Ever since I started playing ultimate frisbee in 2001, it’s not uncommon for me to take 5-10 trips out of the city every year with a handful of those trips to the USA. It was never a challenge for me to take time off from work or school since my trips were for 2-3 tournaments.
However, since I have started playing disc golf, dog disc and the overall in 2011, traveling has increased in frequency, duration and distance. And especially since I have become a professional speaker, it’s important for me to be on the road visiting schools and attending competitions.
Traveling can be hard on sensitive souls; routine and a few favorite items can make your journey easier.
I’ve always had a one or two day let down after a tournament (some might call it a Case of the Mondays) but this summer everything came to a peak.
First, I spent 10 days in Royan, France for the WFDF 2017 World Championships of Beach Ultimate. Then, 3 weeks later I flew to Wroclaw, Poland for The World Games 2017 and then 6 days later flew to Basingstoke, England for the WFDF 2017 World Overall Flying Disc Championships.
In total I spent about 3.5 weeks in Europe, sleeping in hotel rooms and in a tent at the fields. I ate way too much fast food and hotel food, stayed up far too late doing work, didn’t sleep enough and was also dealing with being attacked and bullied online for comments I made.
When I got home and realized that in less than a month, I was booked to fly to Toronto, Canada for the 2017 Canadian National Disc Golf Championships, I just couldn’t do it. I ended up spending the better part of 6 days holed up in my apartment, watching way too many movies, eating way too much fast food and generally feeling sorry for myself. It wasn’t a good place. It wasn’t a good feeling. There was a lot of demons and feelings and insecurities that I was dealing with and struggling to work through.
Ultimately, it came down to doing the things I love, spending less time getting consumed by what others thought of me, what others were trying to take away from me and getting back to what has gotten me where I am today.
I has been a hard battle the last few weeks but I’m feeling much lighter, more refreshed and optimistic again.
Sometimes we all get a little lost and need to have that internal battle with ourselves. I believe this will be a lifelong process for myself so I need to figure out how to handle the travel, the negativity, and the uncertainty of the path I’ve chosen.
During the course of your journey, try not to forget to indulge in those activities that center you and sustain your emotional equilibrium. If you tend to sleep and wake at the same time each day, maintaining that schedule will ensure you stay strong and healthy. Taking time out of your voyage agenda to write in a journal, meditate, do yoga, or walk can help you reconnect with yourself in an alien setting.
This article has helped put things into better perspective for me and help me prepare for my next adventure: http://dailyom.com/cgi-bin/display/articledisplay.cgi?aid=59076.
How do you handle being on the road? What helps you stay grounded?