Nobody Knows Where I’m Going

It’s 1056 PM on a Saturday night, my plane just left the gate at JFK en route to London, and I’m excited for the next few days.

I don’t remember what I’ve told you, but this year I cut back on my workload, increasing my time off. I have, on several posts, mentioned the burnout I’ve been experiencing, and last March I decided to make some changes at work and take more time away (I understand what a privilege this is).

My strategy has been incredibly effective. Everybody I work with has seen it.

I have found my joy again, both in and out of the office.

Wellness and well-being matter. A lot.

My goal in doing this wasn’t more travel with the extra time, but to instead use those extra weeks to focus on self and family. As it turns out, however, some of those weeks fall in prime travel time for me, and some of the other weeks fall in times I avoid (like the high season). Consequently, this week I am traveling, even though this was intended to be a recovery week.

After working overnight I went to the airport this morning and boarded a flight to New York, where I spent a few hours working online (it couldn’t be avoided).

At three in the afternoon I assessed the situation and happily signed out of everything. Some work was left, but it wasn’t critical, and I know it will still be there when I get home.

Around sunset I got dressed for the big trip and walked into the hurly burly of Midtown Manhattan.

I know how to navigate the turns in my neighborhood and was soon approaching Grand Central Terminal, with the Chrysler Building towering above.

From there I caught my train, and was soon at JFK, sitting in the lounge and enjoying my view.

I’m going to Romania – a country few Americans know about, and that’s prompted some conversations. I don’t know many people who have been there (most I’ve spoken to probably couldn’t place it on a map), but it appeared on a fare search a few years ago, and has bounced around in my brain ever since.

I’m not certain what to expect, but I have 5 full days on the ground, and most of what I’ve heard sounds great.

So join me my friends. I’m off to Bucharest and Transylvania.

And I have a hunch this is going to be incredible.