Last week, we visited a lovely little natural spot in Northeast Ohio — Stebbins Gulch, part of Holden Arboretum.

We got a private tour of this very peaceful spot that featured a clear stream, waterfalls, a swimming hole and huge rock formations on either side of the ravine.

The area is unspoiled and amazingly quiet, considering its proximity to suburban surroundings. We heard nothing but rushing water and wind during our time there.

As I reflect on that hike, the thing that struck me was how hard I was working at keeping my shoes from getting wet for the first 25 minutes of this rugged trek. I was carrying a tripod, camera bag and backpack, so I felt the need to stay completely out of the water. Candice and my fellow hikers already stepped into the water and just let go of the idea of staying dry.

Meanwhile, I was slipping all over the place on moss covered, partially wet rocks that were more slippery than a lot of ice I’ve experienced. You see, there was no trail. The creek was the trail.

Finally, after slipping and falling in a more dramatic fashion, I decided to follow the line of the trail that was sometimes submerged. As soon as that first shoe dropped into the stream, I felt relief.

A new kind of freedom emerged from the simple acceptance that my shoes were going to get wet.

What’s that about?

Why would I be so concerned about wet shoes? The effort spent in keeping them dry took my focus away from fully enjoying the experience. Without getting my feet wet, I wouldn’t have been able to scale a few waterfalls or get some really nice water closeups with the video camera. But, most significantly, I wouldn’t have experienced the freedom and peace that came with just allowing the situation to unfold with wet shoes.

Ok, sure, I might hike in my Teva’s next time, but this struck me as a perfect metaphor for life.

All of us have these fears that can govern our daily lives along with patterns that are programmed into our psyche. We believe these concepts or “road rules” will keep us safe or on the right track…or whatever it is that we believe.

However, these ideas frequently keep us from experiencing freedom, joy and adventure. I’m not suggesting that we all go out and do risky activities, but awareness of our subconscious patterns can powerfully change our daily experience from mundane to invigorating in a matter of moments.

It may seem inconsequential, but putting my feet in the water that day was a small step, promising greater awareness and big changes in my outlook.

(I stepped in right around here)