In your lowest moments, you find yourself again.
We enjoyed a cave exploration excursion during our March Break family trip to Mexico.
Our first activity was to rappel down 7 storeys into a small cave.
T went first. As he was lowered by the guide, down a small hole that quickly opened widely, he said to us with a smirk, "Bye bye, stinky daddies." 😆
T was such a trooper. Look at him. No fear. 🤗
We were lowered to a shallow wet cave.
Wearing headlights, we looked around and illuminated the beauty of the mineral formations.
We took a short hike out of the cake then enjoyed a bike ride to the next activity.
It was heartwarming to see T zip through the forest with confidence, as it was only last summer that he decided to take off his training wheels.
The guide called him "Rocketman" as he was the leader of our pack.
The second activity was the showstopper, an hour-long hike through a wet cave with a 1km long underground river.
We put on wetsuits and lifejackets.
T had the sweetest excited smile as we entered the caves through wooden stairs.
The caves were pitch dark, only illuminated by our headlights.
The underground river was a treat to explore; in many moments, the water went up to my shoulders. T had to swim for a chunk of the hike.
When we were deep inside the caves, the guide asked us - we were with a family of 6 from Utah and a local couple - to turn off our headlights.
We sat in the dark, water up to our chests, and enjoyed the silence for several minutes.
What an unforgettable experience.
T got cranky near the end of the river tour, as he complained of being cold.
The guide helped turn his frown upside down at the third and last activity.
After changing into dry clothes, we did a short hike through a dry cave (above).
T got his wish and saw a small colony of bats the guide intentionally searched for to cheer him up.
What a sweet moment. 🙏🦇
This experience inspired reflections about how we navigate our lowest moments.
As a parent of a wonderful boy with FASD, I often find myself feeling low - often shortlived.
As someone who lost three significant people in the last year - my sister then a close friend then my mom - I know I'm still navigating grief.
But here's what I know to be true:
You have to reach the bottom to find your footing.
Shine light into darkness to find life and beauty.
Sit in dark stillness and find restoration.
Life can harden us. But like mineral deposits in a cave, they are a beautiful reminder of growth.
In darkness, keep moving through the caverns and you will find your way back to surface again.
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