A few weeks ago after heavy torrential rains, a mudslide washed out the only maintained road into the lodge where I work, and many of us became stranded for a few days. This is an accepted reality of living in a remote part of British Columbia. Unfortunately, at the very same moment, a dear member of my family passed away and all of a sudden I felt very isolated.

My feelings of isolation were exaggerated because my options appeared very limited; drive backcountry for six hours over dangerous unmarked dirt roads or miss the family funeral back in Ontario. After talking with my heart-broken son in Vancouver, I felt even more helpless. So I decided that there was no way I was going to miss supporting him through this important family passing and I shifted into positive determination mode.

After I made this conscious shift, I began to talk with various locals about the situation. Many alternative transportation possibilities emerged. I could hop into a boat to bypass the washout and borrow a car, I could horseback around the lake and meet someone who was driving out, I could wait to follow the back country caravan heading out the next morning or I could charter a floatplane and fly directly into Whistler.

Knowing there were more possibilities available, my feelings of being stranded evaporated. Deciding to choose the floatplane option, the universe mysteriously helped out by sending a couple of tourists who wanted to flightsee the area … so I hopped onto the charter and made it safely into Whistler! Landing in Whistler I felt a huge wave of relief.

Staying positive enabled me to meet up with my son in Vancouver and determination guided us back to Ontario in time for the family funeral.

At the funeral my son and I shared our teary goodbyes with the friends and family of 95-year-old Grandma Bingleman.

She taught me plenty about being positive, grateful and very determined. Her love and laughter will be missed.