A FS Hike

The hike yesterday was chocked full of FS stuff. I'll do a little list.

1. Asked friends to join us who like to hike, but was very specific. Here's what we're doing ... are you interesting? Didn't leave anything to modification or a switch to dinner plans instead.

2. Planned this for right after a week vacation. Usually I give myself time after a trip. Here's the thing I'm finally noticing -- I might need time and recovery from some things, but hiking IS recovery in a lot of ways. Staying away from on/off and all/nothing.

3. These are the friends who are notorious for hedging plans to get to do the best choice. She said she might go to a football game, but wouldn't know until mid-week. Okay. But by Friday afternoon, no word from her. I assumed this was a no-go, but I decided to text her. Bluntly. She "just found out" and had a bunch of excused for not getting back to me. "Let's plan a dinner instead in December." It's probably a no on our end over the holidays and ball is in her court. Told her to enjoy the game, but didn't say "no problem" or "I understand" like I usually would. I have no problem that the answer is no -- I have a problem that I had to chase for her to respond.

4. Hubby decided he didn't want to hike since they weren't going. Why don't we take the dogs to the park instead? Nope. I said I'd go myself. I didn't sign up for any club hikes because we had this plan and we're going to AZ in a couple of weeks. I need to build up my hiking legs again.

5. He said he'd come if I'd make it a shorter hike. Also, no. We compromised. He waited at a lodge while I did a 3 mile loop and crossed back to him. I got the 9 mile hike that I wanted. 

I chose me totally and completely. So often, I have a plan to do something and by the time it gets to that thing, it's been diluted, modified, compromised to the point it looks nothing like the thing I wanted to do in the first place. Not this time. 

We had a really nice day. It was the day I planned for myself and invited others to join. This plan wasn't up for negotiation and I was clear about that from the beginning. Sometimes it's fine to compromise. When the intention is spending time with friends, I'll adjust to whatever the group decides. When the plan is someone else's idea, I don't expect to have it my way. I say yes or no based on what they're proposing. I don't try to change it or wait to see if something better comes up. The intention yesterday was a 9 mile hike and that's what I did.

When "the thing" is important to me, I need to hold my ground. When I invite others into specific plans I made, I don't need to modify to the point that it looks nothing like what I planned.

I planned THIS hike and if I hadn't held my ground, I would've ended up taking the dogs for a walk around a park for 30 minutes. See what I mean? Nothing like what I planned.

Here are a few pictures from the Lake Loop Trail that I walked while hubby rested at the lodge.

I keep learning how to show up as myself, for myself when it matters to me. 

Later gators.