While looking for something particular...

Cara's (Dallas) birthday was yesterday! So the two C/Kara's and I went to dinner and then to another place for dessert. Cara (Dallas) has been wanting to try this new Italian restaurant that's smack in the middle of our neighborhood...totally cute...family style, really cozy and quaint. So we went...and it was awesome! Great food and wine...good catch up conversation (I hadn't even seen much of my roommate through out this week...both of us were pretty busy). So it was nice to catch up and drink wine and eat yummy food! Then we decided to go to another place for dessert. Kara (Iowa/ roomie) remembered this place in an area called Highlands Ranch, which is slightly north of us. So we headed on up. We were driving around and she was having a hard time remembering exactly where it was, but could picture it and what was around it. I was in the back actually enjoying our little scenic tour. I had never ventured into this area before and was trying to remember little shops and restaurants that I want to go back and visit. It was actually quite nice driving and visiting and laughing about I can't even remember what. But at some point, when she was getting frustrated, I said out loud to Kara, "doesn't it drive you nuts when you know exactly what you're looking for and you can't quite figure out how to get there?" (thinking this might ease any anxiousness about being the lost driver). And right after I said that, I thought well, THAT could be applied to a number of situations! I remembered what I said because I wanted to see where the evening took us and see if I could equate it to the bigger picture that popped in my head. And of course it did. We ended up at this wonderful little place called Duo, which was also quaintly located in the middle of the neighborhood, which I just love because it's local and quiet, and not so overwhelming. We loved the dessert and all agreed that we had to come back for a meal at some point. Kara wasn't sure if it was even the place she was originally thinking, although she thought it might have been. When I reflected on that phrase and where the path we took led us, I remembered (and this is SO something I need to remember as one who is looking to give up some unnecessary control and rather find more balance in my life) that sometimes, straying off the narrow planned path can lead to some extraordinary things. So I'm writing this as a reminder that even if I think I know what I'm looking for and I'm "having a hard time getting there" it's the journey and process that's the fun part and eventually, it will lead to exactly where I need to be.