No Worries, My Love!

My favorite way to explore a new area is wandering walks.

During our EBTIECHI trip to El Valle de Antón, Panamá, I was slowly making my way home and saw a beautiful path that I felt might take me in the right direction.

It meandered through a forest, crossed a little river lined with perfectly placed stepping stones, and eventually began to traverse through what looked like the back gardens of local homes. The trees and flowers were so thick that I couldn’t see the surrounding mountains, which usually helped me ascertain where I was in relation to our casita.

Eventually I popped out of the foliage into what was certainly a local’s backyard, and before I could sneak off an elderly couple walked out their open door onto the patio.

I apologized and told them I was looking for Calle Capirita, the road leading to my house.

The couple was incredibly sweet, smiling and assuring me it was no worry at all.

“No te preocupes, mi amor.”

The gentleman came off the porch, and told me to come with him. He walked with me for about fifteen minutes, through a maze of gardens and private properties, leading eventually to my road.

As we parted ways, I thanked him profusely. He clasped my hand, shared a beatific smile and repeated, “No te preocupes, mi amor.”

I continued my walk, on the right track now and glowing with appreciation. I thought about the welcoming and loving response of the couple when I found myself lost and mistakenly invading their property.

How do we tend to treat ourselves when we make a mistake, or lose our way?

Do we smile and say, “No worries, my love”?

Or do we dwell on the mistake with shame, judgment and regret?

The next awareness I have of self-judgment, I’d like to pause, smile and say, “No te preocupes, mi amor.”

Care to join me?

P.S.If you’d like to read more about our time in El Valle, check out EBTIECHi in El Valle, or to see what the area looks like, a YouTube short.