Commentary by Sally Bassett
As I zip-lined through the rainforest in Costa Rica recently, it reminded me a lot like analogies in life. There is a sense of exhilaration when we are young and building a career and/or growing a family. Life flies by as we catch glimpses of the world around us.
Like life, zip-lining brings interesting experiences along the way. Howler monkeys roaring like lions resemble the distractions (good or bad) that can often happen. It is also a reminder that certain people just don’t like it when you enter their territory. A sloth in the middle of a cable makes you slow down like challenges often do. Sometimes you realize you have to give full steam ahead to get to the “other side” or learn to slow down so you don’t crash.
Halfway through the jungle excursion, there was a Tarzan swing. Like the zip-lining, it was perfectly safe. It’s just taking that step off the platform into the air that always gets me. Many times in life it’s just the first decision of stepping out of your comfort zone that real growth and joy occurs.
It is not always zipping platform to platform that occurs while in the rainforest. Like life, there were hills to climb and valleys to descend. When either get tough you need to remind yourself that there will be an end. Everything platforms out with time.
Later, when I was back at my bungalow in the jungle and laying in a hammock overlooking the Caribbean, I got to enjoy another side of life—slowing down and viewing things more mindfully. It was a delight to watch the colorful Toucan birds fly between the trees and blue morpho butterflies flitter by. And the sounds in the rainforest are indescribable. All are wonderful memories to carry with me until I return.
Life is good—the busy times and the quiet moments together just makes it more balanced. Until next time …
Namaste!
