Learning to Accept and Adapt

You might recognize this house from the news reports coming out of SW Montana with all of the flooding we've experienced earlier this week.  Both the house and adjacent garage went down the Yellowstone River on Monday.  This is literally a block from where I'm living, across the street.  This was a housing unit for Yellowstone employees working inside the park.

Last night, this is what it looked like along the Yellowstone River.  Not only were the buildings gone, so was a significant portion of the river's shoreline and the surrounding trees.  Simply heartbreaking to see.

While Monday was looking rather bleak, giving everyone stranded here pause for concern, the local authorities and the Montana DOT worked feverishly to assess the damage to the road heading north, making it possible for the tourists to continue their vacations outside of the devastated area at the North Entrance to Yellowstone National Park.  Guests and park employees over in Cooke City and in the communities at the North East Entrance are not as fortunate, as there is still much to be done to get them out of the towns affected by the floods and damaged roads.

There was horrific damage to Yellowstone National Park's road system and infrastructure.  Many areas inside the park had no electricity for hours, doing into days.  The main power line into the park was also washed away here in Gardiner, literally 100 yards north of where the house washed way.  Throughout the day Monday and Tuesday, the electric company was working on restoring power.  They were using helicopters to provide assistance to the linemen working the project. 

I've been told power has been restored as of late yesterday, which is good news for the park to be able to reopen and resume operations, hopefully by first of the week.  It's already been reported by the National Park Service, that the northern/upper loop inside the park will not resume normal operations this season.

For anyone interested in the most current information and park status, it is best you follow the information being share on the Yellowstone National Park website.  I will tell you, there is a lot of misinformation out there coming from inside the park on social media . . . mostly from concessionaire employees who either have limited information from their employers or are simply making things up to suit their own narrative.

On a more personal note, so far this experience has contributed to my continued personal growth of learning to be patient and to realize there are things in life that are simply beyond my control.  Admittedly, I have struggled throughout my life (both personally and professionally) with what many know as the Serenity Prayer.

I don't need a 12-step program to be enlightened by the concept, and yet I have struggled (especially at work) when dealing with others.  Sometimes working for associations and other membership type groups, you are beholden to a board of directors, other volunteers, members and outside stakeholders.  Too often, personal agendas, lack of knowledge/experience and egos get in the way.  I've learned perhaps the hard way, that some things you just cannot change.  And if you are unable to accept it, and move forward as best you can, you must make the change necessary for YOU to be happy.

This week, in spite of the devastation and uncertainty all around me, I was remarkably at peace.  I knew there were several scenarios possible . . . from "nothing will change" to "I'm going home because my gig is over" . . . but all that would play into such, would most likely be well beyond my scope of control or influence.  All I really could do was to do what I do best, think out logical scenarios that MIGHT occur, and determine my own personal course of action for each.

I feel this has been a moment of growth for me!  I am comfortable with where I am, my game plan moving forward, and if the course of direction is changed . . . so be it.  I will get by and all will be fine.