For some time now, I've resisted and been stoically resolute in my thoughts and actions and the results have flowed forth like a bountiful spring of financial revenue that goes against my annual budget and keeps me and my company happy; although the company will never be happy no matter how much revenue my efforts generate for them. It's the way of things.
I've worked incredibly hard for the last couple months, it's my way and in my nature to do so, and I've managed to achieve some great results for the company. I don't generally care what others are doing at work, I stay in my lane and focus on my own thoughts, attitudes, actions and results however today I found out that the company had compared my results against the others who have filled my role around the country over the last five years and it seems my efforts have put me at the tip of the spear.
It made me happy to know my efforts have placed me there, but whilst I had lunch today and reflected on all of that hard work and effort I realised I felt drained, worn out and feeling flat. It was right about then I decided I needed to escape, with me.
I decided to make my escape a physical reality rather than a thought of concept and today my chosen escape was a hike.
I'm lucky enough to live opposite a large conservation park filled with trails and, after a quick stop at home to change, I was crunching gravel, sticks and leaves beneath my boots as I made my way up the hill. It's miraculous what happens when I'm surrounded by nature and get a little fresh air in my lungs; I relax, my head clears and a feeling of peace and comfort settles over me. It's healing.
Today I decided to leave my phone home, both work and personal phones, and I'm glad I did although I missed some great photo opportunities. It's ok though, I'm over there a lot so borrowed these images from other escapes I've made previously.
It looked the same today, blue skies with a cloud or two moving silently along and fields of vibrant green grass and winter flowers. As I made my way upward, and my breathing became a little heavier with the exertion, I began to recentre and connect with my true self. I say, true self, because the version of me at work isn't the true version, it's a mix of various elements that have to combine to perform the activities required of my employer. Sure, the true me underpins everything else, but I have to play a part I guess I mean. My true self isn't an actor though, it's the real me and whilst I tend to permit only a few to see it, in the wilderness I feel it deeply, and it was that which I needed today.
I enjoyed my escape today. I was able to clear my head, sweep out some of those thoughts that had been cluttering my mind, and generally find a little peace and quiet. I'll be better for it moving forward and I don't feel at all guilty that my escape happened on company time; being paid to hike is a privilege of course, but the benefit to the company of a G-dog with a presence of mind nurtured by a little time with nature is far greater than one with a scattered mind and soul.
Do you escape in some way as I have today? How do you cast off the shroud of stress, pressure or being wound up tight? I think we all have our ways of doing it, and all have many different ways of doing it; I know I do. Today it was a hike-escape...But how do you do it, how often and when was the last time?
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default - Tomorrow isn't promised so be humble and kind
The images are all my own.
You cannot pour from an empty cup.
Your company is great for acknowledging your achievements and I hope they do reward you financially as well for that. But you cannot pour from an empty cup. Making sure you look after yourself is extremely important. A lot of people feel guilty about taking some time to recover and de-stress but is essential in the long run to avoid burnout.
Next time you go and you still want to be able to take photos, maybe just put your phone on airplane mode? 😉 Regardless, still wonderful photos. Thank you for sharing this thoughtful post!
I earn very well and the commissions on my results this reporting year will be sizable.
I've spent many years burning the candle at both ends when required and have devised many ways to mitigate the effects of it, and knowing when and when not to do so. I'm fortunate enough to have worked hard and put myself into a good position that means I can be a little selective these days and that helps to keep my (emotional) vessel topped up.
I generally keep my personal phone of flight mode most days as I don't like to be distracted by it. I'll flick it off and answer a reply on Hive now and then, but generally flight mode is on. I purposely didn't take my phones today as I wanted to remove technology from my thoughts, even knowing it wold mean no photos. It's ok though, I have hundreds from over there and thousands from other places so there's always something to punctuate my point when I make a post.
Thanks for your comment, I think the first I've ever received from you.
I am quite terrible at keeping that balance if I am honest! I need to learn to listen to my body and mind more. And I agree, technology can get overwhelming some days.
I was away from HIVE for a bit due to a bunch of things that happened. It simply had to take a back seat. But things are improving, my mental health being the big one, so I am trying to make the most of my time here now! 🌻
If you have this need (which clearly you do) I'd suggest a little time to make it happen. You might be amazed at the results.
We all have things to take care of in the real world around us and Hive, in the grand scheme of things, isn't as important as many other things. I hope you're getting things moving in the right direction and are finding some momentum.
I am slowly gaining traction! Oddly I am finding that my recently started vegetable garden is offering me quite a bit of stress relief, not to mention it can be quite a good physical workout. I live in a city so natural areas are sparse in addition there is a safety issue, so I can't really go off on my own. But even the little bit of natural world interaction in the garden is making a huge difference already. 💚
It's not odd, I have a vegetable garden also and the value I get from it goes beyond better tasting vegetables. It's a healing if sorts, similar to my hike earlier today. I think you're on the right track.
Thank you! It definitely feels like it. And I am for sure looking forward to snacking down on the fruits of my labour, eventually. But just seeing how the plants develop and grow is very rewarding in its own right.
I do! I run. I run fast. I run hard. I ran yesterday. I don't run often like that because I like my knees and want them to last at least 40 more years. Then I might walk. :)
I hike and kayak although, to be honest. kayaking is more of a relaxed mode and hiking is right up there with running. Honestly, there are days I do a power cleaning on the house if it is raining, snowing, or freaking cold.
I don't have one thing like you do, but, I know whatever it is, I have to power through it.
I hope it cleared and cooled you down. :)
This sentence began exuberantly and which much gusto, then dwindled off to...well, where it would have gone had I written it. Running these days is not much of a thing...Certainly not as hard, fast or long as I used to. I was a running back for an American Football team here and these days I wonder how I ever did it. Lol.
