Pause things where they are, rather than try to 'finish' them... The wisdom of leaning into life's constant rhythm
Can you see the view? Mountain ridges stretch as far as the eye can see, reaching into the horizon's blue haze. The sky is a clear blue left and right, with white cumulus clouds between, the sun illuminating them from above. Between the mountain ranges, the tarns hold fresh, icy water. In the foreground of my viewing point, snow still sits on some rocks, and gum trees frame the edges.
When hiking up for strenuous hours to reach the view, what thoughts occupy the mind? Sorting out things to do between thoughts of how your body feels as it stretches and strains? Regrets on what could have been softer, kinder, done better? Why do I seem to seek out my faults?
The bush is so humbling, yet it also bubbles up these big thoughts of self. One minute, I think about how beautiful it is, and the next, I wonder if I am doing enough.
This wondering if I am enough comes with knowing I am doing all I can, and that sometimes it isn’t so much that it is never enough, but that I will never get it all done. I embrace this awareness because knowing I will never get it all done, never spend enough time with my children, never get to all the housework, etc., allows me to pause things where they are instead of aiming for finishing what is a continuum.
Will I ever have enough time? No. Will I ever get it all done? Nope. Will I ever spend enough time with my children? Not possible. But I can do what I can. Is that enough? Yes.
As I climbed the mountain to this view today, I didn’t feel fit enough, but I still did it. I got to the top and am so grateful I have a body that can do this, no matter how long it takes me.
Hiking is such a mental lift for me. It shows me how, step-by-step I can, which gives me confidence in doing more in the other areas of my life.
I file this wisdom in my heart. The You-Did-That cabinet is fuller than I remember. Whenever I come back to it, I am amazed at everything I have filled those drawers with.
What is in your You-Did-That cabinet?
It is worth taking stock of what we have done, to be able to put those things in our hands on the days the not-enoughs creep in.
No, we are not meant to be able to get it all done.
But we can pause where things are at and come back later.
About The Tarn Shelf, Tasmania (photos).
These photos are from the Tarn Shelf hike in the Mount Field National Park. The tarns along the walk are small glacial lakes. This area is part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area ‘and home to some of the world’s tallest eucalypt forests, as well as a unique array of alpine vegetation.’
The Tarn Shelf is a 12km, 4-5 hour hike. It goes past steep drop-offs and includes a lot of walking on large boulders, steep inclines, and stunning views.
Oh, I love this. When I am writing regularly. I absolutely allow myself to have these moments. However when I’m in a rest period where my Muse is asking me to regenerate and fill the well, I find it harder to hit pause and be grateful for the work to date, allowing it to just be rather than having to get it somewhere.