A profit and loss statement helps a company guide decisions based on how the “Net”, the bottom line, looks. Reflecting back on a recent family weekend, the “Net” was an extraordinary experience, a weekend packed with F and E, Fluidity and Ease.
Besides type-A personalities coming together (me included), we felt some apprehension about the visit. It had been twenty five years since we’d had time together. A busy week precluded time to worry and suddenly our guests arrived. And then… the weekend was sadly over. We enjoyed every moment.
Traveling with others isn’t always easy. Even at home, when “on the town” with friends, an evening can pose challenges. Since time is often limited, there’s pressure to make the most of an outing or trip. So what creates fluidity and ease when traveling with others or being together for a specified amount of time?
Letting Go of An Agenda
Although we had activities planned, none of us were absolutely tied to any “Must Do’s”. For those driven to feel a sense of accomplishment, this can be difficult! As hosts, our intention was to create fun experiences knowing, still, that being together and enjoying one another was the most important of all.
Gratitude
We felt more gratitude than apprehension. Life is so fleeting. Our focus wasn’t on what we might have done together over the years or what we might do in the future. No, our attention was on what we were doing right then, in the beautiful mountains, waiting for the bus, in traffic heading home, feeling the winter sun on our cheeks. We relished the time.
Give and Take
Admittedly there was some back and forth every day about our “plan” and sometimes the conversation felt a little weary. Exploring options and understanding what mattered to each of us helped resolve differences. There’s always so much to do anywhere. The list of tourist sites can be long. Flexibility requires being receptive to the needs of your traveling companions while understanding what makes you happy as well.
Living as travelers, we can all experience Fluidity and Ease. When we choose to communicate our intention with “travel” companions, staying open to the rich variety of possibilities, near and far, the Net is accomplished even without a P and L.
