Mountain or molehill? Depends how you look at it

"The trick to forgetting the big picture is to look at everything close up."

Chuck Palahniuk

Or in my case, look at everything from a small aeroplane.

I have been lucky enough to have a wee holiday in a truly beautiful part of my homeland- Christchurch and the Southern Alps.

Yes, since the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011, the beauty of Christchurch and many lives were destroyed. I haven't been to this city since it was completely transformed and the empty spaces and piles of rubble really made me think about how our days are too precious to waste on worrying about trivial matters or fritter away clicking refresh.

Then I got to marvel at the magnificent masses of land from a private plane, flying over Akaroa and near the alps. I didn't only feel positive and negative g-forces as we twisted and turned at various altitudes (the sick bag was at the ready but stayed folded up)

I felt so much wonderment at the stunning green rolling hills, blue water and snow dusted mountains. My jaw dropped, eyes opened, and heart sang. The freedom of flying through the air over such a wonderful landscape was surreal, a definite "once in a life time fly-by opportunity."

Looking at the tiny dots of buildings and freckles of people below, it made me think about how sometimes we can get caught up in our own bubbles- trapped in negative headspaces and look for freedom in the wrong places.

As I've written this, I've ventured through flat country road, heading towards the mountains, which look like a postcard 1km away. There are sheep, trees and the odd house. Right now, I'm on said mountains, and although there is wifi, the sparkling snow as far as the eye can see really does help put things in perspective.

There was so much natural beauty and stillness in the drive, and the sun shining over the mountains overwhelms me to the point of implosion. 

Looking at the grand wonders of nature, the towering trees and rolling valleys and then seeing people dotted along them makes me realise that whilst we humans "run the world" as we know it (although if you ask Beyoncé, girls run it but I can't finish this blog on a feminist rant) we as humans don't make up the world. There are so many other big things that are important than someone else's opinion of you, or someone else's actions.

As TLC said "don't go chasing waterfalls"  I want you to imagine your "bigger picture"  as a massive mountain- like this one: 

See it's big, but it's also beautiful, and when you snowboard down it like I did, you'll probably find it quite fun. Sure, you'll fall on your butt occasionally and get a face full of snow, but it's possible. If little ol' me could do it, then you can too.

Jj