I just got back from a week at sea… my husband, his whole family & I went on a week long cruise from LA to Mexico and back. It was both relaxing and chaotic in the way it always is when 8 people, especially relatives, travel together.
If you’ve read my blog for a while, you know I love to cruise. It is truly the ONLY time I completely shut down for any length of time. Once we left port the phone went on airplane mode and didn’t go back on for 7 days. No email. No social media. No phone calls or texts. It was pretty amazing and if you haven’t done it for a while (completely unplugged for a few days in a row) – do it!
I came back relaxed, refreshed and ready to hit the last few weeks of SURTEX prep renewed. Every morning I started my day walking 2 miles around on the promenade deck of the ship. Got in some exercise while listening to the rush of the ocean and taking in the amazing views. As I would round the front of the ship – where I took this photo – I got to thinking about how much we (well, at least I) try to plan ahead. I want to know the next 10 steps (or all the steps) to get from where I am now to where I want to be. The sea breeze and vastness of the ocean made me realize – my idea of “where I want to go” changes with time so knowing it all now isn’t really as important as I like to think it is. I need to know what to do to get to the next place, the next bend, and then decide where I want to go from there.
Don’t spend your life trying to plan 10 years out – make and work your plan – and know there will be bends in the road. Also take comfort knowing that you don’t have to have it all figured out before you start.
Here’s to your creative success!
– Tara Reed