Honduras is beautiful.
Everything you would expect from the Caribbean: lovely sandy beaches, gorgeous sunsets, kind and genuine people. For the short four days spent there, I was able to enjoy zip-lining (the forward, backward and upside-down varieties), snorkeling (with some amazingly colorful fish whose names I will probably never learn), dolphin encounters (with two rather naughty dolphin sisters), and hiking (on the steep hills of Roatan where you get the calf workout of the stars). But this trip meant so much more.
I have always been a great follower. The baby in the family. The adaptable survivor who is able to blend right in with the circumstances, the country, the relationship. Almost chameleon-like. But with old(er) age, a few grey hairs and some smiling lines, something far more valuable came along - the acquired confidence to start carving my own path without the comfort of following in someone else's footsteps.
Honduras was a symbolic trip for me. I had dreamed of visiting the Caribbean most of my life. And I somehow always imagined someone would take me there while I comfortably followed. But a little while ago I had an epiphany - I can be my own path-carver and make my own dreams come true (as Incubus put it so nicely, I was ready to take the wheel and drive...). And that I did (while also dragging my oh-too-willing significant other with me :). And this newly found freedom is far more empowering/intoxicating than I ever imagined! Wonder where it will take me next?
Happy almost Friday, everyone!
A few months back, a co-worker of mine convinced me to join my company's Spartan Race team. He didn't talk it up much: he mentioned it's a long-ish run with a few fun obstacles. You know, no big deal. Something someone who runs as much as me should complete more than easily (read, you don't really need to train for it). Ha ha ha.