Past The Point Of No Return In Cinque Terre

What in the world were we thinking? We didn’t quite understand and figured what the heck. We could handle this. So they said it’s a bit of a climb, a little steep, but a much faster route. We didn’t realize this “bit of a climb” would feel like the end of our lives. We had so much to learn about driving in Italy. So Bob, at the wheel, me by his side, and little Sydney in the back, scaled the cliffs to the Cinque Terre.

I often think about this when I’m in a situation where I’m on my way. I’ve taken steps. My goal is within reach but the steps are getting harder. And now I’m past the point of no return. There’s no going back. There’s no stopping. There’s no getting off the road. When I find myself in these situations, to help me get through them, I say, “Oh, this is my Cinque Terre.”

And here’s the thing about driving to the Cinque Terre. If we were able to get off the road, turn back, we might have. And then we would never have seen the magnificence of Monterosso al Mare where we stayed. We would never have seen that beauty. Been part of that world. Gone back a second time (via a less treacherous route). We wouldn’t have walked through all the towns, eaten in Vernazza, while seeing a bride ready to be married in this beautiful setting, seen a little film being shot in Corniglia. Been part of this magic. It was all so stunning. 

You’ve gone past the point of no return.

This is how it is with huge dreams. They are big and what it takes to get there is like the road to the Cinque Terre. And we just have to hang on. Through the fog, and the flying cars. Climbing up the steep, steep, steep narrow road with no rail and the vast, deep Mediterranean below.

It helps me to remember this when I have something hard I’m facing that I really want. If it was the road to the Cinque Terre, I’d just have to stay my course. So I tell myself. Stay the course. It will be worth it.