Fighting through the fog

As the air cooled overnight, a thick, heavy layer of fog would regularly roll in and envelope the valley where we lived. In the morning, you’d walk outside to a moist, gray haze. Visibility would fall to next to nothing — you’d be able to see maybe a few yards ahead and that would be it. If you were traveling to school or work, you needed to be extra careful pulling out onto the road.

As you got moving, you’d flick on your headlights from low to high beams and then back again. You learned quickly that you needed to take things easy. You were driving with one hand tied behind your back. You had to be careful to not drive too fast or slow. (If it was really bad, you might even turn on your four-way flashing lights.)

I find that I think back often on that thick fog. As a new driver, it taught me much about safety, developing a feel for my surroundings, and the power of good old common sense. It taught me much about leading a good life too. I think most of us are like that fog. We go through life in a haze. If we’re not careful, we miss life’s important moments.

The juggling act of life

We’re trying to get from one place to another, Point A to Point B. We’re busy with our lives, working, taking care of our families, working toward a goal. We’re running from one weekend to the next. We’re constantly looking forward to the next big thing. And of course, we get tired and exhausted.

We run the risk of missing the moments right in front of us.

I know it’s that way for me:

• I count the days to a special weekend trip away. I sleep walk through Mondays and Tuesdays. I only start to wake up on Wednesday. And Thursday and Friday and are all about what’s coming on Saturday and Sunday. “If I can just get to the weekend.”
• I tell myself to work hard until some upcoming period of time, say the end of the month when I’ll hand in my list of recommendations and be done with my presentation. “I’ve got to be aggressive. I’ll take a break once I get past the presentation. I’ll schedule some time off in May or June.”
• I waste too much time thinking that the grass is always greener. When I stop working one day in the future, then everything will be perfect.

I’m exaggerating some, but you get the point. We spend too much time in a fog. Mental health and depression play a big role. Our financial challenges affect us too. Mainly, we’re just trying to keep up with what’s happening around us. It’s a natural thing.

Fighting through the fog

The fog is like a scary monster. It’s like Godzilla taking over Tokyo or New York. It tries to bend us to its will. I’m an ant compared to Godzilla. He looks down at me and sighs a note of annoyance. “This is who you’re sending out to challenge me. This tiny insect.”

I still stand firm against him. I fight back by prioritizing sleep, getting in a daily walk, and remembering what’s important about life — my faith, family, wife, and my sense of purpose.

For example, we were out last weekend and came across several beautiful trees all blossoming white flowers. The brightness of the flowers jumped out at me. It looked so calming. It hit me that spring is finally here. We didn’t have a ton of extra time in our schedule. We needed to cross off errands on our list. I told myself that it wasn’t anywhere special. It wasn’t a park or a world renown arboretum. It was a simple Kohl’s parking lot for crying out loud.

But I reminded myself that it’s my life to live. I’m the main character in my own story, my own movie. I only get one chance at this thing. If I wanted to stop and take a few shots of the blossoms for my own mental sanity then I should stop and take a few shots of the trees.

Errands be damn. Kohls be damn. Life can lump it for all I care.

What matters most?

I whipped out my phone and took my pictures. The moment was all I needed. It reminded me that my spirit is what matters. The moment is what matters.

Take that Godzilla. Go bully someone else.

And, yes, Godzilla ran away like a little Chihuahua that he is. Of course, he’s all bark and no bite. I took my moment and was better for it. Stop and smell the roses. Stop and take the picture. And yes, live enough moments like that and you’ll eventually come out of the fog.

Here’s to being in the moment.

Do you ever find yourself in a fog? How do you fight your way out of it?