I kayak too and for me it's always relaxation oriented rathe than exercise; the latter comes by default though. Power cleaning though? You're bonkers and are on your own there! 😂
I don't have just one thing either...But if I listed them the post would be too long.
I'm all good...Struggling with the weather here which is wintery, but have a plan for the weekend so it'll all work out.
Running back? I'm imressed. It is funny how we do things without much thought and it isn't until hindsight that we wonder how our crazy selves lived through it all.
Full back actually. Started as outside line backer, then over one of the off-seasons I got fast and I swapped to FB. My brother (not tarazkp) was Half Back at the same time...Good times Swigs, good times.
I get it! I was a cheerleader! But only in High School and some of college. That is cool and such a different life. Life certainly throws those life-changing curves. Or can, for sure.
Both kp's at the same time. How fun was that? :)
I knew it!
We were the only brother-pairing in the league. It was good to work with him. He was faster with the ability to cut, bob and weave, as all half backs should. I was a little slower and tended to run headlong and rely on brute force. It was a nice combination that the coaches took advantage of. We both made the State team and did the same, even playing some American military teams from Pine Gap (US military satellite monitoring station here). Good times for sure. Painful times too.
Also...I knew a cheerleader once. Just saying. Lol. (Just kidding. Or am I?)
AMGS. Yes. Desk Jockeys. I am sure you beat them. :)
Definitely good times.
Well, I am here to say they are not all blonde space cadets, although some are.
I don't want to know. (just kidding! Of course, I do... Or do I?)
Escaping Vicariously through you. Also been working way too hard last few months. Staff shortages and commitments that must still be met on specific timelines. I'm not one to let it go, but still feel the need to pick it up myself. I did get out and shoot a bit, over the weekend, but not near enough time away. Lawn mower acted up and lost the better part of the day messing with it. I hate mechanical work (especially when it doesn't go perfect)!
It's so easy to go from one thing to the next and tell ourselves it's productive, that we're doing a good job, and making a difference; I think society is geared that way, to have those thoughts. But, there's more to life and to ensure we are living our best one I believe we need to stop, take a breath, a moment to let everything go and to find some inner peace. Everything else will always be there waiting for us.
Having said that, I get what you mean. Things need to be done, moved forward, finalised. Finding a balance somewhere between the two is a good plan, making it happen is often difficult though.
I've said it before, in fact I've said it to you before (is it plagiarism if I repeat an often used trope? Sue me if it is :)): Every hour I ride my motorcycle gives me a 59 minute vacation.
I also love to walk, particularly in nature. Both things go a long way toward unravelling my knotted thoughts. Doing it on the clock would make it even better.
We find the moments we need, such as I had today, in different ways; I found it on my motorbikes too. It's only people who have done it that will understand as well right? We all have different methods and I make a point of having many, that way if one is unattainable maybe one of the others is within reach.
On the clock hiking is the best hiking ever. I left the phones home so I wasn't tempted to look at them and just revelled in nature and the fact that I'll get paid for it down the track. Decadent? You bet! 😜
Just two days ago @tengolotodo and I had this conversation. He said I was all wrung up which is true. I feel it with every step I take and with each breath. I feel like a spring and unfortunately, I haven't had the opportunity to just loose myself somewhere apart from books. Circumstances for now, won't let me. But I do dream of it and What i see is a small house or cabin in some nature filled place, with just me. I keep seeing it before I sleep each night because that is truely what I want.
Sometimes, I just want go bring those scenes in my books to life... Hehe.
I hope you manage to find some solace before you break. It's much easier to care for something so it doesn't break than fix something that is broken.
Those scenes will come to life...
As essential it is for one to put in one's best efforts in line with perseverance and hardwork, it is equally important for one to know when to hit the "RESET" button. Without the instinct to know when to take a step to take two steps forward, one may find themselves hitting against a wall, struggling with efficient growth.
Humans require breaks in order to properly develop. We mostly change in our sleep. When we learn something, or rather when we are trying to learn something, it is important to push hard. But it is equally important that we take sufficient rest. It is in our rest that our body recalibrates and installs the new program you are trying to download into it.
Just like your words, a mind that has a little time to "escape" is much better than a scattered one.
People are conditioned to keep at it, work harder and longer, and I have had to do that to get to where I am in life. I've always had the ability to switch off though, in various ways, and that's been important to the process, as focused effort is difficult to sustain without a balance of rest and relaxation.
I really wish I could just escape...I had that thought just yesterday...what if I could just get away..get away from all the expectations, get away from the hustle...but I haven't been able to yet...I havn't tried hiking before and it's really been a while I connected with nature...the last time I was able to connect with my inner self was when I went to the beach...that was months ago..I felt peace being immersed in the salty water, the breeze blowing through my skin...it was a beautiful experience ...
It's great to see that whenever you feel all worked up, you're able to let go and connect with nature...I'll try to sometime soon ❤️
It sounds like you're in need of some relaxation and time to reconnect with yourself. The longer you let it go, the harder it'll be to find inner peace. You should try and make it happen.
Thanks for the advice...I'll find time..soon... because I really need to reconnect...
I don't want to put a hex on you or anything, but leaving it too late could be...too late.
Yeah..I get that...I'll go for a walk today...in a quiet but open place..give myself time to feel the breeze again and breathe in fresh air...this should be a good start ...
I walk will be an excellent start. Don't stare at your phone the whole time either, just walk, and feel grateful you have the ability to.
That's a great idea... looking at my phone would bring back thoughts I'll want to shut out... certainly would try that out...thank you
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