Many social scientific studies confirm that we often remember events that result in negative emotional responses more so than recollections of the good times. It is human nature to point out the flaw before the beauty and so today, while experiencing a bit of adversity, we are doing our best to find ways to reflect on the beauty despite the flaws.
As you may have guessed from the introduction, today did not go according to plan in terms of logistics. Could this day have been executed more efficiently? Of course…but can’t every day? Without taking the extra five minutes to check the status of Route 14 W through Yellowstone National Park, we found ourselves in 80 miles of debt...backtracking to square one because the National Park was in fact closed (we suppose our stubbornness got to us). This would have been okay had we had planned to drive all day but since our mental mindset did not align with what ended up happening, we completely forgot to revel in one of the most beautiful drives thus far. Along with the Yellowstone mishap (which introduced an additional 4 hour drive), we shorted out our left brake light, had to evacuate Rhonda due to a carbon monoxide alert (don’t worry family, all is well), and almost ran out of gas 30 miles outside of Shoshoni, WY (population 664).
For most of the afternoon and into the evening, we were paralyzed with frustration and completely shut out all the amazing events that occurred before the unplanned backtracking incident. Thus, we are going to do our best to “backtrack” to the good, reflecting upon all the positives that today did in fact bring.
1. We may have inspired some high school girls to start a “selfless stranger” project on their own.
As you may have guessed from the introduction, today did not go according to plan in terms of logistics. Could this day have been executed more efficiently? Of course…but can’t every day? Without taking the extra five minutes to check the status of Route 14 W through Yellowstone National Park, we found ourselves in 80 miles of debt...backtracking to square one because the National Park was in fact closed (we suppose our stubbornness got to us). This would have been okay had we had planned to drive all day but since our mental mindset did not align with what ended up happening, we completely forgot to revel in one of the most beautiful drives thus far. Along with the Yellowstone mishap (which introduced an additional 4 hour drive), we shorted out our left brake light, had to evacuate Rhonda due to a carbon monoxide alert (don’t worry family, all is well), and almost ran out of gas 30 miles outside of Shoshoni, WY (population 664).
For most of the afternoon and into the evening, we were paralyzed with frustration and completely shut out all the amazing events that occurred before the unplanned backtracking incident. Thus, we are going to do our best to “backtrack” to the good, reflecting upon all the positives that today did in fact bring.
1. We may have inspired some high school girls to start a “selfless stranger” project on their own.
postgraditude received this e-mail message (below) from one of the gals we met at the coffee shop
2. Someone got a free car wash.
3. The “if you believe it, you can achieve it” family from Norway, MI (see post titled "crossing borders”) received our letter of encouragement and we were recognized in their local newspaper.
this is the facebook message postgraditude received from Seth, one of the family members
postgraditude received this e-mail from Mari at Norway News regarding the note placed in the mailbox
4. Frankie J and Rhonda are squeaky clean after toughing over 2,000 miles in rain, snow & mud.
5. We had unbelievably enriching encounters with three wonderful employees at MoJoes coffee in Cody, Wyoming.
6. Due to our attempts to anonymously “pay it forward,” a stranger at Wal-Mart had to pay $20 less on her purchase total.
So, may you too try to look past the unplanned incidences of today and backtrack to find the good the did occur. Today, we find graditude in honest dialogue over hazelnut coffee, snapping a picture of the official Yellowstone National park sign before turning around, and learning that not all roads lead to the expected destination.
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