Our family walking in the Alps in Grindelwald.

*Climb Every Mountain from The Sound of Music sung by Kathy King

Positive Pensées

Kathy King

The Gift of Winding Roads

“Life is like a winding road and every path is different.  Follow your path, strive for happiness and embrace every bend along the way.”

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A winding road, a beautiful day weaving inside and out just enjoying your day.

The winding, the twists, the turns and the curves all are part of making it to your destination.

Sometimes there is a map and you know the way.

Other times there is no map and you must find your way.

There might be a fork in the road that you may choose to take. 

That is all part of the trip to help you find your peaceful place. 

Take in the scenery, bask in the sun, let the wind caress you and even have a little fun.

Life is much like a winding road, the path is not always straight. 

Take in the beauty, take in the loops and arches while you find your way. 

Embrace and learn, discover something new. 

Wind, bend and listen, these roads can teach and change you

Have you ever been on a winding road in the mountains?  On a beautiful day the scenery is glorious.  Whether the season is spring, winter, fall, or summer nature affords us stunning cliffs with beautiful vistas to behold.  Recently my husband and I went to visit our twin boys who attend college in the Appalachian mountains.  As you drive around the bend of one particularly steep road, there is a crest on top of the hill, at that crest you have panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  It is genuinely breathtaking.  The same can be said of the Alps in Switzerland.  To see them in person is nothing short of awe inspiring.  Bach should be played as you ride up the mountain to see the top.  On the tops of the mountains in Switzerland (and other European countries), there is usually a biergarten where you can take in the views all around you.  A little funny story; my husband, my kids and myself decided to take a bus tour through the Alps in Switzerland.  This bus was a charter bus that held quite a few people.  As we started our journey from Zuerich the roads were pretty straight, Zuerich is in the “foothills'' of the Alps.  As our journey continued on the roads got much steeper and more winding.  This bus driver was driving so fast!  It felt as if we were on a roller coaster as he zig zagged in and out of the winding road to get to Grindelwald.  The people on the bus were gasping, my kids were looking at me like, “Why did we do this?” When we would come to a particularly sharp curve the bus would honk his horn in a warning to other cars with the message, “Get out of the way!  I am coming through.”  The situation was so scary and comical that I started raising my hands in the air as if I was on a roller coaster.  After doing this my kids calmed down because they realized, we have to find some levity in this situation.  After our twisty turny ride, we made it to the beautiful mountain town of Grindelwald.  The views!  Wow, the mountain tops were covered with snow (and it was July!).  The air smelled of mountain streams and edelweiss.  The sight was truly stunning.  Don’t you think that life is much like those winding roads?  They may be quite daunting with an element of uncertainty.  There could indeed be moments of levity and laughter.  Terror might make an appearance.  Some laughter and joy may be all along the way to reaching your destination.  There will be hard work and you might even have to honk your horn and politely ask someone to move so that you may pass because their journey is different than yours. When you make it to the top, pause and take a look at the breathtaking victory that you have achieved.  At first that hill may be small and that is okay.  The point is that you are still climbing, still making the effort to be better each day.  During our visit to our son's college we decided to walk back to our car rather than taking the shuttle to where we parked.  My sons looked at my husband and myself with the question, “Are you sure you want to do this, you old fogies?!” After all, we are ancient according to our kids, right?  We both piped up with a resounding, “Yes!” As we started our walk, neither my husband nor myself had realized just how many steep hills were on the campus.  Our sons are used to the hike as they attend college and walk to many of their classes.  We huffed, we puffed, there were a lot of steep steps to climb but we made it to the top.  Once there, we turned around and took in the gorgeous view.  The work was worth it.  Take those winding roads of life, climb the steep hills and mountains and bring yourself a better sense of peace each day.  Life is much better when we keep learning and pursuing those winding roads.