My five-week travel with the two dogs required that I maintain healthy habits. I was the only driver. That meant that I had to take care of myself, get regular and sufficient rest, exercise, and nutrition. In addition I had to make all the arrangements for our accommodations and plan of travel. I had to take care of the dogs and keep them on as regular and familiar a schedule as possible. This helped them to feel secure and stay healthy, too. This regimen required discipline. While I drove I reflected on this necessary component of my trip.
I realized that my sense of discipline had evolved over my adult life. Before my adulthood my parents probably managed to instill a degree of discipline in my life through their requirements of me and by their own modeling of self-discipline. I was given a good start. But I remember that as a young adult, I wasn’t that disciplined. I would manage to achieve some successes in school or in achieving goals, but there were many lapses. And many periods when I can only say I let things go.
At a certain point, probably overwhelmed by the need and desire to achieve combined with the requirements of various jobs, I became very disciplined. Reflecting, I was my own drill sergeant. Get chores done first. Work before play. Finish what you start. See it through to the end before you start anything else. If you don’t do it right don’t do it at all. And so on. In this state, I accomplished a lot. But many days I never got to do the things I really wanted, the meaningful things, because I had to finish the chores first. The pendulum swung from one extreme to another from too little to overly demanding and structured.
While I was on the road, without realizing it, I began to shift when and how I would do chores and necessary work and when I would spontaneously act on a whim. When I arrived early at my hotel near the Grand Canyon, I inquired and could check in right away. After leaving my luggage in our room I spontaneously decided to go right then to the South Rim Trail, while there was plenty of daylight left. Bliss!
Along with knowing that the chores and work had to be done, a given, I also knew I would do them. Realizing this set me free. I didn’t have to do it all first or all at once. I trusted myself and this allowed me more freedom to plan or be spontaneous. I found a middle ground of flexibility. And life became lighter, more fun, and open. This is one of the valuable lessons that I have learned from my journey. Yes, self-discipline, held seriously but lightly. Be open to life’s possibilities.