Positive Mental Attitude

The ol’ P.M.A. is crucial for extended trips, living in a van and keeping the psyche high. I think that it’s probably a useful exercise even in the real world to try and find the best of sub-prime situations so as to prevent a downward spiral or that gloomy funk that it’s easy to get into. To be able to smile and laugh in the face of adversity and suffering feels quite delightful, at least in my experience. To do so requires on to embrace the situation completely and accept it for what it is rather than what you would prefer it to be. Sure everyone would like it to be 70 and sunny with butterflies and a soft breeze but, as my friend Jason said, “Rain is necessary for healthy plants, whoever says the weather is crappy is a spoiled brat who wants sunny weather 365 days a year.”  As I’ve said a million times before despite the constant inconveniences, life always works out perfectly in the end. I was inspired by a student last year after an off hand comment to try and be (or at least appear) comfortable and at ease in every possible situation that I can. To do so I have found requires a touch of P.M.A., open mindedness and flexibility.

Just yesterday I was perusing the Rock Warriors Way and stumbled across a chapter talking about climbing and the prime mindsets to be in while climbing in order to get to the tippy top in the best form possible. In this chapter there was a bunch of zen quotes and talk of approaching the climbs with minimal expectations and accepting the journey for what it is and not what you’d like it to be or expect it to be like. And I thought dang, that’s what I was writing for P.M.A., turns out there are no more original thoughts but how I get to say ‘hey look this is published and it says more or less the same things I’m saying so it must be legit.’ So good luck with the rest of your day, I’m sure you’ll be well rested post blog nap and ready to accept the good and the bad.

Heck all sorts of things can and will go wrong beyond the weather. Cars break down, unexpected bills pop up, injuries occur etc. Basically, what I said before still applies, perhaps these things will provide time to meet new folks, explore a new area, write a free guide book, give you time for self-reflection. I suppose that this is is probably just reiterating all those old proverbs and stuff about reaping what you sow and doors closing and opening and such so I’m sure little of this is new but it’s good to think about.