WINTER IN YOSEMITE Or: How I learned to Combat FOMO
Living in the moment is something I always find myself struggling with. We patiently waited for the winter weather, and our schedules, to align for our trip to Yosemite National Park. We’re always on winter weather-watch. We missed most of the big snow dumps this season, and was quickly becoming late season. Snow days were becoming rarer and rarer. But, we pushed ourselves to go no matter how short notice the weather window was.
We were reeling back from an intense work schedule, but, we still made the decision to make the long drive to the park. We had to go. The promise of snow in the valley beckoned us. We kept telling ourselves that this will probably be the last bit of winter we will be able to experience before we dive head first into a busy work season while concentrating on building out our Troopy.
And there we were, ooo-ing and awe-ing as we rolled into the park. We’ve been to this place numerous times before, but it’s awe inspiring sights will never get old. We witnessed the granite walls reveal themselves through the curtains of clouds and mist. The soft snow floated onto the windshield only to be instantly melted in a matter of milliseconds. It was intimately magical
We spent the day photographing some of our favorite spots. Driving from location to location.
We were a whirlwind of shutter clicks. Later, I found myself lounging out on the floor of the Troopy with my head comfortably resting on the dog bed. Stella snuggled against my face giving me kisses.
I finally began to appreciate taking a moment to slow down --only to realize that our time in this park was fleeting and we must take the opportunity to get out there and explore. I could barely keep my eyes open and knew my body needed a recharge. I, like many others, have a fear of missing out. It can block us. It can take away a perfectly appreciable moment and turn it into something mundane in our minds.
It was in that moment of falling asleep, yet, fighting to not fall asleep, that I realized how my thoughts were affecting my experience. Deep down, there is no right, or wrong way to travel.
Being surrounded by these towering granite walls while working through my internal thoughts and patterns was exactly where I needed to be. I am in control of my personal dialog, and the outcome of my experience.
Some days we have the energy to summit mountains, and other days, a step back is needed to recharge and be able to climb those mountains. Being aware of our body, our needs, and our thoughts, is as in the moment as we possibly can be.
If you’re like me, and struggle to be present: Take a deep breath and analyze in the most positive perspective.
Settle into the moment, eyes open or closed, breathing in for 5 counts, holding the breath for 5 counts and releasing the breath for 5 counts. Do what feels comfortable for you. This could mean shorter, or longer, inhales.
Do these conscious breaths for one to five minutes, or longer. Observe the thoughts you are having while trying your best to not attach yourself to that thought or belief. These thoughts are like seeds so we must be conscious of which ones we are letting grow in the soil of our subconscious.
As each day passes, take that moment of stillness to maintain that garden. Weeding out the thoughts & beliefs that do not serve you.
When those gloomy thoughts do arise, I try my absolute hardest to imagine them as if they are snowflakes floating —observing them through the windshield, where they cannot touch down onto me, but instead I can watch them hit the windshield to instantly melt away into nothingness.
—Karissa