Don't let the fear of unfamiliar terrain keep you from moving forward.
Recently we went on a family vacation to the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina (which is just what this Florida girl needed, by the way). I was constantly amazed by the rich topography wherever we explored - the looming mountains and the deep carved valleys were a wonder to me. It's easy to forget that the world isn't just one giant flat tourist trap (jk Florida, I love you).
On one of our nature walks, my very sure-footed E comedically resembled his former, just-learning-to-walk self as he navigated unfamiliar terrain. This boy - who spends most of his days running around confidently on leveled ground - was taking his time, examining the earth below him carefully, climbing over logs, and even took a tumble or two.
As I studied him, it made me think. Sometimes we get comfortable in the current season of life we’re in. We run around our familiar terrain with confidence, barely taking notice of the ground below us.
And then the ground shifts.
Maybe we’ve leveled up, or maybe our circumstances change and take us down a different path. Whatever the reason, we need to adapt to new terrain. We can either let this frustrate us (𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘢𝘮 𝘐 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘺? 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘐 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦?), or we can take the challenge head-on just like a toddler would, learning and growing through the struggle.
I honestly believe that we all have at least one life lesson that we will never master completely. An idea or trait that we will need to relearn and continue to improve on for the rest of our lives. A "thorn in your side", if you will.
For me, it is this. I will always be afraid of the unknown. I will always feel trepidation. I don't think I will ever step boldly into any big scenario or situation without a pit in my stomach, overthinking it, questioning all the details obsessively, doubting myself.
But one thing I should give myself credit for is this: at the very least I show up. And I try to show up hard, even if it's doubtfully. And if I deem the scenario worth moving forward with, I do just that. Move forward. Often slowly, carefully... but forward, always.
Friends, don’t let the fear of unfamiliar terrain hold you back from moving forward. To move forward, even with legs shaking and doubt in your heart, is true boldness.
