Back to the Old Grind

I just got back from a long-overdue family vacation — a week of dedicated family time: no work, no training, no phone, no email, no TV, no radio. No UBBT journaling, either, so I'm sorry that I missed a week! Just good meals and good times with the people I care about the most. (Okay, and some personal development reading, too.)

Ahh, so nice to get back to what really matters!

We had a great time, and as soon as I can figure out how to get pictures out of my new digital camera, I'll post some. We stayed at a beautiful and quiet condo resort, away from all the touristy stuff. Idyllic setting with nature all around. We couldn't have asked for a better place.

Right in the middle of my week of relaxation, however, I was suddenly alarmed and painfully aware of how much STUFF my family and I were mindlessly throwing away. We were cooking most of our own meals in the kitchenette, but nonetheless, we quickly and repeatedly filled the wastebasket with paper, plastic cups, plastic wrapping, straws… and well, it just started driving me crazy out of nowhere. The resort didn't recycle, either, so even our glass and plastic bottles went right down the garbage chute! The killer moment for me was at check out, when the woman at the front desk didn't take back my three plastic magnetic door keys to reprogram and reuse – "Oh, we don’t take those back" she said. "You can just toss them."

Instead, I brought them all the way back to Boston to put into the recycling here.

But back at home, my awareness of the waste continued: After a week away, the bills had piled up. Now, I hate paying bills as much as anyone else, but to see all the wasted paper statements, envelopes, ad marketing fluff going into the trash as I opened up and processed the "bad news" got me upset all over again. It's time to sign up for e-billing.

Today I rose early, did my push-ups while watching the latest video blast from Coach Tom, then went out for a short run and some ab exercises before heading out to work.

So it's back to the old grind.

But now, with some added awareness, different from before.