Opening up or seeing things with fresh eyes are probably better descriptions.
Welcome to the 94th episode of Giving Back Insights, my Thursday solo show where I talk about how our guests and their charities serve others, to explore actions each of can take to make a difference in people’s lives and to share. Today I’m discussing A Glimpse Of My Future. Listen to today’s episode and don’t forget to give your feedback and valuable comment. Enjoy!
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Hello, it’s great to be back! I hope you enjoyed Tony and Jia’s talks, I found their stories to be touching and insightful and hope you found something both useful and joyful in their presentations. A picture of my beautiful wife in Saint Maarten is on the cover of today’s show. We had a wonderful vacation in the Southern Caribbean and I found that the time in a different environment was helpful for me to see things from a different perspective.
Opening up or seeing things with fresh eyes are probably better descriptions. For one, seeing the difference between lifestyles from the US to the islands. Wow. It’s not just about material abundance or lack of resources, it’s also about accepting a lifestyle dramatically different from my own as being absolutely normal.
A second eye-opening situation is to see the effects of Hurricane Maria. Flying into San Juan, Puerto Rico, we went over miles of shanty towns. September 18th was the 1 year anniversary and we were on the island of Dominica. Beautiful, resilient people; bent but unbroken, proud of their islands and ready to reclaim a bright future.
A third piece of wonder comes back to the people I met. I’m a traveler and an obvious tourist. I wander where the winds of my interest or recommendations take me, and I often encountered all eyes in a room on me, sometimes unsmiling. It was intimidating on more than one occasion and I found that when I stopped focusing on the uncertainty in my head and focused on speaking a single point of truth that I believed we shared, it made a huge difference. What I said that worked in EVERY situation was simple: You have a beautiful island.
Mostly, this trip was about reconnecting. After all, this will be our lives as empty nesters. Conversation, laughter, awkward pauses and all — what a great time with a wonderful partner she is. Learning to embrace her plans, however different from mine, and get so much joy in sharing a totally different experience than I would have chosen.
In the end, just as the saying goes, travel changes us. I think travel allows us, in the best of circumstances, to stop thinking about ourselves and focus on the world and people around us. To count our blessings and enjoy the presence of our companions as well as revel in the joy of discovery.
Reframing
Ursula: how can I better listen to her?
Carson, Tyler and Rachel: how I can best support each of them?
Mom: treasure our time together in ways that are meaningful to her
Tom: remember that my role is to love him, not save him
Guest insight coming up:
George Madiou, Business 4 Vets
Bob Burg, “The Go-Giver”
Remember: Always err on the side of love & kindness.
Love & Gratitude,
Rob
Facebook Live:
Backstage at the Giving Back Podcast Episode 261, Insights #94: "A Glimpse of My Future"
Backstage at the Giving Back PodcastEpisode 261, Insights #94"A Glimpse of My Future"
Posted by Giving Back Podcast on Wednesday, October 3, 2018
Comments 2
Great blog and sharing. You asked: How did travel change you? I started climbing mountains at an advanced age and found out who I REALLY am. The insight I got relates to why even the very best people skills training (corporate and personal – it’s all personal) generally does not translate into consistent behaviors. The reason, we don’t really know ourselves to the point of being connected to our brilliance and our own personal power. I now take people on what I call, Transformational Life (or, for corporations, “Leadership”) Experiences. My first trip into the mountains was in 1992 at age 55. . .obviously I am a slow learner, ha, ha!
Werner, I believe that the difference between a mid-life crisis and a mid-life awakening is choice. Cheers to your choice, onward and upward!