail was to become or how much longer it was to last until I could see the top, I may have really started panicking that I wasn’t going to make it. I didn’t though because I had no idea how much further and no idea how much more my body could climb. I stopped quite often to rest when it got really hard, but I knew I would continue pushing, there is no going back now and possibly next time before I make rash decisions, I should research a bit more into what it is all about?? My nature though is to jump in with both feet and hope for the best. I started thinking of Miley Cyrus on my way up and the lyrics to “The climb.” “There’s always going to be another mountain…it’s going to be an uphill battle; it’s not about how fast you get there…it’s not what’s waiting on the other side. It’s the climb…” And just like that I was at the top of the hill.

We walked up to a beautiful flat spot that overlooked the valley and the lake, hundreds of dragon flies flew all around us as we laid down our blankets to start Yoga. At the beginning of the trail, we also introduced ourselves in our maternal line, honoring our mother, grandmother and great grandmother who came before us. Looking at all these dragon flies I had a sense that our ancestry was all around us that morning, enveloping us, welcoming us, and showing us how wondrous the world can be. Yoga was restorative to my aching thighs and butt as I stretched and took in some deep breathing.

Then it came time for the healing circle. I knew that when it was my turn, I could talk forever about what I have been through, but I didn’t want to take up everyone else’s time. Well, I did anyways and as I started to tell my story to ten strangers tears started to flood my eyes as I asked them for advice on how. keep navigating forward through sharing my story in my book.  In no time, a lot of the circle was crying as well, and they started to share their own stories to help me figure out how to get the strength to keep on going. The instructor said that my soul had agreed to this very difficult path and that I had to keep listening to it as it was meant to be. I found it odd when she said it because I also wrote about the theory of souls in the book and how the thought of it brings me comfort in knowing we were each here to do something specific, no matter how long or how short, how wonderful or how tragic.  When she talked I had yet again that magical feeling that I was supposed to meet her and supposed to be there that morning.

There were many things that led me to being there that morning.

1) We were supposed to be camping at a different lake, but I had cancelled it at the last minute because of a campfire ban.

2) I chose this lake randomly and decided we would go if I could get a campsite and get Brant swimming lessons at the same time.

3) I didn’t want to go on this big hike and take up time being away from the kids a whole morning.

4) I mixed up the dates and got ready to attend it in error

5) It didn’t stop me from going when I knew I wasn’t prepared for it

6) The driver who was late getting there is usually never late and felt she was held back for some purpose

7) I needed those strangers more than I ever could have realized that day

8) Sometimes you don’t even need to know yourself what you are supposed to be doing but it will find a way to come to you

9) Trust that there is something bigger than us at play behind the scenes and just go with it.

Every time I talk about that morning, I can feel the magic all over again. I know that I can go back to that memory whenever I feel down, confused, anxious and it will pick me up off the ground and transport me back to the magical place where I am right where I am supposed to be. Maybe it can do the same for you knowing that there is more to every random encounter, every change in plans and every burnt toast.

Chat again soon,

Michelle