You Are Here
You are the compass
You are the map
You are the trailblazer of your life
-Kristen-
I love looking at trail maps along hikes and finding the words, you are here. I read them as a bold reminder of what we have overcome and what we are capable of on our treks through the forest and through our lives.
You Are Here
- an invitation to pause at any point along your journey to acknowledge the distance you have traveled and what is yet to come -
- an affirmation to create a sense of grounding when you are lost in thought and doubt -
- permission for you to take up space even when you feel uncertain with how you might fit in -
When I begin each hike I pause to study the map that greets me at the trailhead. It is an introduction of what’s to come. I take note of the miles, the subtle and sharp curves, the rise and fall of terrain. I know what truly lies ahead will look and feel much different than what is printed on paper but I look on anyway, letting my curiosity inspire my journey.
I set off and allow my senses to take over as I become captivated by the essence of the natural world. The deeper into the woods I get, the more time and space I create from where I began. One step quickly transforms into one hundred…into one thousand. My eyes shift from the soft earth and loose stone beneath me to the vivid colors of wild growth around me. I may walk alone but I am here with myself through the entirety of my journey.
Somewhere along the way I emerge through the forest and arrive at my next marker, framed in dark wood and protected from the elements by a shield of plexiglass. I scan the map until I discover the words, YOU ARE HERE. I hover my finger above my starting point and slowly trace the winding line to find myself where I am now. The map may have showed me the path to follow, but I made the experience my own.
I close my eyes, inhale deeply, and smile as I reflect on my exploration of the forest. I think of the joy I felt as I elongated my stride and bounded along the trail, kicking up dirt with every burst of footfall. I recall my hesitance as I calculated the journey upward when the ground rose steadily to meet the sky. I remember physical and emotional tension reverberate within me, as much from the work of my body as the effort of my mind. And then I focus on the exhilaration I felt when the climb gave way to reveal the view beyond the peak.
I am here, present to my surroundings and aware of what I have overcome. I have traveled a long way to get here…experiencing each step within the forest and within life as only I could.
Even when the map lays out the path ahead, the trek often takes shape in unexpected ways. Life is much the same. Each day makes way for new experiences. We look for guidance beyond ourselves. We long for paths that are adorned with notations of difficulty and ease. Then we proceed, often with meticulous movement and thought to ensure we get it just right and according to plan. Yet in spite of our best efforts and perhaps unbeknownst to us, we still create our own version of living.
What if we set out along our path with acceptance that it is ok to make this life our own?
What if we see ourselves as capable of creating a life we love?
The best of life occurs when we make the trail our own along the way.
You are here. You are the compass and you are the map. You are the trailblazer of your life.
Pause and notice yourself just as you are in this moment, feel your strength radiate within you. Through the rise and fall, the subtle and sharp, the expected and unforeseen, you were there. Even in times when you felt your voice was too weak to be heard, in moments when the summit seemed unreachable, or when the unexpected came abruptly, you were there. All along, throughout your entire journey you were there to bear witness to all that your life has experienced…courageously moving forward in the way that only you could - your own.
And here you are now, a warrior of overcoming, your own beacon through light and darkness.
When we begin to take note of all we have overcome and of all that we have achieved, we can see ourselves as resourceful, capable, and strong.
How do you want to navigate through the forest of your life?
Try these affirmations when…
your thoughts are focused on shame: My journey tells a story of survival and overcoming. I am here and I deserve to be here.
you long to live more fully: I am here and I am capable of creating a life that fulfills me.
you are struggling with self-worth: I am here and I am worthy of taking up space.
Take good, good care of you. Acknowledge your accomplishments. Trust in your capability.
Love, Kristen
