Some of you may remember a hike I shared about doing in December 2019. For my level of fitness it was an ambitious hike (4 hours plus up a fairly steep incline) and the ascent being done in darkness! All part of my celebration of the winter solstice that year.
I found it challenging and exhilarating in equal measure. The key learning from the whole experience though, was that if I’d seen the climb as we were setting out, I’d never have done it! It was a blessing that it commenced in darkness because on the descent all I kept thinking was ‘this was madness! If I’d seen it on the way up, I’d never have done it”.
Jan Richardson wrote a beautiful poem that she shared recently that captures this idea, that it is actually one of the mercies of the road (journey) that we can’t see it all at the outset.
For Those Who Have Far to Travel
A Blessing for Epiphany
“If you could see
the journey whole,
you might never
undertake it,
might never dare
the first step
that propels you
from the place
you have known
toward the place
you know not.
Call it
one of the mercies
of the road:
that we see it
only by stages
as it opens
before us,
as it comes into
our keeping,
step by
single step.
There is nothing
for it
but to go…
As we commence a new year in lockdown again, with fear for the rising numbers of Covid cases all around us, locally, nationally and internationally, many of you may be feeling like you are not willing to commit to making plans for 2021. You may be thinking that there’s no point! Or that the journey in 2021 is just too unpredictable and therefore it’s better and perhaps less painful, less disappointing if you don’t make any plans.
I see it very differently.
Like you, I had lots of plans for 2020, a family wedding and 80th birthday celebration, holidays and work events and workshops, none of which took place.
At the same time, despite everything, 2020 was a great year for me, personally and professionally. I converted all my work online, I created two new coaching programmes to support people in times of challenge and adversity, I was nominated as solo business woman of the year in Cork and my family and extended family grew in strength, resilience and compassion as we responded to all of what covid brought our way.
I don’t say this to gloat, simply to reinforce the idea that by having plans and creating direction in our lives we are more likely to be proud of what we achieve than if we go forward directionless.
So, as Jan Richardson says so poignantly, “there is nothing for it but to go”. No matter the uncertainty, we need to set out anyway, not knowing everything that’s required of us this year, not knowing how we’re going to do it all, but knowing where we’d love to get to.
To support you in your journey for 2021, I’m inviting you to join me in my first Online Vision Workshop of 2021, a whole day to prepare yourself to be your best in 2021, to reach for the stars and know that the journey there will reveal itself to you as you take it one step at a time.
Take your first step! Have a look at what the workshop offers you and if it feels right, sign up and join us to exchange just a few hours on Saturday 30 January in service of creating your best life in 2021.
Bookings here
Pictures:
Image 1 from Canva: MACA191XfUU-man-backpacker-hiking-on-a-trail/ – not the actual hike I did but captures the essence of it as I didn’t have a photo of my own
Image 2 – Maeve’s boot, disintegrated on the hike!
Image 3 – View half way down Maeve’s hike on descent