Perspective is — Everything
Docking in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, I peered out at the torrential downpour. Gusty wind blew rain in every direction. A lone guitarist huddled in a wooden crate, crooning “Sloop John B” to welcome us. The zip-line operator canceled our tour, and all I wanted to do was crawl back into bed with a hot toddy and the book I’d brought.
My husband wouldn’t hear of it, having already revised our plans to hike along the river. And so, I retrieved every piece of waterproof gear I’d thought to pack and trudged toward the ship’s gangplank. As we neared, commotion ensued. We watched an elderly gentleman being hoisted onto a stretcher and whisked away via ambulance.
I ventured into Mother Nature’s wrath, swirling air immediately snapping my umbrella inside-out. I slipped on waterlogged tree roots, my new shoes squished, and I worried that the camera in our drenched backpack was being destroyed. But, oh how vibrant the autumn foliage adorning the forest trail appeared dripping wet, and how serendipitous that a cluster of trees should materialize just as the heavens unleashed buckets, and how satisfying to hear an abundant river gush…
Five miles later, my umbrella had been reduced to metal carnage, mud clung to my backside, and water dripped from my eyelashes — but I couldn’t stop smiling. Accustomed to my prissiness, my husband thanked me for maintaining such a chipper attitude. I just shook my head and said, “I bet that gentleman would give a million bucks to be hiking in the rain right now.”
LUGGAGE Lady 
“There are no facts, only interpretations.”
Amen! Kind of like beer 😉 (I read your intriguing profile), or wine, or art, or food, or people — or life…Thank you for your visit, Mihran!!!
your approach to topics and post is a material to have your own television show or a book. I personally adore your page:)
Love this story!
Thank you, Kimberly. Happy Saturday!!
Oh. My. Goodness!!! I LOVE this! I LOVE YOU! Honestly, LL, you get me every single time: get me as inspire, comfort, energize, stimulate, and make me joyful and grateful. Your luminous perspective is a wonderful model for all of us. So very pleased for you, and your lovely husband, that you braved the elements and were rewarded in spades. Such a gorgeous photo! And as a fellow “priss,” I laughed out loud at the image that you paint of your drenched and muddied self–been there, and it is the best. Thank you so much for this gift on a grey and chilly morning…that so many would give anything to be here enjoying. Love to you, LL…
Talk about a perspective enhancer — YOU light up my life, Dear Chloe!!!! Your blissful spirit and energetic support play a big part in keeping my dreams aglow!! Thank you! Hugs and Love to you always. 💞
A wonderful story Shauna. Congrats on diving deep into a rainy day adventure and more importantly, reminding us the power of perspective and what we have to be grateful for. blessings, Brad
You would have been right there with us, Brad — maybe even on your bike!! Thank you for offering a plethora of your own fabulous perspective…
I have that exact same reaction every time an ambulance rushes by, sirens on. And give a silent prayer for the poor person being whisked away. I am just about to head out for an early morning run on a cool cloudy day with threatening rain. And thanks to you I will enjoy the fact that I can do that insteadof whining ffor my bed. 🙂
Thank you for sharing your beautiful thoughts, Chia! By the way, we only had a half day to walk around old town, but we loved Montreal!!
Oh, so glad you liked old Montreal. It’s quite lovely there in good weather. And I love visiting all the art galleries!
Chloé always find the right words: “your luminous perspective is a wonderful model for all of us”. And by the way, thanks for your visit & many “likes” 🙂
Thank you, Frédéric! Yes, I delight in your varied and vastly creative works and know that I need to return to catch up with more that I’ve missed. You are an amazingly talented/productive writer!
Exchanging worry for experience: Beautiful! And to your title, Shauna, I would respectfully suggest… Perspective when coupled with attitude is everything. 🙂 Both of yours were wonderfully positive.
I so appreciate your kind words and insight, Eric! Ironically, my initial title was: “Perspective’s Attitude-Adjusting Power.” But when I shared this with my husband he gave me the male equivalent of an eye-roll and said, “That’s redundant. If a person keeps things in perspective, the right attitude is a given.” And so, I edited… 🙂
Good for you. A man loves it when his woman goes on an adventure with him. It’s the ultimate bonding time.
Sometimes when I’m about to grumble about housework, I remember there are people in hospital beds that would give anything to be able to wash a sink of dishes again. I love your reminder about keeping things in perspective.
Blessings ~ Wendy ❀
Life is all so relative. Whenever I start to get mopey and whiny, I look around and see that someone is always suffering/struggling more. Thank you for the blessing of your visit, Dear Wendy!
Ah! I love this kind of weather, I have always had an affinity for storms – especially autumn storms. Lovely post. : )
Even more lovely to have you drop by…Thank you, Fredrik!!
Autumn can be wet or dry, calm or stormy but it can’t be dull or dreary. It should surprise us that we feel most like dancing in leaves not rain. I have decided it’s the season that most signifies and dignifies my life. All other seasons pale by comparison. I enjoyed reading this snippet of a travel experience. I felt like I was right there with you. Your writing reminds me of Betty Smith’s novels.
I was an Autumn baby and cannot agree with your sentiments more!! Has always and forever been my favorite season!! I very much appreciate you and your kind visit!
What a great story! I agree…perspective is everything, determines how we see things and that in turn influences how we experience life. Rain or shine!
Oh how I love the magical perspective you bring us through your skillfully used lens. Welcome home!!
Beautiful perspective with the pink flower in the front! I love your blog!
Aww, thank you MichelleMarie! I sometime get a cramp in my finger I like so many of your beautiful photos/artwork/poems. 😉 I’m coming over for a visit right now… xoxo
Bless your heart! You are so kind! Your blog is beautiful! You could wrote a book but you blog is like a travel blog already! I love it! From one that never goes anywhere its fun to se where people travel! 😄💗
Perspective IS everything!!! Thank you! I needed this message today!
Such a pleasure to see your gorgeous face here… Thank you!!
Reblogged this on IdealisticRebel's Daily View of Favorites.
Thank you for the honor of this reblog! Your background is intriguing and amazing — so happy to have found YOU, Barbara!!
Come on, you don’t need an umbrella, walk in the rain, it is uplifting – love it. As they say, some people walk in the rain, others just get wet! Take care…Baz 😉
Ha Ha! Some of us aren’t rugged outdoorsmen like you, Baz –BUT I so agree with your sentiments, and I certainly don’t want to be a “wet noodle!” Think I’ll take a dip in the frigid Bay round about now… 😉 xo