“Delays and detours to my limited vision are actually the perfect path unfolding to a higher eye.” —Julia Cameron
I came across that epigraph earlier this week in a funny little book called Blessings, by Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way. While I liked it enough to post it to my Twitter feed, little did I know how germane it would be to the rest of my week.
Thursday morning, my husband, Wes, and I headed to the Raleigh-Durham airport for a flight to Colorado Springs, where I was to present on yoga for triathletes at the USA Triathlon biannual coaching conference, Art and Science. We parked, checked our bags, went through security, bought a coffee, hung out at the gate, watched our plane come in . . . and learned that the flight to Dallas was cancelled because of snow at DFW. After a scramble to rebook, we found an incredibly patient, good-humored gate agent (kudos to you, Sean Murphy!) who pulled some strings and got us on a flight early Friday morning. But by Thursday evening, as the snow piled up in Texas, those flights had been cancelled, too. With snow across the Eastern Seaboard leading to massive rebookings and demand for the few flights that were going at all, there was literally no way to get to Colorado in time for my Saturday afternoon presentation.
It was frustrating, naturally, not only for the missed work opportunity, but for the back-and-forth with my wonderful in-laws (come over to babysit; no, don’t; no, do!). After some poking around (Valentine’s Day had filled most local hotels), we found a room at the Fearrington House just south of Chapel Hill, where we enjoyed afternoon tea, a wonderful dinner, a cozy featherbed, and a leisurely morning with breakfast by the fire. Best of all, it snowed as we were dining Friday night! The time out with Wes was just what I needed in the midst of this very exciting, full, travel-packed 2010. I didn’t bring my computer; I did get to read a novel for 90 uninterrupted minutes while Wes napped at my side. And we had time at home to get things done we’d never have accomplished otherwise.
Next time circumstances frustrate you, consider that your detour may reroute you to just the right place.