Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

I was following someone with Ontario license plates through the Jasper National Park today. I abruptly had to jam on the brakes as my ‘lead car’ stopped to pull out their camera to take a picture or two of the mountain goats that were crossing the highway. At first I was a little bit upset but then chuckled as I realized that this occurrence doesn’t happen for these folks on a regular basis.

I forget that for the thirtieth time this summer, I am forced to trek through the majestic Rockies in order to get to my final destination. I seem to have forgotten the splendor that these large tectonic plates provide to each person. I am unfazed by the true beauty that these ‘ladies’ possess.

I remember driving through the Rockies for the first time; my breath was literally taken away. I couldn’t believe the sheer size of the mountains and that there was so much beauty just waiting to be discovered. I contemplated how long they’d be there and just what had to happen to make them the size that they are. I wonder about all of the wildlife that exists deep in the forest of trees that grow as cover for the mountains. I wondered if dinosaurs were still around, how they would compare in size. Would it just be a quick little jaunt for a T-Rex? Would the valleys be comparable to a brontosaurus? I think at this point I am more in awe of the size of these things and try to find some sort of comparison so that I can understand just how large these things are.

I continue to drive and pass by a lake or two; I try to think of a name for the deep but transparent colour of green that is sitting at the base of the mountain waiting for a bird to make its nest here. It’s not quite emerald, but it’s not hunter green either…I call it ‘Mountain’ green. Because there is no other colour like it and how can you describe something so beautiful to someone who’s never seen it before.

As I keep actually looking at the mountains and all their majesty I start to think that maybe that tourist was right after all and we shouldn’t take for granted the beauty that the mountains hold. Instead of grumbling about the animals crossing the highway and adding another 15 minutes to our trip; we should be taking in all that the mountains have to offer. After all not everyone gets to see such a beautiful sight on an eight hour journey multiple times a year.

Freedom?

Today I watched my cousin graduate high school; I watched her walk across the stage and accept her diploma. All the while she was smiling and giddy; just like any graduate should be. I remember ‘back in the day’ when I myself walked across a very similar stage to accept my high school diploma. I remember the feeling of ‘being done’, not having to worry about taking another class or getting up early. I could sleep in and not have to follow anyone else’s’ rules. Honestly I didn’t know where to begin and it was all that I could do to get started in ‘The Real World.’ I could see that same look on her face; all of the anticipation that life has to offer.

I didn’t want to burst her bubble and let her know that ‘The Real World’ isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. We think of all of the things that we can do now that we don’t have anyone to answer to anyone anymore. We think we are actually ‘Free’; oh sure we’re free from having to get up in the mornings. We’re free from having to hand in assignments; we’re free from explaining why we have so many tardiness’s. But really we have to think about where we are going to go now in life…that is a much bigger responsibility than just going to school.

For some people this comes naturally as they have always wanted to be something, then it’s easy just head to school for ‘said’ knowledge. But for others this doesn’t come as naturally, they may struggle until they find something that interests them. Either way this requires a lot of work, not only in school but in life as well. Then we come to realize that all that ‘found freedom’ really isn’t freedom at all and that being in school wasn’t so bad. We realize that in order to get things, it’s up to me to get them. I really don’t have the ‘freedom’ to just ignore something I have to address it.

As time goes on the real ‘freedom’ that we seek is to know that we’re happy in our lives and happy in our jobs and knowing that I can make a decision regarding anything in my life without having to be told. That is the true ‘freedom’ that we seek…

So for now, I will stand here and clap for her remembering that I too had that giddy face and really didn’t know what the world had in store for me. I hope that she finds her freedom before too long and can be standing in the same spot that I’m in 15 years from now watching her cousin graduate high school.