I have been known to contradict myself or fall short of taking my own advice. I have been taking an amazing course called Permission Granted taught by my very incredible former employer Patty Aubery. I have watched my self-growth and mastery improve and have seen avenues and opportunities opened up.
The changes that have been brought about by social distancing guidelines have taught me that I am a people person. I like to share joy and help people. I like connection. My elatement at seeing a familiar face especially co-workers out running the same area I am on any given day makes me give pause to the phrase you don’t know what you have until you don’t have it anymore.
I have become almost too comfortable staying single. I have let the devil win for many years. I’ve tried dating a few times. It’s always ended at the first date. Over a year ago when it didn’t end on a first date I was grateful, but that was short lived when he moved toTexas.
Earlier this year a friend I had met through a running group I was associated with years ago asked for some support of friends through a difficult choice he wanted to make to improve his life. I jumped at the opportunity to support him. It was a courageous choice he was making which didn’t seem sparked by a catastrophic life event. From time to time I would check in and we would chat via text.
God always present opportunities if we are patient.
I set fear aside and asked my friend how he would feel about me visiting him in Colorado. His response was enthusiastic and I realized the running event I’ve attended each May since 2014 was postponed and i had a lot of vacation hours to use at work so I booked a flight.
I was picked up at the airport and taken back to my friend’s house. Little jets were doing a flyover as we arrived there. I then learned to play disc golf and laughed every time I threw and the disc floated left. We did a walk around downtown boulder where I was happy to see some retail stores opening back up.
We arrived to an area and I asked my friend for an obligatory selfie of us where I was asked to never post it. I was sending it to a mutual friend. I really don’t like selfies anyway. We did a really cool hike to green mountain and shared a snack at the top. I saw a guy wearing a familiar pair of ultra distance trail shoes so we struck up a conversation where I learned about some ultra races in the area. It rained a little and I loved it. I know I ended the day with an altitude headache but it didn’t stay long.
Friday we went to a little coffee shop and I was told they had a customer leave money and ask to buy people coffee for the day and the drinks I requested were complimentary. We then drove to a little trail that climbed a fire access road to a table top. On the way down my friend asked if I wanted to run and he had no idea how big the smile on my face became.
Shortly after we went to a second area where we got to see bighorn sheep. My friend often refers to them as his spirit animal. My friend found trees to hang a hammock in where we got to enjoy relaxing and some snacks. Rain began as we made our way down the trail, but it didn’t stay long. We finished the day with my friend fishing and me reading a writing out of my friend’s notebook I wrote a little thank you note in. We packed up and drove down the road just in time as another rainstorm rolled in.
📷:AJA
📷: AJA
The last line I wrote to my friend was If you thought as highly of yourself as others do you would be astounded at the height of those thoughts.
Saturday began very early as we drove to an area where we would be attempting to reach Devils Thumb Pass. We began hiking and I noticed water everywhere quickly accompanied by snow. Postholing occurs when you step into snowpack and it collapses forming a hole to pull your leg and foot out of. I would laugh each time my shoe became stuck or when both feet postholed and I fell on my butt. After just over 3 miles my friend pulled what he called an audible and I was okay with it. We changed direction and hiked toward a lake. We crossed a bridge where my friend allowed me to borrow his water filter. If you know me for any period of time you quickly learn the hardest thing for me to do is ask for something I want or need, but I really wanted cold water in my bottles. I got to fill up a container to filter water from river flow and it was sooo cold. We finally arrived to the lake where my friend set up a hammock and I made friends with a mallard duck couple. My friend caught two fish and we tossed the ducks fish guts. As the day began turning to eve we descended down the trail and returned home where my friend made fish and veggies for dinner and I was so thankful.
📷:AJA
📷:AJA
📷:AJA
Sunday began with breakfast, relaxing and doing laundry (yes I did my friend’s laundry too) followed by an adventure that I absolutely loved. It didn’t have a lot of elevation gain, but it had water everywhere, a place for my friend to fish, and boulders I could climb and go adventuring on. I washed my hands and took a little dip in the river it was so cold. I’m still amazed at all the things my friend did for me and shared with me on my short visit.
We went to this cute little place with bass fishing ponds. I was told I could go run and I ran a short couple miles around fishing ponds as I got to see my last Colorado sunset.
We ended the day with a little backyard fire with s’mores and he shared his one fish he caught and yummy garlic green beans.
Today was the last day of my adventure vacation. My friend and I walked to get coffee he then set up a hammock in the front yard and I finished reading a book while he stepped away to go pick up take out lunch I got to do a few little thank you tasks at his house while he was away.
He drove me to the airport and gave me a hug curbside. With covid I had no idea how much I missed a simple hug.
I would be kidding myself if I didn’t say it was a hard decision to travel. I’m thankful I got the chance to know my friend more after only being acquainted with him ten years ago. I enjoyed every adventure, every smile, every learning opportunity and even those Fourth of July snaps he kept playing pranks with.
Tears fell as I walked into the airport. I have always looked forward to going home after traveling and this time felt so much different.
I’m so thankful for this opportunity and all the fun I had and that I could go after everything that I wanted on the other side of fear.
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