Nessie encourages you to take the long road and stay on it for as long as needed. Having been around for a very long time, Nessie measures time differently than most of us. Heed the wisdom that the longer you stay on your journey, the farther you will go. We have calendars for our days, months, and years, but Nessie reminds us that there are calendars for entire lifetimes. When we are done with this lifetime, we move on to the next. But keep those old calendars too because all those experiences and memories will help you later. The past can be a guide but you are the driver of your future. If you are feeling rushed or frustrated in the moment, think of Nessie and take the long view. Have resilience. Commit to the path even if you encounter bumps and roadblocks and detours along the way.
“The Scottish Highlands are beautiful. When I visited them many years ago, though, I wasn’t looking to go walking in those green hills. I was looking for a monster. Loch Ness is a beautiful lake that reminds me of the alpine lakes of the American Pacific Northwest and Western Canada. Loch Ness is mighty deep (800 ft.) and mighty long (23 miles). A perfect place to hide, if you were a shy, thousands-of-years-old creature who humans are always bugging for a photograph. People on the tour boat were frustrated and annoyed that we never saw Nessie’s head poke out of the water. I was disappointed too but something told me to stay a few extra days. I camped out by the lake, far away from other people. On the seventh day, just after the sun went down, Nessie’s head appeared out on the lake. I rubbed my eyes to make sure I wasn’t seeing a trick of the light, but Nessie turned their head, as if to get a good look at me with both eyes. I instinctively reached for my camera but then thought, no, I’ll let my memory take the photo. Nessie seemed to appreciate that. Then, Nessie went back under the water.”
