“Everything will be alright in the end. If it’s not alright, it’s not the end”. I’ve heard that quote a few times in my life and have always welcomed its inspiration.

Yes, it is true: I tell myself that I trust life. But is that just a goal of mine that can never be completely achieved? Do I get closer and closer and closer but constantly find my outstretched arm is never quite long enough?

As I travel, so many little lie-detectors pop up as if they are tops of vegetables breaking the earth. Those little gifts when faced, present opportunities to release me from self-imposed restraints.

Some of these lessons are barely challenging and get absorbed easily. Others, more gigantic ones, keep presenting themselves over and over. These are the ones that I resist. On our last day in Zurich, I opened a very familiar door to find myself face to face with myself…again.

During each of the past 4 mornings, Joel and I enjoyed a lavish and complimentary breakfast within the Schweizerhof’s gloriously beautiful dining room. We were prancing to our table on our last morning when a roadblock appeared. The dining manager explained breakfast had ended an hour early that day, and we were too late.

My little brain started clicking away: should I ask for (a) a voucher for a free dinner or (b) should I ask for a discount on our bill ….and before I could come up with (c), (d), or (e), I heard Joel nudging me and telling me to “cool it”. So I became silent and decided the only option was to go with the flow.

As we followed the hotel’s breakfast gendarme, Rene, to the downstairs cafe and placed shoulder to shoulder with other diners. The counter displayed croissants, cheeses and meats…a beautiful array, but not my choice for breakfast. Where were my poached eggs, my fruit, my elbow room? Was I really such a creature of such new habits? I always valued my flexiblilty. I was not only disappointed with our treatment, but worse, I was disappointed in me.

How can Joel wear such a sweet smile as he obediently took his seat against the wall? Now that I had a role model, I followed his example and attempted to sit down in my small chair opposite him. Then I spotted outdoor seating. What could be better than to enjoy the fresh air, and my morning coffee, while watching the passerbys? Rene said that could happen, Joel agreed that is really wasn’t too cold out there, and then the magic flowed.

Rene became our personal butler. He was a genie emerging from the bottle. Then, those questions started flowing from his lips: How would you like your eggs? How would you like your coffee? What kind of fresh or dried fruits can I bring you? What else would you like? Are you sure you are OK? What else can I do for you? You don’t want any more coffee, well I’m bringing more for you anyway!

When the next fork in a road presents itself, what will I do? Will I let that next road lead me to a better place or will I take out a shovel and extend that dead-end called “habit”?