AAAAGGGGHHHHH

This week has been particularly challenging.  Seems like things really do come in three's - ever notice that? First one thing happens, maybe a sleepless night; then flight changes, family circumstances, some physical restrictions... and the next thing you know, you're finally working out with your trainer and you reach the top of a rather large set of stairs in the middle of the woods and just shout:

AAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!

exhale

I felt like a volcano.

Seems like life has been swirling around me and I'm not really participating... just listening or rather trying to decipher the words coming at me from all angles.  Everything and everyone sounds like the Snoopy teacher:  Waaa Waaa Waaaaa Waa Waaaaaa Wa Waaaa.

Huh?

And as I stand in the middle of my figurative tornado of thoughts, words, emotions, projects, people, planes, and baggage, the ONLY thing I wanted to do was GET AWAY.  I can feel that I'm getting desperately raw which is making me seriously angry.  Thus the shout.  I wish it had been a scream, but seems I'm not terribly good at screaming.  I growl.

Lots of people say "I need a vacation."  And I'm sure they do... but I'm SERIOUS.  (Yes, I'm laughing at myself as I write that... as if others are somehow NOT serious).

So I'm trying to get back to a little levity and simplicity here.  1) Breathe  2) Plan a Get-Away  3) Figure out what needs to be done so I CAN get-away...  ;)  then 4) Breathe more.

My vision for now is exactly that.  A vacation.  NO cell phone.  NO iPad.  No laptop.  Literally.  No To-Do list.  I don't even want an adventure.  I want Q U I E T.

I'm sure all you parents know and long for moments of "quiet."  I would like to request several of those moments to occur consecutively, please?  Nothing fancy.  Nothing even that expensive.  Just "quiet" so I may actually be able to hear my own thoughts rather than the thoughts of everyone else.  I feel somewhat like Bruce Almighty where he begins to hear all the prayers of the people of Buffalo while at dinner.  Doesn't mean I am God or even think I'm THAT important but the increasingly LOUD vocal clutter in my head is deafening.

Funny how that happens.  The shouting TO DO list in your mind takes over drowning out all other thoughts... now while I grant you that the shouting TO DO is much better than any negative mental gymnastics, it can have a similar effect:  feeling small and powerless, overwhelmed.

Hmmm.  Time for a Re-set.

Okay, I know what's needed.  Understand what my solution must be... now to begin taking the moment by moment, day by day steps to get me to where I want to be / go!  Time to write down my vision!  Beginning with where do I want to go?  Followed by a tighter definition of when (saying as soon as possible really isn't very clear)... and then what do I want to do?  (that will determine what I wear and bring).

The same rules that apply to planning a vacation, apply to life's purpose or vision.  Begin with what you know rather than what you don't and the basics of where you want to go.  The rest of the Q&A will follow from there.  Once you figure that part out, then you get the rest of life and work organized to support that vision (in my immediate case, my vacation).  Take action steps to make what you want happen.

And lastly, refuse to give up.  If there's a WILL, then the cliche is true - there IS a WAY!  There's always a way for whatever you want or dream about.  Believe it!

You simply have to decide for yourself and then take the (baby) steps -- or you can be a sprinter, hurtler, like me - and move forward toward your vision.  It's worth it!

THINK.    WRITE.    BELIEVE.    ACT.