Managing Personal Expectations

May 30, 2021 (217 words)

I have always considered myself the active and outdoorsy type, but maybe not as much now as before. On a recent trip to Sedona for a family wedding, my 22-year-old daughter and I decided to tackle one of those intrepid hiking trails the locals are so proud of.

But we waited a little too long to set out, and couldn’t nab a parking spot in any of the assigned lots. We ended up on the side of the road, a long way off. Just walking to the trail head took all the hiking mojo I had in my legs that day.

So the two of us settled for a fun helicopter ride that took us over and through all the mountain gorges and ravines that line this scenic Arizona town. Afterwards, on my own, I found a dining establishment with an outdoor deck that featured a spectacular view of those famous red hills. I sat and gazed at them for a while in the late afternoon sun, while enjoying an adult beverage and mulling over my options.

That’s how things seem to be going for me lately. I still like to do stuff. And I am still interested in trying new things. But these days I am equally content to just chill and enjoy the passing scene.

Robert J. Cavanaugh, Jr
May 30, 2021