Spiral Of Life Coaching ~ The Great Escape

Coaching & Mentoring For Women Engineers

The Great Escape

by Laurie Valaer, Life Coach, Speaker, & Writer, June 2003

Hanging over my desk at work is an ad for New Balance running shoes that I tore out of a magazine some time ago. Glancing up at the ad a couple of days ago, I remembered why I liked it so much when I first saw it. I find that its “words of wisdom” are very appropriate for me at this time. In the midst of the ad’s pictures are these simple, and powerful, words:

Your computer has a key labeled “escape” Does your life have one too?

It always seems that I have so much going on: building my coaching practice, lots of software testing going on at work, and lately, planning for vacation! The past month has been really crazy coordinating things for our cycling vacation and trying to get all of my work tasks completed before we leave. Through all of this I’d have to say that cycling has been my “life escape”.

I can’t possibly give justice in describing how incredible it is to get out on the bike in the morning…the sun is shining through the morning clouds…everything is quiet & peaceful…you’re one with the road…truly in touch with nature. My favorite place to ride is along the Cherry Creek path. It’s an amazing bit of natural “wilderness” plunked down in the middle of the big city. So…this is the “escape” that has helped me maintain my sanity when the chaos sets in!

However, I have had to be cautious. I’ve been riding a lot lately to train for vacation and to get ready for riding a couple of partial days on “Ride the Rockies”. I realized quickly that I didn’t want to put so much pressure on myself about riding….that I would begin to need an “escape” from my “escape”! So, in those tough times…playing with the dogs or lounging in the hammock also makes a great escape.

What is your “life escape”? It might not even be something that you think of as an escape…but after reading this article…you might recognize it as such. If you have an escape…keep using it! If you don’t have one…make one up. You’ll benefit greatly from creating one suited just for you. Make it light. Make it simple. Make it fun. But definitely make it happen!

Enjoy exploring escapes, both new ones and the old favorites, for the rest of this beautiful summer.

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