Rediscovering Inspiration

I took a sunset walk last night with Dudley Brown. To get out of the house, clear my head, step away from studying in the hopes that the hours I had just spent studying DNA would sink in and take hold. Genetics of plants and wildlife is something I am truly interested in so I should understand this back and forth, right?  I felt defeat yesterday after taking a final, most likely failing it and having to retake the class in the fall. Dang that's hard when you're 44, you've had a 4.0 for 4 solid semesters, you haven't missed a class, you've done all the required assignments, met with the instructor, spent an hour with a tutor each week of the semester and you still don't get the concepts enough to feel confident and move on.  Alex assured me you can't be great at everything. As a former teacher I fully get that, and believe that. Each student has their strengths...and their weaknesses, no matter their age.  I understand letters. Perhaps that's why I enjoy DNA so much!  But put numbers and symbols in front of me and I may as well be looking at Greek!   So you get it, my ego took a hit yesterday.
Until I saw this. This is nearly the exact image that lie in front of me almost exactly 13 years ago while I drove from the Denver International Airport to Boulder for my job interviews. My sweet, little, nearly 4 year old toe-head asleep in the back seat, exhausted from the day of travel from NY. I saw those layers of mountains, pulled off the road to take their magnificence in and I knew I was supposed to be living here.  I knew something magical was going to happen if I moved to Colorado. At the time, I had no idea exactly what that was, but I could feel the magic, was drawn to it and I trusted it.
There I stood last night, reminded of that. Inspired and reflecting on all the magic that has presented itself along the way.  Alright, so I may have to retake a class in the fall. Not a big deal. That's clear now.