This week was very laid back in comparison to the whirlwind that has been the majority of this trip. And honestly, it was a welcome change to not have every day be crazy. I got a chance to relax, work on a big video project, and spend some time with my host family. That being said, I did get a few solid hikes in, and captured plenty of images that I'm very excited about.
On a less fun note, this entry is gonna be shorter for a few reasons. #1, there just isn't as much interesting stuff to talk about, and #2, I've come down with a nasty head cold and don't have a ton of energy to flush out the details like I usually do. I hope you enjoy reading anyway!
The short version:
This was my second week living in Agordo, and I love it just as much as I did last week. My family is hospitable and friendly beyond measure, and the views never stop being amazing.
I spent most days working in the garden or working on my Iceland video.
Early in the week, I went on a long hike and ended up getting socked in by clouds, but still had fun, and then later, I returned and completed it successfully!
My mental health has been good overall this week! I talked to my family back home quite a bit, and that helps me stay connected, which keeps me from getting too much in my head.
Wednesday:
I spent the morning in the garden and then headed to the mountains for the afternoon to climb San Sebastiano. I hiked for about two hours until I reached a huge basin filled with white rocks and yellow larches, it was extremely surreal, especially because the tall mountains were obscured by clouds about halfway up. Unfortunately, those clouds rolled in and became so thick that I got quite lost and couldn't possibly follow the trail, so it forced me to come back down. But on the hike back down, the light was amazing, and I got some beautiful views despite the clouds. I rode my motor scooter back to town, got some gelato, and relaxed for the evening.
Thursday-Sunday:
I finished my work in the garden, and then the rain rolled in, so for almost three whole days, I had my face buried in my laptop, creating the video from my time in Iceland! Crazy how much time it takes to create just a five minute video. I'm very stoked about the final result.
Monday:
After working on the video for three straight days, and with the weather still rainy, I took the day to relax. Sometimes Netflix binging days are very necessary.
Tuesday:
I went to bed early Monday night, knowing that I was planning to make another attempt at San Sebastiano. I slept horribly. During the night I got run over by that head cold, and it woke me up every 30 minutes at least. When I saw it was getting close to 6:00, the time I planned to get up and start preparing, I figured there was no way I could go. I stepped outside for a minute to get some fresh air, and it felt amazing. I also had a surprising amount of energy, so I decided to go for it. And I'm so glad I did. The sky was clear, the larches were golden, and the mountain views were out of this world.
This afternoon and evening, I've just been relaxing, giving my body a chance to get over this cold, and my knees a chance to recover from the brutal descent of this hike.
Conclusion:
A few topics come to mind this week. The first stems from that hike I went on that ended in clouds and gloom. One detail I failed to mention earlier is that I got off the trail, thinking it was still the trail, and ended up on the side the wrong mountain. My view? Gray. As far as I could see. Which...wasn't far. I had hiked and climbed for hours, for this? It would've been easy to get angry. But instead, I found myself laughing. S**t happens, right? I still had fun exploring, and had a unique experience. Then, on the way down, I still got to see some unbelievable light and views.
If this situation had happened during my time in Iceland, I don't think I would've been able to take it in stride. But through my time on this journey, and my time in Italy especially, I've truly learned what it means to "go with the flow," and be willing to shift expectations, and sometimes release them entirely.
The other takeaway from that hike is that sometimes, even life's setbacks can lead us exactly where we're supposed to go, and expose to amazing things we never could have foreseen.
The second topic is family, friends, and love. Wow, could I sound any more cliche? But hear me out. In my time here, I have seen how these people love each other relentlessly. Friends, family, everyone. I have witnessed this love, and been a recipient of it. They are so kind to each other, and even when arguments happen, by the end of the day, everything is back to normal. These people spread happiness and love everywhere they go. It's something I will certainly do my best to exemplify.
For you this week: A few questions
1) Are you good at releasing or shifting expectations? If not, what can you do to improve?
2) When experiencing setbacks, can you keep an open mind and be willing to accept other outcomes, even if they weren't the ones you were hoping for?
3) Do you love others well? Friends, family, strangers. Doesn't matter. Do you love other people well? If not, what can you do to change that?
Song for this week:
Mumford and Sons - Wild
As always, chase your passions, stay stoked, love first and remember that fulfillment lies on the far side of discomfort.
Until next week,
- Zwiegs
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