Jeff’s Journal
By Jeff Whitaker
If you’ve ever taken a trip to the beach you know it’s not something you do with the short-term in mind. By that I mean, you pack the chairs, the sand buckets and shovels, the boogie boards, the sun tan lotion (cause you know you’re gonna be there a while) and of course lunch and plenty of snacks. When you head to the beach, your intent is to “park it” and settle in for the long haul.
It’s fun, exhilarating, refreshing and relaxing all at the same time. I don’t know about you, but for me when I’m lounging in my chair and close my eyes to catch a nap, I always wake up thinking I’ve been asleep longer than I have. There is something about the breeze, the crashing of the waves, the whole atmosphere that puts me in a peaceful slumber. You gotta love the beach. But at some point, it’s time to pack up and leave.
Personally, I’ve observed three LIFE LESSONS about leaving the beach.
1. Most of the time it takes some coaxing to get up the energy to leave. It’s been a long day, no one wants to make the first move and everyone knows when you do decide to leave, there is work to be done. Gather the buckets and shovels, shake off the towels, gather the kids together. You know the routine. And after you’ve been sitting for a while, it usually takes one person to say, “Ok, let’s get moving.” And that person gets up and motivates everyone else to get moving. Whether it’s in business or your personal relationships, it helps to have others beside you to encourage you and help pitch in.
2. Once you get packed up and begin your trek to the car, you realize there is always a straggler in the group. You know what I mean; the one child who’s so tired he or she can’t walk. Either you carry them until you get to the car or at the very least walk beside them, offering encouragement along the way. Sometimes when we make the decision that it’s time to leave the comfort of the beach and get back to the work at hand, we have to realize that others on the team might just need us to lead them, encourage them, walk beside them until they see the goal (in the case of this analogy) the car, in sight.
3. When you leave the beach, it can be more than a little messy with the sand between your toes and the greasy lotion on your body. Actually, it may seem strange to you but one of my favorite things about going to the beach is getting back home, showered and all cleaned up. There is something about the refreshing feeling you have after a day at the ocean. What that means to you and me is the realization that a trip to the beach is important. It’s not only important, it’s essential to maintain balance in our lives. We need that time to relax and unwind. Because when we do take that time, our time back in the “real world” becomes that much more productive. There is a renewed energy and sense of excitement that comes with the experience.
How do you recharge to prepare to return to the arena?
Jeff Whitaker is a veteran broadcaster here in South Jersey.. He now draws on his experience and training to work with companies and individuals to develop effective storytelling, communications and leadership skills. Find free resources and ways Jeff can work with you at jeffwhitaker.com
