IMG_0487

I had the luxury & comfort of going on several different camping trips this past summer. I use those two words because I was fortunate to be able to be so close to safe, accessible and beautiful campgrounds, to be able to take time off, to have a husband and toddler who love camping just as much as I do (the toddler perhaps loves it a little more as he has decided that’s what he wants to do for his next birthday). There was so much joy in having full, long days with both my boys, simple food cooked on the fire under the stars. Time seemed to go by slower or perhaps I got to pay attention better which made my days richer and glorious. Being away from my phone and computer for long chunks of time forced me to dream, observe and simply pay attention. I got to read, journal and take pictures. And, a very high financial, emotional and spiritual ROI for the minimal costs of a local camping trip…

And yet, there was the discomfort too – the dirty toilets, the cold water, the ton of planning and packing that goes into a rustic camping trip with a toddler. The sleeping arrangements weren’t very comfortable and I was very sleep deprived as Vivaan woke up every hour during our first night and kept insisting he wanted to go home. Plus, being pregnant means I typically can’t sleep uninterrupted for more than a few hours with the much needed bathroom breaks. And then there is safety – during our trip to Yosemite, the second morning the ranger told us that our site was the bear’s favorite and just a few nights before a bear tore down a tent following the fragrance of a citronella candle. Right then Sumit told me, how he brought in crackers the night before to feed Vivaan and forgot to put them back in the bear box, sigh. We were safe…

And I still will go back to the woods in fact I am gearing up for a camping trip in a few hours even though I am 6 weeks away from my due date….

Why?

I have people tell me why would I put myself through this discomfort when I could afford a luxury vacation. I also have people tell me how awesome it is that we prioritize camping as a family more so when I am pregnant. Perhaps, both perspectives are valid…

Here’s my simple answer – It is this beautiful acceptance of opposites, this juxtaposition of the comfort & its discomfort, the joys and the struggles that make life meaningful – not easier, simple or happier but more meaningful for sure. When I reflect on most aspects of my life – my marriage, parenting, work, community, creative pursuits, relationships and my relationship with myself I always find these seemingly conflicting emotions and experiences. For example, I deeply, deeply value my marriage and my relationship with my husband and fondly wait to hug and kiss him when we meet in the evening and share our days with each other yet there absolutely are moments when I question everything, when the discomfort feels very heavy and painful. Yet, on a moment like today when I create space to hold both these experiences together, my heart feels full and abundant because of the meaning it brings to my life…

Acknowledging that these messy parts exist in my life, accepting them for what they are before I go full steam into changing the dark pieces into bright ones have added a little more ease into my life. It’s really about leaning into the discomfort as much as the leaning into the comfort that makes my life full, rich and deep. I have realized that it’s much easier to talk about the comforting aspects of my life, not just to others but more importantly to myself – to think of the beauty in my life but there really is a much bigger and complete picture that I can often choose to even hide from myself. Yet its these seemingly uncomfortable, difficult and challenging parts is what makes the bright ones come alive to create a joyful mosaic…

I have learnt that my camping trips are my metaphor for my life – my quest for meaning in this magical journey called life along with my fears, confusion, joys that come from fully leaning into life.

 

 

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.