The sight of the wildflowers in the Wasatch Mountains in July is breathtaking.  Fields of purple lupine, golden daisies, and Indian paintbrushes in orange, pinks, and reds, line our path.  We make a fast ascent, scrambling up the steep incline, dislodging the occasional rock or scree with our feet and hiking poles.  We are wary of ominous looking clouds lurking in the sky, our skin waiting for the touch of cool raindrops alerting us to the weather; wanting to reach the summit before potential afternoon thunderstorms. I stop every now and then to catch my breath and take in the beautiful vistas that surround us.

As we near the peak, we reach a field of boulders clinging to the spine of the mountain, covered in eye-catching lichen of amber, rust, sage, and lime green.  I watch Jeff skip effortlessly and fearlessly from rock to rock like a mountain goat, determined on his path, and eager to reach the summit.  I pick my path a little more gingerly.  I sometimes slow, considering my route more carefully, wary of getting hurt. Or I pause to watch Jeff, admire the view, think, be in the moment, and take it all in.  Sometimes however, I push myself more than I think I can, taking large bounds and using my long legs, a smile spreading on my face as I land safely, my confidence growing.

I think about how many people have summited this mountain, but no two people have taken exactly the same route; each of us choosing our own unique path.   It leads my mind to the comparison of this hike with life’s journey.  The approach of my husband and I in line with our personalities.  We are all on our own unique paths in life, nobody’s journeys the same.  Sometimes our paths cross, or linger, running side-by-side, and we revel in the beauty of these shared moments with each other.  Other times they diverge, as we forge our own path, growing, learning, developing, moving forwards.

Two quotes I read recently resonate with my thoughts and I want to share them with you.  The first is from a wonderful book ‘Empowered’ by Jenny Powers.  She shares:

“Carve Your Own Path.  On days like today, following the crowd feels so much easier to me.  Because there is a level of certainty in the crowd and in the numbers of people that surround me.  In a crowd, I am never alone.  But when I walk in a crowd, I am never the first to discover anything new.  I am never the first to discover something unique.  I am never the first to discover something that I can call my own.  There is such passion to be found in discovering my own.  So I will leave the crowd and I will set out on my own.  And I will continue to carve the path in front of me, for as long as it takes for me to get to my own.  When confronted with choice, decide to leave the crowd.  Set out on your own.  Carve your own path through this world.  It is how you will find the gold in undiscovered lands.”

I also read this quote from the Dalai Lami this week, which I want to share:

“People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road does not mean they are lost.” – Dalai Lama XIV

Be brave.  Forge ahead.  I respect your own unique path and I cherish the shared moments with you.  I wish you fulfillment and happiness on your journey.

Lydia

My photos from our hike last Saturday in the Wasatch Mountains.  We summited ‘10,420’ and ‘Clayton’s Peak’ (10,721 ft).  I am so grateful to  be surrounded by such beauty where I live and to get out and enjoy it.