So, what did I learn?

I had a lot of enthusiasm for attending the RTR this year, but I was also aware that I wasn't sure how prepared I actually was for the experience. It turns out that my sprained foot was one of those blessings in disguise that you hear about. It forced me to slow down from the frenzy of trying to get ready for my trip. It forced me to be more conscious of my body while moving around. I didn't know how rocky and uneven the terrain would be at RTR, but if I had gotten there all wound up and not being particularly careful, the odds of my injuring myself after I got there seem really high to me. And managing the same injury if it occurred after getting there would have been much more difficult and unpleasant for me.

If you've been reading this blog all along, then you may recall that when I left home, I wasn't sure I'd make it all the way to Arizona. I didn't know how my foot would tolerate traveling, and I didn't know what kind of weather I'd encounter. I was halfway across Texas before I really believed I'd get to Arizona. Leaving as late as I did and trying to get there before the RTR ended, meant that my trip from Tell City to Quartzsite was about 5 days shorter than what I'd originally intended it to be. The sense of freedom and ease that I'd hoped for during the drive wasn't there because I was continually pushing myself to keep moving in a pretty linear way at times when I might prefer to stay put or take a side trip. When I arrived in Quartzsite I was aware that while I'd had many positive experiences on my trip so far, I definitely didn't have much of a sense of freedom.

So now that I was actually at the RTR, now what?

The main events I attended while I was there were two panel discussions by and for women. One was on the subject of hygiene and the other was on the subject of safety. Each panel included three or four very articulate women who have very different approaches to the panel topic.

It has taken me a while to realize that I am reluctant to cover the panels in any detail here because they touch on some very private issues and this is a public forum. So I'm going to just say that the panel format and the variety of viewpoints helped increase my sense of freedom -- they provided me with more options and also reminded me to give myself permission to find out what works for me -- not to try to fit myself into someone else's mold. I'm still finding my pace and discovering my preferences. I'm still at the very beginning of this journey. I'm thinking that by January 2019 I might really be ready to attend a complete RTR.

If you have any specific questions, feel free to shoot me an email message or ask me when I see you next time. 

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