Analogies between travel and wellness goals

May, the middle of Autumn, a transition time, a time of putting hope out there, simply because the Month's name suggests possibility.   May I please have this, May you be eternally happy etc.  What are your wishes or askings for this Month and the rest of the time to follow?

For me, May is the beginning of my huge adventure, and while I still don't have  concrete plan, I am learning to detail requests and trust which needs to be will be from which I can either get upset or learn from.  Usually both and in that order.  Quite a few things have been showing up over the past few weeks - my uncertainty and acting more from a fear/apprehension based emotion and not from awareness.  This isn't anything new, though as the businesses have been slowing down and cash flow changing, fear of money has been increasing.  Interestingly, I have been spending more to be sure I have the 'right' things needed to make the adventure workable.  After all I needed hiking shoes, socks, cool walking clothes for starters.  Then came the reality that travelling that long and in such diverse climates presented its own issues followed soon after by "How on earth was I going to carry all this?" I am not the lightest packer in the world and more of a contingency packer - What if I need this, what if I am doing that etc.?  As it currently stands I have a new back pack to fit in the suitcase to carry everything in and from which I will sort and take only the things required for a few days and leave the big pack in a locker or somewhere safe.  

What has any of this got to do with health or life in general?  Apparently, we learn from other's stories and experiences. A you one of the lucky ones that can do this?  I don't think I am. Here is my take on possible associations between my experience and health:

• Are we over thinking what 'should',  'could' or 'must' be done to get by? Do we at times hold back on enjoying ourselves because the rules of the game seem to hard to follow, even though at the core it is about eating light, basic and over the day. Create a rotation meal plan that gives the food groups and spiced up literally with different flavors.    Pack a small number of clothes in the back pack and wear repeatedly or clean and start again.  

 

• Do we think too much about other people's reactions to our food and lifestyle choices? Some times you just need to do what is right for you and your body at the time.  This includes resting more, or getting out of the house.  Eating nourishing foods, or avoiding some ingredients.  Every body like our mind, and characteristics are unique, so would we have to eat what everyone else does?  It just doesn't make sense!!  This trip is about getting to know me, and regain who I am at my core.  It isn't about other people as such, but about me.  I am being greedy and I justify my choice to leave because I have been giving away my self way too much for way too long!!  Mid life crossroads, yes - who am I and what am I here to actually do??? Lets start being ourselves and respectfully do what we need to do for ourselves. 

 

• Get clear about what the goal is and work towards this while being flexible and responsive (not reactive)!  What do you want to create with your food and lifestyle goal?  Is it to reduce/gain, strengthen, heal, repair, look good, feel good, self esteem, reduce symptoms, get a handle or level of control back in your life when all else seems to be out of control?  This last one - control is easier to pick up in kids.  They go to kinder/school etc, their parents, teachers and others are constantly guiding or telling them what to do, think and at times even feel.  What do they have control over?  Their body functions, emotional steam and food!  How about as adults, we have, in theory around we do or not.  However, since most go to work, have a boss, kids, partners, or life pressures, what control do we feel we have? Many feel there is little if anything they have control over, but they can choose to eat, drink and be merry; be involved or not etc.  I suggest you take an inventory of time and activities and get a sense of what you are doing, and if these choices are firstly in line with your wellness goal, or at least working for you.  If you feel cheated, annoyed, overwhelmed or anything in between GET HELP!.  Speak with a counselor, life coach or some one who can be objective enough to help you get clear about what your current choices are, why you are making them, and if you must, or choose to continue making them. ​​

 Doing nothing is still a choice, but is it a wise one?

