Reset

There are periods of time where things begin to fall apart. Your children forget or lose too many things. Perhaps your spouse or partner reverts back to an old bad habit (cultivated during a previous relationship and you have to remind this person that you are indeed a reasonable person and do not look for opportunities to blame others). You try to take your trusted canine jogging partner out and he does not want to go (seriously, first time Cooper chose to stay home… may make him some rice tonight in case he doesn’t feel good. But it was easier to not hold onto a leash while jogging so perhaps not the wisest choice on his part).

Or perhaps you need to detox from the alcohol and carbs you enjoyed a bit too much while on vacation. (Too many delicious fruity tropical drinks and Belizean fry jacks which are the most amazing puff pastry… similar to beignets without the powdered sugar and a delicious accompaniment to eggs or refried beans or any breakfast food.) And the kid who is now back at college in need of after sun skin care (we both got burned the last day while snorkeling) and is also caught up in the what if discussions of possible cancelled or online classes to finish out the semester. No one wants to miss out on the social side of college life and the thought of having to move back home and participate in online anything sounds horrific. It is difficult to explain understand appreciate that this is a blip on the life screen and no matter what, it will be ok. And then there’s the laundry.

Post vacation is perhaps an easy targeted point in time during which a reset is needed. To adjust readjust to life and routine and sleep and nutrition. I find it easier the faster I put those processes in place to move back to my familiar. It also gives me a chance to look at any bad habits I have picked up along the way and readjust. Consider my personal goals family projects health happiness, and make a plan to achieve them or at least move in a more positive direction.

When younger, these plans would be hyper drive mode of wanting to achieve things check the boxes as quickly as possible. With age comes some wisdom. And while my brain wanted to do 4 miles today, perhaps to combat the results of too many carbs and sugar, my body cried out that 2 would be more reasonable. And while I felt sluggish at the beginning, I was happily sated and not in any pain. And I was able to shrug off some of the travel funk. All is good and it is perfectly acceptable to slowly readjust and give myself a bit of time to acclimate. (This is what my 51 year old body keeps telling my youthful inner voice.)

As I move along my life path, I have become more patient with myself. I no longer absolutely unequivocally require everything to be accomplished set in stone same day delivery. I try to be a bit more reflective introspective and respectful of time and duration of other processes.

I will visit my mom tomorrow. J.P.’s consistent visits with her while I was away definitely make things easier less guilty for me. But I needed a couple of days to recover and build my strength. For it is always tough difficult heart wrenching to walk into that place. Sensory overload and not in a good way.

But I have the sun and sensations of flying through the air, climbing walls of rock to observe ancient Mayan ruins, feeling alive.

I will try to carry that with me as we discuss review and begin our reset. To strive to be better versions of ourselves. To try to be better people for the ones we love. To try. For that is all we can do. And that is everything.

(Picture taken during one of my favorite resets… climbing Gros Piton in St Lucia. Hiking is my favorite medicine.)