August, 2009
Jean Lasee, MAOM
I admit to taking a bit of a break in writing this latest blog. July of this
year was the hottest July in the Phoenix area on record. It was beastly
and affected even my beasts: my easy-going cat hissed and tried to bite
me several times while I worked on my computer. I would come home
after running errands panting and feeling a bit nauseous. Many aspects
of my life slowed down or came to a halt. E-mails and calls were not
returned. Meetings were cancelled and brainstorming sessions went
nowhere. Whatever I tried to accomplish would not move forward, even
in baby steps. For someone who enjoys improving things and making
change happen, it was a very frustrating time.
Interestingly, other friends and colleagues I spoke to or met with were
having similar experiences. Interacting with them made me realize that
the funk I was in wasn’t all about me. I was part of a process in which
I didn’t have control and that many others were also experiencing. I
decided to not take life quite so personally and be kinder to myself.
My spouse and I took a five-day break to visit friends on a beautiful,
small island in the San Juan’s of Washington. The fresh Rainier cherries
and oysters were delightful. On an overcast day, I took a three-hour nap
as my body was so used to constant, bright sunshine to keep me alert.
Back home, I did a few fun things such as going to art museums, cooking
with new recipes and exercising more. I found that just getting “away from
it all,” even for a few hours helped improve my mindset.
The month of August appeared and with it new energy. Doors that had
been closed began to open again. For example, I attended some excellent
meetings where I met new colleagues doing interesting work with solar
technology, green building and sustainable economic development. I’m
building relationships with these people and am looking forward to positive
outcomes in the future. I also coached colleagues who were feeling
overwhelmed with the stagnation in their lives. I was able to present a
more positive face to them than I could in July. For the most part, they
are making excellent progress.
In conclusion, sometimes life stagnates. It is very easy to dwell on the
“stuckness” when things are not going the way in which you want them.
As I mentioned earlier, I found it helpful to give myself small chunks of
time to do something completely different and enjoyable. It gave my
mind a chance to briefly forget my challenges, come back more refreshed
and see possible solutions in a different light.
Let me know what you have done to move beyond being stuck in your life.
Jean
© 2009
Comments