The sky is closer here

This week was a mess. I had a bajillion things to do at work, a doctor's appointment at the end of the week, and an out of state presentation in the middle of it.

What made the week substantially better is that the out of state presentation was in Vermont, where I' never traveled previously, and where it is beau-uuu-ti-ful.

Just being on the road was such a relief - to be by myself, in the middle of the sunshine, cruising along with the radio. If there was ever a time that I needed a three hour drive, this was it.

I loved how the whole world just expanded up there. One of my favorite things about my work is getting to travel, and one of my favorite things about traveling is being shaken out of my element just enough to appreciate every aspect of the environment and my ongoing experience in it.

It was chilly, bright, and oh so blue. There were multiple "Moose Crossing" signs and a "Bear Crossing" or two. I envied the layer of snow on almost every surface - no wonder skiing is so big up there and they can still snowboard after our mountain has been shut down for the season. It was very, very vast and the emotion of the state, to me, felt very, very steady. I was getting out and getting some fresh air, so to speak, and it was just lovely.

Another nice perk of traveling is that the sense of self travels with you, but feels different in the new place than in the old. For instance, I found myself laughing with people I had just met, and it was refreshing to think that my quirky personality was easy to bring out among strangers. I've been working so much and trying to keep my old friendships strong, so that it was neat to just be me an know that I still could be around new people. That probably doesn't make any sense at all, but I am very thankful for the chance to get away once in awhile, to rejuvenate, and to get out of the rush. This helps me to remember who I am, anywhere and everywhere, no matter what.