Wendy vs Windy- ding ding to your corners

Today I had an altercation with the wind. Although I believe a truce was reached, we both put up a strong fight.

On Fridays, after dropping my son off at his day program, I make my way to a nearby park to go for my morning walk. I love this park! It sits on a slight hill that provides an amazing view of the mountains to the East and West. I stumbled across it a year ago and have enjoyed watching the changes in the seasons on my morning strolls. It’s become my thinking place.

Today, as I drove into the parking lot, I felt my car pull from the force of the wind. Great, I don’t want to walk in this, I had a good hair day today I thought to myself. I sat in my car letting it idle while I debated on whether to stay or head home. For me, a good hair day is accomplished when I feel presentable in less than half an hour. I knew if I were to step out, it would require a round two, and knowing the mop on my head, it wouldn’t be the same as the first go around.

I felt a tug in my heart as if it were begging me to get out and take it for a walk. “Fine, you win!” I said aloud. After all, it wasn’t my hair working overtime to pump the blood through this ole body of mine.

I got out and began my walking ritual. As I rounded a curve in the path, the wind picked up. “I hate the wind,” I said aloud. Just then an enormous gust picked up and I swear, it pushed me. I stumbled to catch myself before falling over. I couldn’t believe it. I felt like I was being bullied by Mother Nature…actually, it had to be her brother, brothers/uncles/siblings are more apt to pull a stunt like that. Frustrated, I continued on my walk grumbling about my hair the entire way. What a waste! Why did I bother to do it?

I made it around the park and got to the point where I had a choice, to continue on the path I had created for this ritual or go back to my car. I decided to continue when suddenly the trees around me began to tremble as another strong gust kicked up. Birds chattered like crazy, hiding in their branches, I imagined holding on tight. Nope! I’m done and turned to head back to my car. That’s when I swear I heard laughter in the tornado of torment. Ticked and feeling taunted I turned back around and accepted the challenge. It pushed me more and I finally said out loud “Go ahead! Try and stop me. You have no idea how tough I am.” And just like the trees that stood firmly in the ground, I too stood firm in my decision to continue.

Then, like my hair slapping my cheeks, it hit me. My life has been full of many “hurricanes.” There have been times I have felt just like I did at the park this morning, trudging against a force that tried to defeat me. These forces have been frustrating, challenging, and at times made me want to give up, but in the end, I stayed firm and came out stronger.

My hair was already a goner, so I decided to have fun with it. And just like that, my bully became my playmate. I pulled out my phone and started taking pictures before continuing on. Ironically, the wind died down…as if it were bored with me and wanted to move on. I won!

Lesson learned- Attitude is everything. When circumstances are out of your control, you have to armor up, find joy, and move forward. The damage to my hair was easily fixed and my heart is happy.