PERSONAL ESSAY
Leaving a Mark to Find My Way
The art of losing sight of your tracks while staying light on your feet
I’ve lost my way from time to time. In life more often than on the trails. It’s usually part of the process. Things happen, and regardless of stress and anxiety, it seems to bring me to the edge of my ability. Nothing else matters at that moment. It’s mindfulness outside of the yoga shala. No music, no calm voice guiding you, and no scheduled time for when the class will be over. And sometimes, it’s an absolute nightmare.
I use my wristwatch. If it’s clear this is all going wrong, I check the time while keeping an eye on the sun before considering my options. Continue forward? Find my way back? Or even eat something to get my head straight. The latter has proven most efficient on several occasions. Stop, reload, reconsider — then act. Usually, the path you’re looking for is right in front of you, just as in life. You just need a minute of reboot to see it.
There’s a trail going west from the village, across the railroad, and up past the cave house. Halfway you’ll find the old road heading south over the Coll de Sóller and towards Palma. If you get high enough, you’ll eventually come down on the other side of Puig de sa Galera, where the sea meets land like heart meets soul…
