After driving up 7,000 feet on a winding road, my family and I reached a quaint cabin by a drying lake. It was relieving to spend two nights in the warm, wooden structure after going backpacking earlier that same week. It was a lovely trip, so much so I desperately wanted to stay, surrounded by the shockingly chill air.
The Rising of the Day
In between the evening, we arrived and the morning we left was a full day spent in the elevated town. My itinerary was created as the day progressed and it was nice having no limits when discovering things to do. Waking up at 8, I proceeded with a morning routine that I had been neglecting. The combination of stretching and folk music as the early sun gleams through the cold is quite appealing. Later that morning we drove to a crepe and coffee shop. I sipped a honey latte with lavender whipped cream and it was really good; I want to make it myself though I know it won’t turn out the same.
Exploration and Tranquility
Breakfast was followed by a short bike ride to explore the lake and the neighborhood. There were many small piers that supposedly were meant to lead into the lake, though the soil below was parched and the water dozens of feet away.
I spent the rest of the day reading, writing, and watching movies before going outside and watching the sunset behind the frosted green mountains. The clouds were golden and the lake was reflective. The pathway was empty except for the fallen decayed leaves that gleamed orange under the dark sky.
Simple Mindfulness
I’m not exactly sure why, but I felt very mindful throughout the trip. Everything I normally did suddenly felt special, like wearing a piece of clothing, the sound of shoes on the rocky ground, even warming up leftovers in the microwave for lunch. Over the past week, I have still felt similarly, and it has been making my days so wonderful. It sounds cliche, but everything is better when my expectations aren’t driven by what has or will happen and rather they sit in the present moment.
