The lights were bright and there was a low-level background noise. It was around 6am, but could have been earlier or later. In airports, time often feels like an arbitrary measure due to switching time zones and waiting. I’m on my way back from Uganda and am beginning to feel a little lost. My two week trip had been the focus of many months of activity – 10 months preparation and build up. I’d been fundraising all year to support the trip and then travelled to Uganda – a new country for me – to do new things and meet new people; to change lives and maybe my own.
It was a complete break. This is one of the benefits of travel – a chance to see how it feels to not be connected all the time, to try new food, to have someone else organise your itinerary or alternatively to be completely in charge of how you spend your time.
But now I’m home and I’m not sure what to do with myself. After any big event, there needs to be some time to decompress. Friends and colleagues are keen to hear about my trip and how I feel about it, but it seems too soon to form opinions so I will have to let them form in their own time. I need to consider how to fill my days without the schedule that I’ve adhered to for the last two weeks.
And sure enough a new routine emerges. I start off doing the things that need to be done, easy ones that remind me what I do and how I do it. Gradually momentum returns but it’s not exactly the same. I found I needed to take a little break after taking a break before I could fully return to action. I’ve met people and seen a different perspective of life. Like it or not, in some small way I’m different and I want to bring that with me into what I do, how I work, who I work with.
When we want to start doing something new, or making a change in our life, or choosing to do something we never thought we could there’s often a reluctance because what happens when I’ve done it. What then? No-one can answer the question and in some way, it’s not really that important to answer it. Rest assured that something will happen: there might be a slight change in attitude, or a whole new career and life path. What is certain is that you will feel better about yourself, you will grow in confidence and you will find your next steps.
What are your next steps? What are you reluctant to start? I’d love to hear about it on my Facebook page. If you need a helping hand, get in touch for information on 1:1 coaching to help you start doing your dreams.
Doing not Dreaming 