Saturday, December 10, 2011

When your life mirrors reality TV, take action...

I'm so not a fan of reality TV. Not a single show. And yet, every once in a while, I feel compelled to watch "documentary-type" reality shows, like "Hoarding" - a bit like watching a train wreck, it's hard to avert your eyes...

I recently stumbled upon a "Hoarding" episode ("stumbled", as in, there was nothing else to watch, I was channel surfing, and stopped on TLC for a few minutes). I was watching the show, feeling at once sorry for the poor people whose lives are ruined by their hoarding disorder, and disgusted at their self-inflicted insalubrious living conditions.

Simultaneously, I took a look around at my own living quarters. Whoa... Piles of "stuff" everywhere, books collecting dust, clothes on the floor, dirty dishes in the sink, and even shopping bags on the floor still filled with whatever recent purchases I'd made. Wait a minute. The only difference between that, and the people on TV, is that I'm just lazy. I'm not afraid of throwing stuff out, but I often just "can't be bothered". Well, laziness isn't exactly something to brag about. So consider this a confession.

My friends and parents willingly excuse me by saying, "you don't have time! You're always traveling or working hard all week, it's understandable that you don't want to spend your weekends cleaning!"

But - enough is enough. I can't stand this anymore! So - today is "purge day". Sort, throw away/give away/put away, and clean.

We'll see how long I last before I sit back down on the couch in front of the TV, or get distracted and stop making progress. Nonetheless, one thing's for sure: I don't ever want to be featured on that show!

So, off to clean up I go.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Is it possible to overdose on adventure?

Twenty-eleven started out like any other normal year for me: lots of work in perspective at a fast-growing, culturally-intense, highly successful Canadian software company; weekly or at least bi-weekly business trips to New York City and other destinations of varying degrees of excitement; and a few personal trips ranging from weekends to week-long adventures. 

As it turns out, 2011 surpassed even 2007 (my previous record travel year) for the number of trips I took. I have one more planned to wrap up the year: the annual Christmas vacation south, with Mom & Dad. Oh - and yes, at least one more business trips, perhaps two, between now and the end of the year.

So - before I forget - where did I go this year?
  • February: business trip to Zurich, which included one day of skiing in Davos
  • April: ski week in Vail, Co
  • April: Spring Diva Camp, cycling camp with TotalCyclist, in Beaufort, SC
  • May: 4 days in Southern California, with the Divas, for the Amgen Tour of California
  • June: 24-hour trip to Philadelphia, for the TD Bank Philadelphia International Cycling Championship
  • June: day trip to... Milton, On (40Km from Toronto), for the Canadian Road Cycling Championships - ok, not a major trip, but still a fun adventure
  • July: 4-day weekend with Mom & Dad in Vail, Co
  • July: business trip to London, which included a weekend in Paris coinciding with the final stage of the Tour de France
  • September: Labor Day weekend visiting friends in Chapel Hill, NC
  • September: long weekend in Quebec City and Montreal, for the Grand Prix Cyclistes World Tour races (and a visit home to Mom & Dad)
  • October: Fall Diva Camp, cycling camp with TotalCyclist, in Jefferson National Forest, Virginia  Read about Fall Diva Camp in Virginia - it was fantastic!
  • November: one week trip to visit friends in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Mie-Ken, Japan
  • December: weekend trip to Austin, Tx, to celebrate my friends' 25th anniversary
  • December: week-long trip to Cancun with Mom & Dad for Christmas
Plus weekly or bi-weekly trips to New York City, and occasionally to Madison, Wi, to visit clients and make sure we're progressing as planned on large, business-critical, software implementations at financial services and insurance companies.

I will finish the year with nearly 110 flights, Super-Elite status with Air Canada confirmed for 2012. 

It was a great year. Fantastic, in fact. Almost every adventure involved a great set of friends, different almost on every trip. I got to explore new ground, undertake new challenges, meet new people, try new foods, and laugh! I laughed at myself a few times, but mainly, I had the kind of year where I could laugh with pure joy and delight at the wonderful experience that is my life. 

If you're thinking, "alright, enough already, stop rubbing it in", I apologize. I don't mean in the least to be rubbing it in. If anything, this is my acknowledgement of the following things:
  • I am bloody lucky
  • 2011 was unique
  • I am tired!
  • The best adventures and trips were the ones shared with friends - the other ones should have been shared with friends
  • I still feel bad about not being able to visit a friend in Geneva - I just couldn't fit it all in
  • Adrenaline and endorphins are addictive; traveling is an adrenaline rush for me, and releases a whole bunch of endorphins; traveling less will lead to withdrawal symptoms
  • Picking fewer destinations for 2012 is already proving difficult
  • I hope friends will come visit me in 2012!
  • Friendships extend beyond borders, time, cultures, work and family obligations; every once in a while, it's important to renew the bonds, get together and share some smiles 
  • Did I mention that I know I'm bloody lucky?
So here's to 2011, and planning for new adventures in 2012. Within another month or so, I should have fairly well-defined plans. I'll be happy to share them :-)