Plan, schedule, prepare and then make it happen

Mental Matters
By Dr. Jennifer Goble

Often, we surprise others. Sometimes, we surprise ourselves. Such is the case with my husband and I; we actually rode our Spyder (Can Am three wheeled motorcycle) to Niagara Falls.

Our route: CO, NE, IA, MO, IL, IN, KY, OH, WV, PA, NY, Canada, MI, OH, IN, IL, IA, NE, HOME. Forty-five hundred miles.

We had a great time, and achieved two check-offs on my bucket list, but my purpose of sharing what we did is to emphasize we did it.

We didn’t just dream or talk about it, we did it. We planned, scheduled, pre-pared, and climbed on the bike with helmets, minimal clothes, laundry detergent, rain gear, maps, computers, cords, and bare necessities.

We took the overpass and headed toward I-76 East. We encountered cold, rain, wind, heat, humidity, as well as perfect weather, historical sites, miles of corn, soybeans and forests, and many pleasant and interesting people.

Not so great, was the night my computer fell from unzipped luggage onto the pavement to be shattered, run over, and gone forever. Full story at: writingbugncw.com.

My new project is Rural Women’s Stories, and every day on our two and one-half week journey, I wrote (on my husbands computer) a short story about one woman I met serendipitously during the day.

The stories are posted on jennifergoble.com.

I was able to materialize two major goals: A trip we’ve talked about for years, and collect rural women stories.

We were so involved in the scenery, points of interest, weather, interesting people, and where we were going to stop for the night, neither of us focused on our aches, pains, or worries.

I’ve said several times since we have been back, “I’m proud of us!” After all, we are a little old to be doing such shenanigans, but if not NOW, WHEN?

Like the question, “When you are on your death bed, are your going to be sorry you did or sad you didn’t?”

So, YOU, my readers, think of something big or small that you want to do.

Plan, schedule, prepare, and for your mental wellness, DO IT! Surprise yourself.

Benjamin Franklin said, “You may delay, but time will not, and lost time is never found again.”

Until the next time: Live while you live!

(Jennifer Goble, Ph.D. is a Licensed Professional Coun-selor. Check out her book, My Clients…My Teachers and her

blog at www.jennifergoble.com.)

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