The Worst Type of Travel? A Guilt Trip

Why do we let kids have all the back-to-school fun? (This includes tubs of paste. Remember those? I longed for a fresh tub of paste every year, no matter how much I left unused the previous year. I know what you're thinking, , but I didn't eat it. I left that job to Jamie King in Mrs. Economy’s 1st grade classroom. I guess I just saw hope…possibility…and sweet satisfaction when I opened a fresh new tub. Yep...I find inspiration in inanimate objects like any good child of an artist/counselor. ;)

You might be feeling frazzled to cram in end-of-summer activities: redo the guest room, check out a couple state parks, hit up the neighborhood swimming pool, finish that book before the overdue fines hit, spend the weekend at a cabin.

Nothing can stop you. Until something stops you: a move, a work emergency, a house full of kids…there are so many opportunities for something to go awry.

And then you're forced to watch your plans spiral down the toilet like the 5-course dinner from your 40th birthday bash (so much for that 2-drink limit).

This. Is. Perfectly. Normal.

When this happens, you might be tempted to beat yourself up. Not today, Junior. Here at the School of Midlife, we’re all about travel. But we loathe guilt trips.

Here’s a quick 4-step exercise to practice any time you’re feeling guilt, anxiety or shame:

What’s happening that’s bothering you? Try to be as neutral as possible in describing just the facts.
What feeling are you having about this? (Pssst: a feeling is just one word and describes a physical sensation in your body.)
What thought is causing that feeling? What are you making this circumstance mean about you?
Is there a more neutral thought you can believe about yourself in this circumstance?

As your new travel agent, I'll remind you: Sometimes plans need to fall apart so you can see where you need to go next. Whatever happened or didn't happen this summer, stop beating start building yourself up. And look ahead to your own back-to-school fun. Where are you headed? Do you need to change direction?

I’d love to hear what you see for yourself. Drop me a note in the comments.