Finding Joy Through the Storm

Last month, my daughter and I had a "girls" weekend. It was planned for months! A hotel on Coronado Island, a concert on Saturday night and some shopping/excursion time in between. The perfect weekend!

Sunday morning, before check-out, we decided to take a bike ride around the island. According to our weather app, the rain was not supposed to show up until 1 pm, giving us plenty of time for a leisurely ride including a breakfast stop.

It started well. Oh, it was a little "brisk" as my grandma used to say. There was a bit of a breeze that chilled us, especially our hands, but by the time we got going, we forgot the cold. We found a warm bagel shop and sat down for a bite to eat.

And then it started to pour! We looked outside the little shop and laughed about the rain falling. We were pretty sure it would stop. And it did! A little bit of luck prevailed and we were back to our journey. Optimistically, we decided to take the long way back.

Just as we reached the opposite part of the island from our hotel, the rain started in earnest! It started with a sprinkle that lasted 20 seconds and then decided it was time for the downpour variety! Add to that the speed of the bikes and we were soaked within a minute!

To add to the debacle, we were no longer in an area that had stores or markets for shelter. No, we were in the residential area, with quiet streets and beautiful homes, that we struggled to see through the water running down our faces!

Being the adult, and the one responsible for the bike riding plan, I decided we'd just high tail it back to the hotel as fast as possible. Rather than the scenic route, we wove through the side streets, finding a bike route when possible and taking to sidewalks when they was no designated spot on the road for us. We were cold, wet and could hardly feel our fingers...and attempting to find our way through a town we do not know! There were a lot of things to complain about!

Yet, when we were almost back, I stopped to check on my daughter. "How are you doing?". Her comment? "I could do this all day! I love it!". WHAT? This is my eighth grade girl, who is quite concerned with her looks, what others think of her, and is NOT my adventurer. Yet, in the midst of the cold, the pouring rain, and the fact that she was accompanied by her mother who's hair was CRAZY after all the rain, she found the positive. She enjoyed the sights, the experience, the whole ordeal! Unbelievable! While I had be reviewing all the bad choices that got us into this predicament, she was enjoying the ride!

I want to be like that.

I want to find the joy, even when it is hard to see.

I want to enjoy the journey, even when it's not the one I planned.

I want to see the beauty around me, even though the clouds remain.

I want to be like that, today!

I hope the same for you.

Find joy.

Enjoy your journey.

See beauty this week.

Kim