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So I recently went on vacation and on our trip my husband, stepdaughter and I faced some unexpected challenges.
It started when we took a ferry from the Greek island of Naxos to Mykonos.
On the ferry over, we encountered an absurd scene of mass seasickness.
When we finally got off the boat, shaken and stirred, I thought about having to take another boat to our final destination, the peaceful island of Samos.
But I insisted that we stay in Mykonos for the night, as I couldn't imagine getting on another boat until my lingering seasickness subsided.
What I didn't know was just how popular, loud, and expensive Mykonos was going to be.
We spent hours trying to find an available taxi and a hotel.
While we were trying to figure out all of these logistics, we were sorting out two major fraudulent charges on my account.
And it was at this moment that I was grateful to have my mindfulness practice.
I thought things rarely turn out the way we expect them to.
And then I chose to surrender and just laugh at it all.
Mindfulness offers so much in moments like these.
We can call on our resilience and flexibility when we need it the most.
We're able to rebound from the difficult emotions and thoughts that arise from these unexpected setbacks and then flexibly choose how we want to respond to them.
By saying yes to what's happening, We're able to be with it just as it is, embrace it and then find a way to have some fun with it.
One way to do this is by turning toward what we're grateful for.
When you feel unsettled by something that hasn't gone as planned, ask yourself what am I grateful for in this moment?
It could be something as simple as a beautiful flower, a cup of coffee or having loved ones by your side.
For me, I was just grateful for the good company.
I had two companions who also found humor in our experiences.
I also had the good weather, good food, and the novelty of this experience.
We decided that the motto of our trip so far was, it's not fun, but it's funny.
And we knew we'd have some entertaining stories to share and laughs to be had throughout our time together.
One of our last experiences in Mykonos was staying in a rundown Airbnb that happened to be next to the island's busiest and loudest outdoor nightclubs.
We tried to get some sleep, but the music was just too loud and really too good.
So we got up, we went outside, and we danced.
And that's another tip for saying yes to what's happening.
Just let go of expectations.
Letting go of expectations is talked about a lot in mindfulness.
And when we lean into the idea that the only thing we can control are our responses to the world, it can be really freeing.
Instead of resisting, we can see how to make what's happening work for us.
If the music's too loud, then dance.
If you have to work on a Saturday, treat yourself to lunch with a colleague.
Even if your plans fall through, you can always find ways to bring a little joy into your life and make that bad situation a little bit better.
This experience dancing in Mykonos set the tone for the rest of our trip.
We decided that we would greet the unexpected with a willingness to work with it and find some joy and some playfulness in our time together.
Were there moments when my stepdaughter was spending way too much time on her phone?
Definitely.
And was my husband occasionally super stressed out by schoolwork?
Yes.
But in the end, we looked for ways to stay present.
And in each moment, fusing our precious time together with humor and fun.
And of course, life will throw you unexpected obstacles that are more difficult than a vacation gone awry.
And it may not be the right time to try and find joy.
But thinking about ways to make the most out of a tough situation often leads to a better experience than you thought was even possible.
So that's it for me for today.
I hope you've had some wonderful moments this summer, and I'll see you back here soon.
