Same Day, Different Experience

Dear Friends,

For the most part we had really wonderful weather while we were in Iceland…in all honesty, it didn’t look like we were going to have good weather toward the beginning of the week, the forecast was abnormal amounts of rain every single day.  But we got lucky and had fantastic weather and only light rainfall for most of the week.

Except one afternoon.  The afternoon a group of us went horseback riding, and another went whale watching.

Oh, the weather was bad, it was really bad.  Cold, rainy, sleety…it was just plain gross outside that afternoon.  Those who went horseback riding finished our ride in the beautiful Icelandic countryside soaking wet and cold despite our extra rain gear our hosts had provided, and very excited for the hot tea, coffee and cakes that were waiting for us.

I found it interesting, when talking to folks after our ride, the vast difference in experience and perception folks had even though we were all on the same ride.  With very few neutrals, I had some who were so very enthusiastic, and had just the best of times on our adventure in spite of the bad weather, and I had some who had been absolutely and totally miserable throughout our adventure because of the weather. 

But, my friends, here’s the thing…there wasn’t a correct and an incorrect experience.  There wasn’t a “right” way to experience that ride and a “wrong” way.  We were all on the same adventure, but with vastly different perceptions of said adventure, and that is ok, my friends.  Those who were miserable during our ride and those who were blissful and excited had just as much right to their own individual emotions and experiences.

I think there are times when we try to force those around us to see the perception we view as the correct perception, the correct way to see the situation, and in spite of what might be the best of intentions, when trying to force our perception as correct, we end up negating their own lived experience.  May we, this week, allow ourselves and others to have our own individual life experiences and emotions…without trying to force ourselves and others into how we perceive we all should feel.

Have an amazing week.

Love
Krista