E-Motion Sickness
“Life is not about the Destination. It’s about the Journey.”
How many of you get motion-sickness in the backseat of a car? Or on a turbulent plane? How many of you get more than physically ill and feel absolute anxiety or even terror?
While I don’t feel terror, per se, moving locations for extended periods of time (like 6 months in Bermuda) does give me pretty bad anxiety. I feel incredibly overwhelmed, dizzy, nauseated and incapable of thinking straight. So much to plan for, so many boxes to pack, Sometimes, it gets so bad I have a bit of a panic attack and even stop breathing.
I know I’m not alone in this, and no, my answer isn’t going to be “Take a Xanax” and sleep it off. Though that can sound tempting, and maybe that IS what your doctor or therapist recommends for you. But for me the best solution is to take my time. Having lost one adrenal gland already to cancer, managing my stress levels has become more crucial, because even the slightest upset can now potentially tip me over into a migraine or even a seizure. No joke.
Today, as I board my plane back to New York, with Pippa, all our vaccination, customs and immigration paperwork, a minimal bag of clothes, and her Sherpa bag in tow, I look back at the pictures that brought us here and the anxiety as well. Shipping 6 months of clothes, dog treats, and an entire life in three boxes, and a couple of suitcases nearly put me over the edge. Add to that coordinating all the pet import, Emotional Support Animal and FEDEX paperwork along with my own Covid tests within a 10-day window, really was agita-inducing. I actually hired someone to help me, it was that bad. Needless to say, we made it here safely. And it WAS worth it. This latest chapter in my life, finding a new family, community, and way of living entirely, has proven once again that life really is about the journey, and every moment is worth savoring, however painful it might appear at the time.
So, here are some thoughts for you, my fellow life-travelers.
As our wise IPEC founder Bruce Schneider noted in one of his key principles: Pain – whether from life’s many trials, or moving, or simply having to shift perspectives -- is inevitable. But Suffering isn’t.
We all have the choice to see our paths as dead-ends or adventures. And I choose the adventure. In fact, I choose to SAVOR the adventure, regardless of how apparently stressful or even painful it, because, each of these moments is a learning opportunity, a growth opportunity and shows us a new way to stretch our potential to understand our own limits and capacities as well as that of others. Because each of us truly is wiser and greater than we appear to be on the surface.
Each of these moments also offers us the opportunity to ask for help and to trust each other. Which can be equally terrifying.
And I did all of these things over the past week.
Each day I methodically packed 1-2 items on my list until I was absolutely certain we were ready to go.
I applied for my digital vaccination certificate and Pippa’s health certifications
I packed away everything that would stay here until our return in mid-July
I solicited my new community for help in storing what we would leave and organizing our travel
I reminded myself to breathe in and savor the process,
So, whether you’re returning from an extended stay overseas, like me, or returning to the office after working from home, or even starting a new job after years od insecurity, I hope you can enjoy each step along the journey, no matter how sick it may make you feel at the time.
Namaste.
Holly Lynch is a 20+ year communications veteran and life-long social impact advocate and strategist who has helped individuals, educational leaders, and companies tackle the toughest challenges in their worlds.
Having survived countless life setbacks and two rounds with terminal cancer, while seeing the country-wide collapse of the systems and safety nets for the most vulnerable in and outside our communities, she is now shifting her life and career trajectories to focus on coaching those facing down fundamental shifts and transitions as they try to navigate and rebuild their lives, institutions and businesses during these unprecedented times.