Rocky Mountain Low

...And the art of staying optimistic

Last Friday, I was set to leave for Estes Park, Colorado, on a much-anticipated vacation. I woke up that morning with a scratchy throat and a mild headache. Normally, I would shrug it off and go about my day. But my daughter had been under the weather in the days leading up to this. Out of nervous curiosity, I gave her a Covid test. It was positive. I couldn’t, in good conscience, risk infecting anyone else on my trip. So, I didn’t go.

In England, they reserve a special term for moments when the word “disappointed” just isn’t enough. Gutted. I’ll hear commentators use the word to describe a soccer player’s emotions after losing the championship match in the game’s final seconds. “He looks absolutely gutted out there. This one’s going to hurt for quite some time.”

I didn’t have long to dwell on the disappointment, though. By mid-afternoon Friday, I became horrendously ill. It was the longest weekend of my life, and I’ve never been so sick before. A mix of sleep deprivation and dehydration left me feeling delirious much of the time. Not surprisingly, by Saturday, my Covid test was also positive.

Rest assured, this is not a pity party or a sob story. There’s an underlying point I’d like to make that is relevant to us all. You’ve probably heard the saying that everything happens for a reason. It might surprise many of you, but I do not subscribe to this idea.

Some things happen for a reason. But other things just… happen. Period.

I do not feel I missed the vacation because the Universe wanted to teach me a lesson in strength or patience or overcoming adversity. Nor do I believe my spirit guides intervened to keep me from harm (after all, the others who did go on the trip made it back safely.) I missed out on the trip because I happened to get sick at the wrong time. And while bad luck does not exist, bad timing certainly does.

While I can admit to being disheartened, I do not claim to be a victim. The Universe has not singled me out as a target or a punching bag. Illness comes for us all eventually. I suppose there’s really no convenient time to ride the Sick Day Express, so when it’s our turn, all we can do is take it on the chin and do our best to stand back up when the fever breaks.

Rest assured, plenty of our life events do have meaning. Some of our experiences (good, bad, and neutral) are part of a grand plan involving our soul purposes, spirit guides, and karma we’re working through. However, not every illness, flat tire, or spilled cup of coffee is worth dwelling upon or overanalyzing.

Life is messy and uncertain. Unexpected things are bound to happen. I’ve always said that coming into this world is similar to getting your driver’s license. When the DMV issues your driver’s license, they cannot promise you’ll never get into a car accident. It’s an obvious risk that comes with having the privilege to drive. Similarly, when we come to Earth for a new lifetime, our spirit guides cannot promise we’ll avoid getting hurt or sick or disappointed. These are the risks we willingly take in order to have a human experience. And if I’m being honest, I feel the good experiences outweigh the bad ten to one.

I’ll eventually make it back to Colorado. And next time I do, I’ll probably relish it that much more. I’m already researching future vacation ideas to keep my spirits high. According to science, anticipation is really good for our mental health. It’s always nice to have something to look forward to.

Meanwhile, my body is healing, and all my symptoms are in the rearview mirror. Except for the brain fog. That’s still lingering. Before I started writing this article, I stared blankly at my computer for a good ten minutes, trying to collect my thoughts. Somewhere nearby, my spirit guides were probably ready to poke me with a stick to make sure I wasn’t catatonic. I can imagine them saying, “What the hell is wrong with him? And why isn’t he blinking?”

As for my daughter, she bounced back from Covid so fast you would have thought she never had it to begin with. Isn’t it remarkable how resilient kids are regarding illness and injuries? Their bodies are self-healing miracle chambers filled with sugar and giggles. Oh, to be young again.

Big shout out to my cats Eggnog and Mocha, who nursed me through my delirium. They clocked some serious hours with me in bed and on the couch - purring, snuggling, and occasionally walking on my sweaty face in the middle of the night without warning. If you have pets of your own, you know how intuitive they are when we humans are under the weather.

I hope this article finds you all happy, healthy, and optimistic. Until next time, stay safe and thanks for reading.

Happy trails,

Andy