“Wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure,” Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist.
I have read The Alchemist before, but somehow, hearing the words spoken broke me open. I was on a treadmill listening to the audiobook when I heard Coelho’s “real” words. Yet I remembered them as “The place you fall to your knees and pour forth tears of gratitude, this is the place that holds your treasure.” Those were not his words, yet they are the words that lodged themselves in my soul. I sobbed tears of relief, gratitude, joy and fear.
I stopped hiking for many reasons, most of which involve fear. What if my hip gives out and I can’t get back to my car? What if I encounter violence? What if my connection with Nature is gone? What if I don’t have anything left to say?
But this morning the sun was shining, and I know places where I fall to my knees and pour forth tears of gratitude, lol, so I found a place to hike.
While there, a group of riders passed me on horseback. The way they were dressed made them stand out. The language they spoke made them stand out. Yet, half a dozen strong they rode. They didn’t hide who they are, and I couldn’t help but wonder if it was an act of bravery or if they actually felt safe. Our reasons for feeling unsafe would be extremely different, and I felt silly for my fears.
I was really happy to share the trail with them. I am confident they understood that. A connection was created for me, and I feel braver for having crossed paths with them. It would be funny if they wondered what the gray-haired woman was doing out there alone. What if they thought I was sort of brave?
What if we all saw bravery in one another, even in the simplest of accomplishments?
Though today wasn’t a simple accomplishment, it was huge for me. I rediscovered and reclaimed my treasure.