Occasionally I borrow from my infrequent newsletters for this blog.
I’m recycling a newsletter share from February of 2021. I haven’t made any changes to the text from the original email.
I hope you enjoy it.
Have you ever had high expectations for an event, person or place and find yourself disappointed when reality hits? As in, the person was not personable, the place didn’t look like the photos, and the event was a boring flop? Whomp whomp, right?
I’ve been subjected to “Expectations vs. Reality” situations once or twice, but I can usually identify a few things about that event, person, or place that made the connection or excursion worthwhile. Maybe it’s the optimist in me, or maybe it’s just the creator in me that wants to write a more fantastical narrative.
It’s human nature to be critical and discerning, but I feel it’s a real skill to be able to carve out silver linings and go with the flow. There’s always a lesson, even in disaster. One way to avoid disappointment is to have low or no expectations – to just enjoy the journey and the moments you’re in. Sounds a lot like yoga-speak, huh?
Last week I spent a few days hiking and exploring territory that was new to me. One of my favorite things to do! The main events:
The Seven Magic Mountains
Valley of Fire State Park
Belly of the Dragon Cave
Elkheart Cliffs Slot Canyon
Mystic Hot Springs
I had no previous knowledge of any of these places, and I resisted the urge to do reconnaissance prior to my trip. I did no Googling or Instagram-scrolling of these locations prior to arriving at them. I trusted my traveling partner and she had thoughtful itinerary planned for us.
I wanted to experience these places with fresh eyes and ears. I wanted to see the sights from my own perspective first, untainted by the subjective opinions of other travelers. Was it a gamble? Sure. But sometimes gambling pays off.
Side note: This is most definitely not an endorsement for gambling. 1 out of 5 stars, do not recommend.
So now you might be asking: What was the best part of the weekend? What made the cut to the main highlight reel?
My favorite bit of the weekend was the drive.
Just kidding.
I should note that things weren’t perfect on this trip. We had some stumbles, and we were forced to change some of our plans due to weather and other factors. We adapted and went with the flow, keeping our expectations in check.
My favorite stop of the weekend was a soak at Mystic Hot Springs.
I’ll admit, I was initially skeptical about a 9:00 p.m. reservation and thought it made more sense to visit this place during the day. When 7:00 p.m. rolled around and we were tired from driving and hiking all day, we almost talked ourselves out of the soak. In the end, we were able to rally and convince ourselves that we’d never regret the soak, but we would probably regret missing it.
The hot spring is modestly developed and is located near a sleepy small town. The check-in process was slightly bizarre, thanks to COVID-19. The buildings around the springs are dilapidated and the lodging cabins seemed more than a little sketchy in the dark of night. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t stay there overnight, unless there were no other options. This place is not posh, but I digress.
We took a very short and uneventful hike by flashlight to get to the stone stairway that would lead us to the hot spring main pools. The pools were deserted. It was a quiet and chilly evening, and the weather was clear and calm. The spring water was hot but not scalding. Hot enough to make you sweat but not hot enough to make you wince.
I couldn’t see much in terms of the surrounding landscape. For a moment, I was bummed that I couldn’t see the area. Mostly just shadows and lumps and a few spots that were dimly lit by a farm style yard light.
Because our vision was greatly diminished by the darkness, our other senses became more attuned. While it was a little bit eerie not being able to see a more detailed scene, I didn’t get hung up on all the things I couldn’t see.
I reminded myself I wasn’t missing out on anything and that in order to enjoy the moment, I need to set aside expectations again and just notice. What can I see? What do I sense? What do I feel? What do I hear?
I marveled at it all!
I could see the sky, sprayed with a billion stars like diamonds across an inky canvas.
I could see the outline of the signature earthen arch with a curtain of water trickling down from it.
The sound of the spring waterfall soothed my slightly nervous mind.
I could feel the soothing waters warm my chilled skin.
I could hear the familiar voice of my friend, saturated with gratitude, wonder and awe.
I could sense my breathing transform from a shallow and unconscious rhythm to a deep and intentional cadence, just moments after submerging in the pool.
I could hear my breath exchanges, a soft and rolling wave. Inhale. Exhale. Pause. Repeat.
I felt my mind sigh with relief and contentment, it was almost audible.
I felt the buoyancy of my body as we floated mostly in silence, disturbed only by the occasional and heartfelt “wow” or “incredible.”
This experience was far different than it would have been if we would have reserved a daytime appointment. There were no vibrant colors of greenish brown from the local grasses, no orangey-red sandstone from the earth, and no blue and white Toy Story sky. The dusky ombre pallet of gray and black was beautiful in its own subdued way.
For each of us, our experience was unique and personal. No one else on earth has ever felt like we did then, we are the only beings who have ever been present in those moments. That seems so obvious but it’s also a bit mind-blowing if you really think about it. Every single moment is a rare gem unlike any other, and you can’t buy more. Our moments are finite and unreproducible.
Just as we were preparing to leave the springs, the clouds rolled in and the star-lit sky was soon to be overcast.
It seemed like an appropriate confirmation that our time was up, but also a reminder that we had been gifted such a small window of time to enjoy the evening. The timing was perfect. Gratitude meter at 100%!
I was so thankful that we were able to soak our tensions away under a blanket of stars. It was a brilliant and magical conclusion to a mostly gray day.
My experience at the springs, unmarred by expectations, was a yoga practice of sorts.
I arrived with an open mind and a sense of child-like wonder.
I was present and sensory aware.
I was guided by experienced advisor who earned my trust and who held space for my own insights.
I prioritized what I could sense over what I could see (felt experience vs. aesthetics.)
I was attuned to my physical body, my breath energy, and I was aware of my thoughts without trying to manipulate them.
I was experiencing the now.
Once again, I was reminded that I don’t need a studio or a mat to practice yoga. I am continuously humbled by that lesson.
Practicing yoga beyond the physical poses is simply a way of interacting with the world.
Less thinking, more feeling.
Less doing, more being.
Crafting your own pure experience and owning your responses to external stimulus.
Granting trust - not blind faith - to those who’ve earned it, but claiming and maintaining agency of your own state of being. Physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
I hope you are content, safe, and healthy. I’d be tickled to hear what’s going on in your world. Thank you for reading my words.
Take care and stay curious, Sara
