Leslie

I'm becoming a more and more firm believer that God works in ways that are beyond my realm of understanding and weaves things, people, events and more together in my life in ways that I couldn't possibly think or imagine.  One of the greatest things I've learned recently is to take my hands off the wheel of my life each day and say something to the effect of, "God, you have the controls today.  Take the wheel.  And show me where I'm trying to take the wheel back from you throughout the day."  Oddly enough I get the answers that I'm seeking and, spoiler alert, I try to control things A LOT. 

Almost one year ago I traveled to Havana, Cuba with a couple of friends of mine.  I didn't know what to expect from the trip and was thankful that one of them spoke Spanish.  I knew I would lean heavily on him throughout the trip to make sure to get us in safe areas.  (If you don't know me, fear is one of the biggest defects I carry with me everyday.)  Well, towards the end of the trip my two friends decided to leave a day early leaving me in Cuba by myself for the final day of the trip.   I was faced with a choice:  

- Do I stay in the Air BNB the entire day and cower in fear?  

OR

- Do I venture out, doing what I love to do which is walk cities, and just figure it out(in a sense taking my hand off the wheel)?

I'm so glad I chose the latter.  Because I chose the latter, I met up with a group for a free walking tour and struck up a conversation with a woman from the Bronx.  At the end of that tour I asked her if she wanted to keep hanging out.  She said yes.  What happened after that was why I love to travel.  We discovered a fort across the harbor, saw an awesome re-enactment of the firing of a cannon, got eaten by  bugs as I remember, grabbed dinner, and sat on the Malecon until it was time to part ways.  Good.  Clean.  Fun.  

Thankfully we have stayed in touch over the past year off and on.  And when I had a free weekend to head to NYC, I took it knowing that I would get to hang out with her at least for a little while.  

What a great day it was walking the High Wire, eating Thai food, and going up the Empire State Building.  What a thrill that was and so special because I had just uttered the words, "I've never been up the ESB."  I learned a lot through that.  Leslie had been up that building before....she didn't have to do that for me, but that is a gesture that I won't soon forget.  Leslie, thank you for making my trip so special.  It was great seeing you, walking the city with you, talking with you and catching up.  You're the best. 

I had a professor my senior year at USC tell us/me:  "Go have experiences."  At the risk of sounded snooty:  I've taken that advice and have done just that.  And there's more I want to do.  But as I sit in first-class(no, I didn't pay for it....just requested an upgrade and got it!) writing this as I fly back from LGA to CLT, I can't help but feel gratitude for the experiences I've had.  I don't have anything against Sumter or Columbia, however getting out of both of those areas has opened my mind to the truth that there is more to this world than what I encounter in my day to day life.  

Now, don't get me wrong, I love Columbia and where I'm from, I love my job, I love my friends, I love my dogs.  But a lot of times I get wrapped up in trying to control outcomes with just about everything I do.  Travel has taught me in real and tangible ways that God "has me."  He's going to take care of me(I have 38 years of proof to show me that).  And whatever happens is, more than likely, supposed to happen and if I can just look a little closer or change my attitude and/perspective, I'll see the beauty and the blessing in what happens(stealing this from Jocko Willink:  when a challenge or something less than favorable happens just say "good."   For example, I got off the wrong subway stop today.  Instead of pouting, I essentially said "good," and got into an Uber with the most delightful woman from the Dominican Republic and had the coolest conversation with her).  

ALSO, when I take my hands off the wheel what happens is way better than I could have ever thought or imagined(ie:  Havana, NYC and more......remember the time I got to play guitar in an Irish pup?  Yeah.  Exactly.  That's what I'm talking about).  

In short, acceptance of life, those around me, and myself is key.  All I can do is show up, do the best I can, bring the real me to the situation, and let it go.  

What a meandering and interesting post.   Thanks for reading.