Gratitude for Yet Another Detour
When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around —Willie Nelson
The bus was two stops from my home when I remembered I had forgotten my check in card for the gym. Being a gym bunny I knew I couldn’t get in without the card at this ungodly hour, yes it was just 5:30 am so I got off the bus and made my way home to pick it up. I sold my car when I moved and this means being dependant on public transport these days, as I walked back I realised half way that I had 10 minutes to make it in and out to the bus again or I would have to wait another hour for the next. I started jogging the rest of the way but it was quite a bit of a distance to complete within the next 10 minutes. I decided to walk as I couldn’t make it in time and lo and behold about 4 minutes later I saw the bus drive pass.
This had thrown off my plan for the day because I will now be a good hour and a half behind my planned schedule. I then decided, when I got home to go for a run instead so I put my gym bag down got my earphones and music ready, selected my run for the day from the Nike app and then hit the road. The weather was just the perfect one to run in, light breeze, not overly warm so only a running Tee was needed and dry most importantly. I picked a pace that was steady and enjoyable as I hadn’t been running outside for a long time now and as I kept moving I remembered how good it felt to be out running, even though still dark, it was just right.
I was so disappointed when I realised I had left my card, actually quite angry to be honest but I chose to fine an alternative that would still get me back on my planned schedule. The run turned out to be amazing, a good 40 minute and some, counting the earlier run. My frustration had disappeared and I was enjoying the run more than I thought. I focused on the quiet as I run, the perfect weather conditions and freedom to run freely without having to layer up. I was now in a good place and more than on schedule for my day. The misfortune of leaving my gym card behind turned out better than I expected and on the way back I met dog walkers who greeted me when I passed by, cyclist smiling at me on their way to work and a few cars driving by.
This day was indeed starting really well even if not as planned, so I decided to be grateful for this detour for I have no idea what I was being protected from or redirected to. I bring this up because like many of us going through a situation that isn’t what we originally planned, we have a choice to be accepting and creative so that we can readjust to what other way is presented to us. In the last couple of weeks, in conversations with my sister, I have on many occasions expressed this expression - Man proposes and God disposes just so we can lean more towards trust and having faith, and to make sense of the various detours and redirections that we are encountering.
Yes, it is a CHOICE to have this attitude of surrender and blind faith and so far I haven’t been disappointed. So, like this gym session turned into 40 minutes running, I am letting go of my need to control everything, being open to new encounters and being extremely grateful for redirections, trusting that all plans and its detours are all working out for my greater good.
As we enter the weekend I would like to encourage you to try and find the positive in every situation, yes do acknowledge the not so good but dwell mostly on the positive for if only we knew what we are being protected from, being thought or propelled to, we’d be forever grateful that our fates are not set in stone but we do get do-overs from time to time.
Affirmation: I choose to live hopeful anticipation of good things happening to me always
Beautiful. I sometimes get detours and your explanation makes so much sense. We sometimes need redirection in our lives.