I thought I was going to Peru

I thought I was going to Peru. The trip was announced over a year ago. It would be June 30 – July 12, 2020. My husband Clint and I signed up, made payments, booked flights to LA to join the rest of the group, bought travel insurance, and did everything we could to prepare. We talked about all the experiences we would have. We read about the places we would see, the food we would eat and the culture we would immerse ourselves in during our stay.  I had in mind the shoes and clothes I would take, was gathering travel sizes of personal items, and I bought a new neck pillow for the flight. We were all set!

I like to be prepared. You know, have all the details and prepare as much as I can so everything goes smoothly. Anyone else? As June drew close we realized the trip wouldn’t happen as planned. The trip has been rescheduled to July 2021. We were disappointed for sure, and at the same time, grateful for the trip to be rescheduled and not canceled. We knew even if we could have gone that many places would be closed. Our trip has been delayed, but we’re still going.

Since we had some time off we decided to go to Eureka Springs, Arkansas for a few days. We’ve been there a few times and love it. Other times we would be excited about going there. This time, we found ourselves saying, “we’re supposed to be in Peru and instead we’re in Arkansas”.

Have you planned on, prepared for, and dreamed about going someplace in your life and ended up someplace not only totally different but not where you want to be? That has happened several times in my life. Sometimes life unfolds in ways we don’t expect. We experience unpredictable circumstances – some big, some small.

 What I’ve learned is to not get too caught up in what I don’t want and focus on what I do want. I look for what I can be grateful for and know ‘this too shall pass’.  Peru is a place I’ve dreamed of experiencing, and next year I will. For now, I’m finding the joy of being in ‘Arkansas’. When  I can enjoy the beauty and not compare it to ‘Peru’, there are gifts everywhere. 

When life takes us somewhere other than where we want to go we can dwell on the detour and disappointment, or we can use it to grow and learn. It really is all about the journey. We have much to learn about ourselves. My detours have definitely been where I’ve grown the most. They always lead me where I wanted to go, just not in the way I thought I would get there.