Saturday was a beautiful day here in Colorado. While the morning was well below freezing, the afternoon warmed up to about 60 degrees. So, of course, I decided to drive up to the foothills and hike at one of my “go to” standard hiking spots, Coyote Ridge.

The hike was not without its challenges, starting with parking. Coyote Ridge is one of those spots that with Colorado’s booming population ( sigh) if you get there past 9:30 or 10:00 am the odds of finding a parking space are slim to none. I was fortunate to arrive, circle the lot a couple of times, and stalk a family walking back to their car to get their spot.

Once away from the parking lot and onto the trail my spirits lifted immediately. The sun felt glorious on my skin. I had not been hiking for a couple of months so it felt like I was coming home to what I love. Most hikers are a friendly lot and I enjoyed many pleasantries. I smiled in admiration (and with a little bit of longing for the old days) at all the trail runners passing by. I was pleasantly surprised by the manners of the mountain bikers.

The hike was challenging for me. My hip has been hurting recently and Saturday was no exception. I knew that hiking was actually good for my hip as well as my knee so a persisted at a slow but steady pace. It was well worth it. As I reached the two mile mark and paused at a scenic overlook my mind flashed back to my wall calendar which I had switched to February earlier that morning. The inspiring calendar quote for the month was “You Only Live Once!” “Yes, indeed.” I thought to myself and was filled with gratitude for the day.

I hope to have many more days like Saturday in my future, but I can not be guaranteed that will be the case. At 55 and almost 10 months there are more days behind me than ahead of me no matter how I do the math. When it comes to my life, this is it. How I plan my days, weeks, and months is of utmost importance. How I interact with the world around me and how I react to the unexpected twists and turns of the day needs to be approached with mindfulness.

As I drove home after my hike I pondered what having one life meant for me. How did I feel about my relationships with family and friends? What experiences did I still want to have? Do I feel as if I am contributing enough to the collective good of humanity? Do I take enough time to really enjoy each day? Am I grateful for every moment?

Sometimes I think that planning for this one life I can be extremely goal and experience driven. Certainly, I live in a time and place where I can dare to dream big. But what if that were suddenly taken away from me? Could I still say “Yes, I had one life and I lived it well?”

This month I will spend considerable time dreaming big. There are mountains to climb, friends and loved ones to spend time with, and one big vacation to Paris to take. I will also be savoring the time I spend driving to and from work, The time I spend cleaning my house. The time in the grocery store and all of the mundane things that make up our days. Because I know there will come a moment when I will wish for one more day just to experience all the little things that make up this life one more time.

I hope you enjoy your week whether you have a big adventure planed or spend quiet time at home. May your life be everything you every thing you ever hoped for, no matter how extravagant or simple. May it be filled with lots of love. And may every challenging mountain you climb reward you with a spectacular view!

As always, I would love to hear from you!

Until next time,

Laura