As much as we might poke fun at our default conversational topic, The Weather, it’s a logical “Go To”. We live in a natural world and as a friend recently suggested, it’s almost instinctual to check the daily temperatures. With climate change creating havoc around the world, we’re also much more aware of the weather’s impact. The Weather is an easy conversational topic for engaging with strangers or those we know well. Everyone relates to it in some way!
Still it can feel mundane sometimes, banal even to constantly remark on the daily hot temperatures or incessant afternoon thunderstorms. Don’t we have anything else to talk about? Maybe not! Weather clearly affects our experiences. We’re challenged to work with whatever the elements present and adjust accordingly. Walking through a sculpture garden on a rainy day in Minnesota, for example, feels completely different than if the sun is shining. Grab the large umbrella and rain jacket and off we go, resigning ourselves that sun is not to be had!
Weather is a constant reminder that we’re not totally in control! We might
spend months imagining the warm beaches of Greece, our Honeymoon destination, only to be disappointed by windy conditions and afternoon storms. Of course, when we travel we have expectations. Clinging too tightly to how an experience should be, however, leads to trouble, especially when the skies open up and a deluge follows!

So how do we balance our hearts’ desires and or “Must Do’s” with how reality might unfold?
“Wait and See”
When visiting MN lately our hosts suggested “let’s just see what the weather is like when we wake up, how we feel and then decide”*. Nothing was planned per se. We had some ideas of how we might spend our day but we’d “wait and see”. So refreshing. So wonderful not to outline plans down to the minute. Freedom to choose. Check in with the weather and, more importantly, ourselves.
In the early morning hours, thunder echoed across the sky. Loud recurring “Booms” were our sleeping companion followed by the sound of pitter patter against the window panes. We stayed in bed a little longer comfortable to rest some more, knowing that our walk through the sculpture garden would either be for another day or be delayed. The sky was very gray yet the day still held so much promise. We were with dear friends in a warm lovely house, snuggled under the covers, resting and content. Our expectation was tied to remaining flexible. We were most focused on our time together versus what we wanted to explore in a city dear to us, a place where our first child was born.
“Choices”
Our friends proposed multiple ideas about what we might do with our day. The list was wonderfully long, with three main suggestions. We weren’t trapped by only one idea. In certain places, like Paris, we want to visit the tourist sites, such as the Eiffel Tower. Even if yearning for a “Top Five” experience, it’s best not to fixate on only one idea. Yes, buy tickets for the popular places; yet stay open to options. There are always many possibilities for when and how to experience a place. Build the agenda with a few ideas and remain flexible.
Flexibility
How can we not have an agenda when traveling, perhaps actualizing dreams we’ve had about a place for a long time? Often we’re traveling with others. Each traveler has expectations around what they want to see and do. It’s important to understand each others’ wishes (ask them) and remain flexible around plans. We want to celebrate and revel in our each other’s excitement about a destination. That’s the joy!

*Thank you Kris and Jim Sanford!