Hello, sweet friends!
I’ve just arrived in London for a few meetings here and in Edinburgh, Scotland, over the next week. It’s just after 9 am here, making it just after 3 am back home in Texas. (I try not to think of the time back home, but I had to share.)
I snapped that pic up there just a bit ago, after having successfully navigated my way from Heathrow Airport to Waterloo Station, taking the Paddington Express train from the airport to, well, Paddington, and then taking the Tube (Underground) to the station near my hotel. As I paused to take the picture, I was feeling quite accomplished in my journey. No taxi for me this time…. and I had even used contactless payment for the Tube!
After the proud photo moment, I started the 10 minute walk to my hotel, alternating between pulling and pushing my suitcase. I checked Google maps, wasn’t EXACTLY sure of where to make the turn, but made my way on the journey. Kinda.
I had been to the area before this trip. I had stayed at the hotel several times.. one just in November! But I had always arrived via taxi. And this time things just didn’t look right. My path seemed to take me over a bridge, but I knew that couldn’t be right.
I consulted Google again.
Oops.
I was going the wrong way. So I turned around and went back the other way and down a ramp. And back up another ramp. And then realized I was supposed to have gone a different way when between the ramps.
Oops.
So I tried again and found the right way.
Soon I was walking through the OXO building and then through the back door of Sea Containers on the River Thames. Walking in felt a little like home… which is kinda weird, but nice.
This hotel is super cool and yet chill at the same time. And I love the messages they share on this wall that works like a train schedule. Here’s one:
So now I’m having a cup of tea while waiting on my breakfast. Next I’ll go over notes and prep for meeting number one, which is in 5 hours. I’m pretty pumped for it!
So, sweet friends, why do I share this today?
I believe that people can be afraid to travel (with kids, with a friend or even solo) or try new things for fear of messing up or not knowing the way. I think some people assume I do what I do because I know just where I am going and what I am doing and how to navigate transportation or how to handle all sorts of crazy details.
The truth is that I don’t always know. Today I kinda did, but got a little turned around at the end… until it all worked out beautifully.
I used Google, looked around, kept my eyes open and gave it a go. Some things worked out well right away. Some did not. But, ultimately I learned a lot and ended up pleased with myself for trying and, eventually, succeeding.
There are lots of great tools out there to help on all sorts of journeys– literal and not. You just have to use them!
If you’re holding back from exploring something new, I hope this encourages you in a tiny way to give it a go. Walk a new path. Try a new thing. Breathe in, breathe out, keep your cool and press ahead. You can do this! And if you encounter challenges, take those in and regroup– your goal might be around the corner, or you might uncover something even better, But you won’t know unless you try.
Cheers!
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