Resfeber is a Swedish word that describes the restless race of a traveller’s heart before their journey begins. It is when feelings of anxiety and anticipation are tangled together, coexisting in perfect harmony in the depths of one’s soul. It is the feeling that I get when I say “yes” to an utterly spontaneous adventure, unsure of what will be discovered along the way.
A few years ago I was sitting at home in California one Friday morning thinking about the weekend. I was in my final year of university so like usual I was running through my list of to-do’s and homework assignments. All of a sudden, I received a text from Lora, a dear friend, asking if I was interested in driving to Utah that afternoon with three other ladies. Without hesitation I said yes. I guess it would have been an instance where it was socially acceptable for me to use the term “YOLO” (you only live once).
So, I packed an overnight bag, my hiking gear, and some snacks and we were off. We left in the afternoon, stopped in Vegas to see the lights and drive down the strip (such tourists… I know….), and eventually made it to Zion National Park. Because that car ride was rather long, I had a lot of time to ponder and reflect. I thought to myself, “Self, what did you just get yourself into this time?” I knew that my heart had been craving an incredible adventure like this for a while, but the spontaneousness of it all on such short notice made me wonder if I had made the right choice in saying yes.
Needless to say, when we woke up the next morning and I looked outside at the awe-inspiring red rocks around us that composed the perfect backdrop for the vibrancy of that autumn day, I knew for a fact that it was the right decision. We spent the rest of the weekend hiking through The Narrows, tanning on top of Angels Landing, running around like children to get a better view of the wildlife, and simply smiling at the mountain-top moments we got to experience together.
Through that trip I discovered the value of embracing the feeling of resfeber. I learned that it was okay – more than okay actually – to cherish and appreciate the contradicting emotions of anticipation and anxiety my heart was attempting to express. Rather than making my decision to go or not to go solely based on one emotion or the other, I could step out on an amazing adventure with friends and let those feelings give me the courage to be free and spontaneous and to simply say yes.
Have you ever experienced resfeber? If so, please feel free to comment and share your story! And even if you haven’t, feel free comment as well. I would love to get to know you. 🙂
This Darling Adventure 