Threshold Guardians

The call to adventure was Alaskan salmon fishing. I answered, terrified but eager. Now I walk through the threshold of every new door, everything a new adventure. In new adventures there are opposing forces, both internal and external, that pose as threshold guardians. These guardians enrich the journey, teaching the hero something about the world, and themselves. One of my first obstacles was my plane delaying, the guardian was the ticket lady.

While she was helpful, she was stressed, everyone in the terminal was. Several flights had been delayed and as a result tension seeped from every humans pores. When I finally was able to speak with her, I did everything I could to keep a calm temperament. I realized the situation was rough, she needed no more guff from me. I let her do her business, attempting to help me get to Alaska. While it took close to a hour, I remained calm, feeling the fire from a growing line of angry passengers behind me. I was tempted several times to snap. Not only at the lady, but the impending crowd breathing down my neck, cursing with rage that they were another few hours behind from their busy schedule. The tension was high, and to say I was stressed would not be far from accurate. I'm not blowing my own horn here, because I think there is very little difference between externally  showing anger, and internalizing it. My only victory here was my ability to bottle the pressure.

Finally, the wait was over. I passed the guardians test of patience: I was given a free night stay in a high class hotel and a meal while I waited until the next day for a flight.

In truth, I didn't ever realize this until I was already in the hotel, eating my free food. Traveling alone offers the solace of reflection. It's exciting, but lonely. One of my goals has been to view life more like a story, I have forced myself to look at things differently. So far, less than a day in my new journey, I'm glad I did. Yet I know this little victory only furth opens the door for more obstacles. Some of which, I'm bound to fail. That will be the true test of my meddle. Can I fail with grace, ask for forgiveness, rise again and work harder to pass the test? Writing these questions frightens me. Paralyzed at this thought, I prepare for my next guardian, test and failure