Embrace Your Destiny: Oh the Places You'll Go

New Year's Eve on the Silhouette

 I love the book by Dr. Seuss Oh, the Places You'll Go! The problem for me is getting the will and courage to take the plunge to go. The fear factor that always gets in the way.

"Places" conjures up destinations. But that's not all the places we can go. Other places we go are personal. These are things like leadership opportunities, relationships, starting a new venture, joining a new group. These personal "places" can be the most challenging of all. The fears, the waiting, the decisions, the setbacks and confusion are still the same.

Recently I've traveled on a cruise to the Eastern Caribbean and islands of the West Indies with Donnie. Then just a short time later I traveled to Laguna Beach for a trip with sister Penni. Both trips to delightful, warm, exotic places. Both also full of challenges.

Getting comfortable with the uncomfortable

This posting will focus on the principles I apply when dealing with all uncomfortable “places" both personal and travel. When I get over the fear and indecision, the rewards are amazing. I feel excitement, empowerment, self confidence, and pride in my success. It's an extraordinary feeling of accomplishment when I step successfully out of my comfort zone! Dr. Seuss says it is all up to me, so here are my tips for success.

First of all, I have to really want to do the uncomfortable something. Getting to "yes" is the hard part. Once I make that decision, I find ways to deal with the fears and stress. For me, the first time doing anything or going anywhere is stressful.

Here are three things I do consciously and unconsciously anytime I find myself in a new, "stressful" situation:

• I get prepared
• I research the place, activity, role, or group
• I plan the best "ME" to put forward

Get Prepared:

Luckily, there are experts in any field or situation who are ready and willing to help. With travel it's a travel agent. Our agent, Ramona Newton with Aloha Travel in Brevard, takes care of all the details for the trip. 

Off the Silhouette in St. Croix

Cruising wasn't always easy. The travel agent takes the “scary” out of the first time experience by answering questions and anticipating problems I don’t know about. This time we enjoyed the floating comfort of Celebrity Silhouette. Over the past twelve years we have taken at least 10 cruises. Each cruise was easier, safer and more comfortable for me.

When I travel with sister Penni, I’m on my own getting there. Donnie takes care of tickets and coordinating our schedules. As I’m walking better, I don’t worry so very much about navigating the airports. I like to have decent gate switching time but this time it was a tight connection. I made the connection easily, but Penni almost didn't make the flight. Very stressful for both of us. 

Sunset at Laguna Beach with Penni

I expect to feel stress the first day of any adventure and plan accordingly. The physical symptoms like headache, constipation, and fatigue respond well to walking and meditation.

The other part of being prepared is getting packed with all necessary medicines, water bottle and important documents and papers. Getting everything together ahead is step one; having a consistent place to pack it is step two. I keep medicines, water bottle and documents close to me at all times. I keep searching for the perfect bag to carry everything and Penni introduced me to a great backpack. It's small, spiffy, lightweight and leaves my arms free. The backpack is from Knono which has a great line of business backpacks.

Research the place or activity:

The cruise itinerary is my guide for helping me plan my trip. What clothes will I need for all different occasions and what gear might be good to have for activities. This includes things like sunglasses, hat, or gloves. We like to pack light just because there is less to keep up with. 

I like to get my exercise off the top. That means planning when I can do it and usually doing it first thing in the day. Exercise helps me manage the stress and anxiety imposed by anything that stretches me. When traveling, I always check for gym availability and accessibility to a Hot Yoga studio. On the ship, there is a fitness center and we set up our own hot yoga on deck at ports of call.

With my two yoga teachers in Laguna Beach 

With Penni trips, I’ve been fortunate to have found some great studios fairly close to the hotel. On this recent Penni trip, I did two days at Pacific Blue Yoga in Laguna Beach, California. Going to a new studio is an adventure in itself. Getting to the studio, finding the studio, getting set up with a bar, chair or stool to help me do the three standing postures and getting comfortable with the room again, are stressful. Doing the yoga relieves the stress. I always like to inform the teacher that I have MS so she is aware of the balance and strength issues up front.

Regardless of the nature of the trip, or activity I try to stay close to my usual daytime schedule. Eight hours sleep is a priority as is healthy food. I eat three times a day with breakfast being a favorite. I like to do a walk first thing in the morning, even before breakfast to stimulate the digestive system. Keeping the water bottle filled is very important on the ship or wherever the adventure is happening. I don't go anywhere without my water bottle.

Donnie and Ivan

On the cruise, just getting off the ship is an adventure. Most of the excursions are too long and confining to suit me. I am comfortable with 1 1/2 to 2 hour trips but there aren't too many of those available. We got lucky in Granada. We hadn't planned to do an excursion, but we literally backed into a perfect impromptu excursion we could tailor to our interests. It was extremely hot and humid and I was getting weaker by the minute. Enter Ivan. He charmed us from the get-go telling us about his island. It was delightful. This was local color I'll remember a long time. 

Put the best ME forward:

When I step out my door, I always try to look my best. At Laguna Beach on the last night, Penni, her colleague Andrea Pelt-Thornton with Florida Power and Light, andrea_pelt@fpl.com, and I were discussing the importance of looking good at work or anywhere. Andrea shared a quote from her father that summarizes how I feel about putting my best self forward. Her dad said, “ When you look good, you feel good. When you feel good you do good.” Her father and my father were on the same page philosophically because that is how I was raised as well. Getting MS at age 50 was a setback, but I decided not to let it define me and how I put myself forward. Consequently, I keep trying to stay fit and improve my walking. The spasticity and irregular gait is not as noticeable, but it is still there. I think putting my best self forward despite the awkwardness is important. 

My Business Casual look

My next challenge is another Toastmasters Speech Contest. I spoke on “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” I didn't win the speech contest in the club, but I did win the Table Topics Contest. 

Dr. Seuss says the places I go are all up to me. I have a brain to figure out how and what to do and feet to make it all happen. I plan to see just how far I can go forward with this Primary Progressive MS. My job is to stay healthy and keep getting stronger. I intend to continue stretching my comfort zone doing more things on my bucket list.