Ten Lessons from Summer in Wyoming
I was nervous to come off the mountain in Wyoming. Up in the clear air, where the river willows turn yellow in the fall, a whole lot of dust settled. The migraines mostly cleared and I learned a few things that might be of use to you.
Here are ten for your consideration.
Meditation is essential for mental wellness. Whatever you call the practice of stillness and mental discipline, it is critical because our minds run around like badly trained dogs. Peace is found in training your dog to behave in a certain way, no matter the circumstance - like Wally. Yes, it’s hard, but so is anxiety. Choose your hard.
Nature is essential for mental wellness. Walking outside and observing this extraordinary creation is a sure-fire reframe when you’re all nutted up. Sure, if you live in a city you may have to work a bit harder to find a quiet, unsullied place (more on that in a minute) but failing to do it drives us further from our original design, which was to walk in the garden with God in the cool of the day. Besides, what human, while gazing on a snowy mountain range says, “yeah, I mean, it’s ok.” Nobody. Because nature is like oxygen for the human spirit.
3. Just because it’s awesome doesn’t mean it’s easy. Resistance is a natural part of growth. Yet so many people see their struggles as a “sign from God” they’re on the wrong path, so they quit, leaving 1000 unrealized good ideas in their wake. Quit quitting. Resistance is part of the deal. It’s how we build the muscle we need to carry what we create. Remember, the Promised Land was occupied when God told the Israelites to enter it. It was awesome and they had to fight for it.
4. You can’t change other people. You can only change yourself. So devote your energy to living in integrity with your values, which makes it easier to stop internalizing other people’s weird behavior. Remember, humans act up when they’re hungry or thirsty. If you stay well-fed and watered you can show them where the table is. Also, it’s easier to repair the inevitable breaches that occur with others when you’re doing your own work.
5. Buc-ee’s in Terrell Texas will have approximately the same number of people in it as the entire State of Wyoming, when you pass it on your way home to Florida. Getting gas and nuggets somewhere else will be easier on your nervous system. #IYKYK.
6. Silence is underrated and the world is loud. You’ll be surprised how much better your anxiety will be if you deliberately seek silence. Some of you live in high-volume places, so consider investing in high-quality noise-canceling headphones. Also, consider how you might lower the volume of your life - speaking less, speaking more quietly, and turning down your music at the Buc-ees gas pump, are all part of considering your impact on this planet we share.
7. The God who created you won’t compete with anything, but he’s always ready when you are. This is the main reason for reducing the noise in your life. The still small voice that guides our way, is just that, still and small. Sitting with yourself in silence can be scary at first - but it’s where the truth about your direction and purpose lie. There are places in the Big Horn Mountains that were so quiet I thought I’d gone deaf. You’d be amazed how loud God is there. It’s not Him, it’s us.
8. Regarding midlife transition and life purpose, I believe our questions cannot be fully answered without a conversational relationship with God, but so many people, like me, struggle to find God amid the noise of religion/politics. Again, silence and scripture are the antidotes. Confusing what Jesus said with what people say he said is an age-old error. Listen for the signal, not the noise. Jesus is one million times better than you think.
9. When Jesus said blessed are the poor in spirit, he was not talking about money. He was pointing to our helplessness and fallibility as we traipse around God’s infinite creation thinking we’re all that. These rocks in Wyoming are not only beautiful, they are 500 million years old. Pause and calmly consider that. We are infinitesimal, but in our self-centeredness, we forget it. That is why human pride is not only absurd but offensive to God. Straight humility is the starting line for everything that comes with following Jesus which is probably why he led with it in the Sermon on the Mount.
10. Jesus-followers are called to be sheep, not lions. Contrary to a popular American-Christian meme, Jesus-followers are meant to be humbly dependent on their shepherd for food, water, safety, and daily guidance. Ugh is there anything more un-American than that? I mean what are the bootstraps for after all? I’ve spent approximately 50 years roaring around my own life trying to change people, change politics, change the world, and all it gives me are migraines. Wyoming reminded me that I’m a silly, beloved sheep and all I really need to do is trust my shepherd and follow where he goes.
That feels like a relief.
All this to say: Joy remains an inside job. The world will keep dealing lousy hands and great ones, and it’s up to us to choose how to play them. What if we fixated on the endless gifts this life brings and lived in the gratitude that results? Come what may.
That’s where we’re headed at Girl Catch Fire and we’d love for you to join us.
ps. Enrollment for the fall Meaning of Midlife Academy is now open. Fall is a great time to get serious about your values, your standards, and what you want from the second half of your life. You can book a free call with me and my team here to talk about where you are now and where you dream of going.