For most people, heart wisdom is a voice we must re-learn to tap into: it is not a perspective that usually survives our scientific-reasoning societal upbringing and our natural wiring to use our brains, which are built to keep us safe, especially from lions, tigers or bears.
On and on
My Brain Tells Me Why
I have spent almost my entire life living from my head, completely ignoring my heart and its wisdom. As such, I have lived a majority of my life in fear, without trust or faith in anything or anyone. However, in 2007, I started an (now, looking back) extremely slow journey to recognizing that I have a heart to listen to, too.
This change in perspective has allowed me to mostly view my world from a place of gratitude, love and trust, a place of nonjudgment, beauty, wonder and joy.
Two friends and I decided to attend a hot air balloon festival in Findlay, Ohio. My friends decided a hot air balloon ride was not for them, but, for some reason I cannot explain, I dearly wanted to take a ride.
My head was telling me a lot of logical reasons not to do it: can we afford it?; do you really like heights?; how will you get out of the basket?; what about the time you will be taking away from your friends? On and on, my brain went.
So IN
I Anticipate a Rough Landing
And yet, my heart was calling me to go: sign up; check with your friends; we need to fly; you’ll regret it if you don’t go. My heart promised me that an adventure awaited that would bring me wonder and joy, laughter and peace.
After all these years, I have finally learned to (most of the time) listen to my heart while acknowledging my brain’s concerns, which usually are exaggerated or not true. When I truly listen to my heart, it does not lead me astray; my brain often does.
So, I checked in with my friends, who were excited to have a balloon to chase, and I signed up for a 6:15 a.m. Saturday ride. Julie, whom I met that morning, and I got assigned to Pilot Mike’s balloon. Even the balloon’s name told me I was on the right adventure: So IN.
Before we leave the park where the festival is occurring to find a spot from which to launch, Mike tells Julie and me to anticipate a “rough landing.” He looks at us to confirm that we are still ready for the ride. If I had thought of it then, I would have said, “I’m So IN.” However, my wit sometimes takes a while to percolate to the top – smile.
Basket fears
Can I Get Out?
That trust in my heart and faith in the universe allowed me to not have one iota of concern about the ride. Julie and I got in the chase vehicle, ready to experience the behind-the-scenes adventure.
When we found our launching location, Derek, the chase vehicle driver, asked us to sign waivers because "hot air ballooning is an extreme sport." Wait ... What?! ... I’m participating in an extreme sport?! Me? Huh. Who knew? I’m still So IN!
Other people I have talked to about my experience have said they would never ride in a balloon because of their fear of heights or because it’s too expensive or because of health issues. Me? I’m just worried about getting out of a basket. LOL.
No worries necessary
I Can Crawl Out
In the end, I didn’t have to worry about that though – and, in all honesty, it wasn’t really a worry, but a curiosity of “I wonder what that will look like for me, a person who is not long-legged.”
However, being shorter came in handy: I didn’t get in Mike’s way when he was tossing a bean bag out of the basket onto an “X” marked on the ground, and I found being crouched in the basket as it lay on its side much more comfortable than a taller person would.
When Mike told us that we could get of the basket, all I had to do was crawl out – no climbing or jumping was involved.
My heart knew that the hot air balloon ride was exactly what I needed and that I would be safe during the experience. I learned again that the perspective I choose changes the life I lead and then experience.
Seeing things differently
Riding with an Open Conveyance
Trusting my heart wisdom has been a long time coming, but it's been a beautiful and wonder-filled journey learning how to live with grief, joy, anxiety, peace, anger and love.
Because I have now seen the land from the sky in an open conveyance, I see the cornfields and bean fields differently. I now see them from above even though I’m just driving by in my car. I cannot unsee their beauty and wonder. In the process, my heart has become an open conveyance, too.
Yours from the heart,
Angela Jane