wilderness

I recently wrote about a hike I have been taking every morning for several months. Part of my ritual involves taking a picture of the sunrise and sending it to my wife when I get to the top of the ridge. This morning I started thinking about the images I share with her and how they relate to my direct experience. The top photo on the split image shown here is a typical shot I might share with my wife. However, most of the time during the hike my attention is focused on the trail, shown below.  The trail is uneven and rocky and if you don’t pay close attention you can end up tripping, perhaps falling on the rocks, or worse, mounting a cactus. Even though I am surrounded by dramatic, awe-inspiring vistas, I conservatively estimate that 85% of my attention needs to be focused on the trail itself. Isn’t that like life? If we want to move forward, we need to pay attention to our next step and what lies right in front of us.

Interestingly, both these images were taken from the exact same location. The camera was simply pointed in a different direction — focused on a different thing. Most would prefer seeing the upper photo, which is why I shared that image with others. However, the lower image admittedly has its intriguing qualities, too, and in a very different way is beautiful.  As a believer in the power of thoughtful routines or atomic habits, I enjoy and appreciate the everyday — the view of the trail. Regardless, if all I did was look down at the trail, I might as well be hiking in a parking lot or around my suburban neighborhood — this would save a bit of gas and time. Nevertheless, the top image is what keeps me coming back to this hike morning after morning. Like life, we occasionally need to stop focusing on our next step and enjoy the view. To consider the big picture, the meta narrative that makes our work and daily grind meaningful, rewarding and beautiful.