So one of the biggest things I try to do in my post executive life is to keep my calendar fully meted out so that no one day, week, month or season gets out of control. I can handle a day or two and can definitely handle a week. But when I get to crazy months or seasons, I definitely struggle. Truth be told, I just don’t have the stomach for a busy life anymore.
When I was a runner, I was a pretty slow runner. In sprints, it’s pretty obvious. In distances, it wasn’t that noticeable. But I used to have a t-shirt that read, “this IS my race pace”. That’s how I feel about life now. I like things slow and steady; I’m too excitable for the fast pace anymore.
But sometimes, I lose control. I’ve learned over the years that it just takes saying “yes” a couple of extra times. And that’s what I’ve done. Now? I have seven trips before the end of the year and I need to bill 225 additional hours. That means for the days that I’m not on trips? You got it: I have to work harder than my normal pace. All of that leads to the perfect storm of Gail having to pick up the pace.
The craziness officially starts today. I need to check in/pack for the retreat, I’ve got five calls and an extra hour or two of work to do. Tomorrow, I’ve got about a 15-hour day. Thursday should be a little slower but Friday will be another 12-14 hours. Then, when I get home late on Friday, we leave early-ish on Saturday for my husband’s marathon. When we get back, I’ve got three days to get my house and life together – and to bill 18 hours – before my bestie and her husband come to stay with us for our high school reunion. Then, I’m home for a week before I leave the following Monday to Chicago. I’ll fly home on Tuesday just in time to fly out on Wednesday to Orlando. When I get home the following Saturday, I’m home for two weeks, leaving just three trips to go before life settles down.
The tough part is that this is all happening at my favorite time of the year. It’s also happening as my niece and her husband are moving home and purchasing their “raise my family in it” home. So, for all that I arrange my life so that peace and quiet and family come first, this time I let it get out of control again.
But I have learned something. The anticipation of the crazy may just be worse than the actual crazy. I was completely overwhelmed yesterday. Today? I have a little sense of calm. I know what I have to do, I know how I’ll do it and now that I’m in it, it doesn’t seem so bad. It’s kind of like going to the dentist. Once I’m in that chair, I’m totally fine. Waiting, truly, is the hardest part.
Still, I am completely intimidated by the amount of work in front of me. I would have preferred to be about 20 hours closer to my target right now. But, I am where I am and I now have to roll with it. Again, I’ll feel better when I really get into it and can click along at pace rather than anticipating how hard its going to be.
And finally, on November 15th, when I arrive home late at night but having fulfilled ALL of my work trips for a year, I can breathe a sigh of relief. By then, I should – if all projections are correct – have about 50 hours to go. And that, my friends, should be a REALLY EASY lift. So, if I can get to there successfully, I’m in! I’ll have succeeded. Doing the math again – because that’s how I roll – I’ve got 45 days exactly that I’ve got to push through.
It starts today. I can make it. And when I do? You better believe there is a pumpkin spice margarita waiting for me.
The Yuppie Homesteader 