What Machu Picchu can teach you about dating

I climbed a really big mountain last week. It was harder than I expected. There were moments that I just wanted to turn around and be done, but I didn't. I kept going up (straight, straight up) until I finally reached my destination.

There I was looking out at the most spectacular view, hardly anyone around, and all I could think about was "where is my damn camera?"

Yup, I had no device to record this religious moment I was experiencing with this mountain. My heart just sank when I realized that I would not be able to capture the beauty I was seeing. I was frustrated for not keeping my camera with me and was getting caught up in disappointment that I felt, for not being able to have proof of my accomplishment.

It was in that moment, when the light bulb in my head went off. I was at the top of Machu Picchu, looking down at the most undeniably magnificent wonder of the world, a place that millions of people may never see and I'm worried about taking the perfect picture?

I quickly sat down on a rock and took a deep breath in. I thought that since I didn't have a camera, I would take mental images of what I was seeing and savor the feelings they were bringing to me. It began working. The frustration over not having my camera was replaced by this feeling of joy. It was a life changing moment. I came to the conclusion that I was responsible for creating magic moments in my life. I have a choice to embrace opportunities and gifts that are placed before me.

If I continued to fester inside about this small detail, o.k. maybe no camera isn't small, but if I let it consume me then I would have missed this most precious moment.

Now, you all may be wondering what this has to do with dating and relationships, but it really does correlate.

There are times, I find, that I get too focused on what I may be missing rather than opening my eyes to what is before me already.

It's easy to feel like being in a romantic relationship is the only way to obtain an all encompassing joy, but the reality is, the joy is already there for you to experience and embrace and it doesn't require that you have someone with you in order to fully relish in it.

I think the quote "You complete me," from the movie Jerry Maquire is pretty classic, but to me, it's a misrepresentation of what would really bring you contentment. It's easy to feel like having a boyfriend or girlfriend may some how validate who you are, but if you focus too much on obtaining that, you miss out on what is already obtainable.

I like the idea of completing myself through my talents, goals and dreams. The only person I need to prove things to is, me, myself and I. I don't need to have a boyfriend to have a fulfilling life.

It would have been great to have photos of the lush mountains and all, but the images and feelings associated with them are forever cemented in my memory.... and lucky for me, it won't need to be downloaded.