• Regular check ins with trusted others to see if you are on track or wavering a bit too far.  This is a big one for me.  Personally, I have grown up with huge insecurity issues which contributed to a lot of pain and the way I co-created my life to date.  Over the last few years I have had to surrender to some massive issues that were totally out of my control even though they were not what I wanted, or felt I could live with.  To say life in its self has been a challenge is an understatement.  Of late, it has been even harder to stay here, another reason for me to gain a different perspective of life and love.  In relation to health and well being, check in to see what is actually going on.  If you need medical, emotional, physical or psychological help get it.  We are all in this spinning top together, and the more we can acknowledge that at the end of the day we all have similar issues, they just come in different boxes of circumstances.  If others have traveled down a similar pathway, can you learn from their lessons or awareness?  Could it take a simple conversation,  or smart questions to help alleviate your concerns, and guide you into other appropriate options to achieve the goal?  When we travel, don't we talk with friends, family, the travel agent.  Look up locations and possible things to do. Do we just risk the options of money issues over seas, or being seen as a tourist and red flag ourselves as easy targets?  I encourage us all to talk with other, make considered and researched decisions baked on what is appropriate to your, your needs and personality. There is no way I am going topless at the beach in Tenerife, even if it is the done thing!! Lets listen to the other, their journey and help them to see a different way of living as appropriate so that healing can happen on not the opposite.  

 

• Know who you are, so you can make the best possible choices for you.  Who are you? Who do you think you are?  Do you even know?  Do you claim you are your roles - parent, lover, friend, worker, teacher, taxi driver etc or are you your characteristics - love, compassion, listener etc?  Or are you divine essence, like everyone else make the most with the baggage you have acquired on your journey to date, picked up from your parents, community and society during your aging evolution? Looking for help, then consider my Awareness and Accountability Journal   Like with packing, what do we really need when travelling?  Undies, two changes of clothes, 2 types of shoes, if that and our CC.  In life what do we really need, basic food, movement, relationships that are supportive and loving and an open heart and mind to work with others where they are at.  How are you going with your life packing, got too much, what can be culled or given away to simply and increase contentedness? 

 

• Regular check ins with trusted others to see if you are on track or wavering a bit too far.  This is a big one for me.  Personally, I have grown up with huge insecurity issues which contributed to a lot of pain and the way I co-created my life to date.  Over the last few years I have had to surrender to some massive issues that were totally out of my control even though they were not what I wanted, or felt I could live with.  To say life in its self has been a challenge is an understatement.  Of late, it has been even harder to stay here, another reason for me to gain a different perspective of life and love.  In relation to health and well being, check in to see what is actually going on.  If you need medical, emotional, physical or psychological help get it.  We are all in this spinning top together, and the more we can acknowledge that at the end of the day we all have similar issues, they just come in different boxes of circumstances.  If others have traveled down a similar pathway, can you learn from their lessons or awareness?  Could it take a simple conversation,  or smart questions to help alleviate your concerns, and guide you into other appropriate options to achieve the goal?  When we travel, don't we talk with friends, family, the travel agent.  Look up locations and possible things to do. Do we just risk the options of money issues over seas, or being seen as a tourist and red flag ourselves as easy targets?  I encourage us all to talk with other, make considered and researched decisions baked on what is appropriate to your, your needs and personality. There is no way I am going topless at the beach in Tenerife, even if it is the done thing!! Lets listen to the other, their journey and help them to see a different way of living as appropriate so that healing can happen on not the opposite.  
• Know who you are, so you can make the best possible choices for you.  Who are you? Who do you think you are?  Do you even know?  Do you claim you are your roles - parent, lover, friend, worker, teacher, taxi driver etc or are you your characteristics - love, compassion, listener etc?  Or are you divine essence, like everyone else make the most with the baggage you have acquired on your journey to date, picked up from your parents, community and society during your aging evolution? Looking for help, then consider my Awareness and Accountability Journal   Like with packing, what do we really need when travelling?  Undies, two changes of clothes, 2 types of shoes, if that and our CC.  In life what do we really need, basic food, movement, relationships that are supportive and loving and an open heart and mind to work with others where they are at.  How are you going with your life packing, got too much, what can be culled or given away to simply and increase contentedness? ​

Apparently, Life is a journey which implies we are traveling to a place or existence. 
 Where are you going, and what are you taking with you to make the journey as pleasant as possible?  By who's rules are you creating this journey?  Are you enjoying the journey, and if not, where would you rather be travelling through? 

 Who  consciously choices a painful journey unless they are wanting to remove and rebuild something better?