Just Do The Next Thing

Sometimes I get overwhelmed by the big picture. I get bogged down in all the things that need done. I use my busyness as an excuse not to do the things I might actually want to do. Sometimes, it is an excuse to not do the things I don't want to do.

There is an anual, one way camping trip that I have never been on. It started about three years ago. Sebastian and the kids have been walking down the Washington Coast. The first year was from Shi Shi beach to lake Ozette. The next year they didn't get to go. The year after that was lake Ozette to LaPush. This year was LaPush to Oil City. I have not gone because I had a baby that I needed to take care of. I needed to move the car.

This year I had no baby. Friends were going to meet us and they would leave their car at one end for pick up. I had no excuse so I went along for the hike.

You know the saying, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger?" It's true. We did a lot of strolling along the beach. It was, well, a walk on the beach. But then there was also this:

One going up, and a few miles later, one going down.

I used to be all adventure all the time. Then I had kids. Now the thoughts that go through my mind are thoughts such as, "If I die, who will take care of my kids?" "If I don't manage to die, who will take care of me?"

Sometimes, though, you just have no choice. You have to move, or you have to stop living. There are no other options.

Sometimes the obstacle is not as simple as a ladder up or down a wall face. But the rules are the same. Move or die there.

All the way down the ladder I just kept telling myself, "Just look at what you are doing, and then only do the next thing."

It's good advice. I should listen to myself more often.

I'm glad I went. If I hadn't I would have missed all of this: