Remember when the worst thing that could happen was summer’s end, and then it was time to go back to school? No more long days at the swimming pool, weekends at the lake, or summer camp? Oh, those were the days, weren’t they!
Fast-forward 40 years; summer is over and I am wondering where the heck it went. I don’t feel like I’ve had any time off, mostly because I’ve used up my vacation for the year taking care of my 80 year-old father.
My sisters and I finally were able to get him and his belongings packed up and moved in with one of my sisters. Yes, I am nominating her for sainthood. Personally, it has been extremely difficult to see my biggest cheerleader, begin the trek towards the end of his life. He takes a lot longer to do things than he used to, he “misses” me more than before, and he isn’t quite a sharp as he once was. He could do math in his head that would amaze me; and as a construction man he believed that you measured twice, and cut once. He was a perfectionist in his personal and professional life. It’s very sad how lifetime traits can change so much in 20 years.
I am also seeing myself changing! As I am aging, I find that my multi-tasking skills aren’t what they used to be. This past week I was with family, and they were teasing me how I am such a perfectionist. I had to laugh out loud, and asked them if they were serious? Nowadays, my co-workers know me as “the Tracee formerly known as Perfectionist.” About 16 years ago, when I started at my current agency, I came from a VERY strict corporate agency environment where your every move was scrutinized. Clock in, clock out, lunch hour precisely 60 minutes, no overtime, and everything by the book. After working at Destinations for so long, in an unstructured environment, I don’t think I possess any of those qualities anymore. The lack of structure seems to permeate into every aspect of my life; I feel I am no longer capable of being on time. I have a hard time completing tasks in a timely manner, and I’ve developed such a laissez-faire attitude about schedules. It’s horrible, and I don’t recognize this person I’ve become!
This is the biggest reason I have chosen the “Personal Development” curriculum for my CTC certification. I am hoping to go back to the beginning, and re-learn, and re-establish some of those good habits, which I used to possess. It’s time for me to go back, and learn some OLD tricks…the basics.
This column is supposed to be about what’s going on in our lives, and hopefully offer you some insight into how we manage it all. Everything in each of our lives isn’t always pretty, and wrapped up in a neat little package. Stuff happens, and we drop all of the balls we are juggling. It reminds me of a saying you’ve heard a million times, “Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again!” The great news is that we can get through it, and move on to what lies ahead. Have you found yourself struggling as you get older?
Tracee Williams is a 32 year veteran of the travel industry. She has extensive experience with both corporate and leisure travel agencies in Northwest Arkansas. She specializes in Honeymoons, and Luxury Travel. She is a CTA, ACC, Platinum CSS, and a Sandals Weddingmoon Specialist. She is currently studying to get her CTC. She lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas with her husband Darrell, and their fur babies, Callie, Annie, and Peanut.
