Drop the Routine, Before Getting Back to the Routine

I just spent the past 30 days driving around the US visiting friends, family and mission teams. If I am being honest, I have been out of my 'routine' for two months.

I returned from serving in Abaco in July. While in Abaco, I love the routine... wake about 0700, breakfast at 0800, prep and depart camp at 0900. We eat lunch about 1200, end the workday between 3:30 and 5, return to camp and eat dinner at 6.

While in the US, NO routine. No two days were the same.

I spent July cleaning out my parents home to prepare for the sale. I then went to Haiti for a week on a Vision Trip with Many Hands, my first experience in Haiti. Upon return, we listed the house for sale and the following three weeks were spent preparing for the closing and working on the estate.

On closing day, September 9th, I set out for the 30-day roadtrip. It was amazing.

There are takeaways I had from this time that I want to share with you.

1 - Create a career that you're excited to return to after a break.

I cannot express the joy I experienced during my break. I found closure with the house sale, spent hours with mom as her dementia progressed and was overwhelmed by the beauty of my drive through six states, countless mountain ranges and state parks.

As the trip began to wind down, I felt the urge to pack and return to Abaco. I became excited to reconnect with mission team members and locals.

I was excited to return to work!

This wasn't always the case for me. As my career ended, I knew it was over long before but I was pushing through. Ensuring the kids were settled into their careers and didn't 'need' me.

If you're in the state of mind to 'get out' or 'move on,' let me be your encouragement... If you are thinking this, you already decided.

YOU JUST NEED TO ACT!!! If you need someone to talk to about this, please connect with me.

One of my fondest moments of this summer, a mission team member who changed his job and found happiness! 

2- Simplifying things. 

There is so much noise, silence it and simplify. 

Be true to YOU, not anyone else.

Once I aligned my values, that old career vanished and many doors opened. 

If you can take a break, it's easy to silence the noise and listen to yourself.

Listen to what's important to you.

Reflect on your values.

Declutter. Like we cleaned out the house, you too can clean out your thoughts and maybe your house/garage/storage unit. Clutter is stressful.

Decide to spend time, and money, on what is most important to you, what brings you joy.

So. What 1, 2 or 3 steps can you take to drop the routine, refocus and return to a more calm, focused and happy you?