​Weathering the Storm with the WP#123

It has been a week of consolidation, as the time gets closer for me to fly the coop. While I have not been to the storage unit as much this week, when I was there, it was getting rid of more stuff. This last week has been more of catching up with friends and meeting some new clients in person, something missing while I have been elsewhere, be it New England or England or anywhere in the world. Of course, when I have traveled before, I have met clients from the great state of Minnesota, in Italy, for, perhaps obvious reasons, but at other times, places like Iceland, Hungary and Argentina and not just Minnesota, but from other states in the union, so consolidating this week and the past few weeks has been part of the process of downsizing. ​

Consolidation is also something I do in my business, as many of the air tickets I do for my clients are tickets done through air consolidators or wholesalers where contracts have been arranged behind the scenes and I can, much of the time, get better fares that are is out there on many of the websites including the airline’s own websites, and if I do the air tickets for my clients, then I am in control to handle the nasty schedule changes that occur more often than not and many which cause misconnections we have all become very used to. Many of my colleagues don’t touch air as it can be a hassle, but for me, as a full-service travel advisor, it is part of what I handle in the overall big picture. And, yes, it is a money earner for me as part of the whole service. I also, explain, that if a client does their own air, regardless of price, they are responsible for any and all schedule changes, cancellation and other issues that arise, but if I do it, whether it is a published airfare and yes, I charge a small fee for this coverage of potential inconvenience or it a consolidated ticket, which saves them money in the end, it takes a load of their mind. ​

As I was thinking about what to write this week, there was not much, really, different as I continue to tie up loose ends before I leave this Friday. The routine of life here for the past 2 ½ weeks has been just that, but the routine has been one with a very specific goal in mind, to simply my life and to consolidate everything in it. However, the funny thing about the energy expended on consolidation is also very complicated as you realize that when you are trying to simply your life, how complicated it really is. All the stuff accumulated, the ties to a place you have, even though it has been two years since I have been here. The world is really interconnected and complicated and that is nothing new, but realizing this even more as I downsize in preparation for the next stage of my life has truly come to the forefront. I also noticed this last night when I met another good friend for dinner and as I was explaining how my week has been, and the desire to simply things, he said, you seem busier than ever and that is true on all different fronts, business, personal and everything in between and honestly, there is not enough time in the day, but as everything in my life, and trying to slow down, it is still a balance for me, and what I like to call organized chaos. 

So, consolidation is something that is paramount in both my personal and professional life on a regular basis and honestly, it is fine. The dichotomy of trying to simplify my life has also brought on new challenges and therefore more complexities and that is simply life, throwing a curveball here and there and this past week has been no different. It is all in how you handle things, sometimes well and sometimes not, and hopefully, more of the previous and less of the later. I know, on one day this week, three issues in one day, all on the personal side and one on the business reared their ugly heads and it was like playing Wack a mole and trying to put out the fires. It is challenging to handle one, but three or four in one day, honestly took a toll. Yes, I survived and moved forward, and I won’t bore you with the details as we all have those days. It has been important to continue the process forward, even with the bumps in the road, which I did. And, still, tasks to accomplish this week before shutting it down here in Minnesota, for now and next week’s blog will be from across the pond for the foreseeable future. In the end, simplifying one’s life is quite complicated, but it is a very healthy thing, once accomplished. 
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As always, stay safe, stay healthy and always look for the best in a situation and be patient as the best things in life are worth waiting for. Thank you as always for your support of my crazy little world and my small business. As always, I look forward to your comments, questions, concerns and continuing the discourse through whichever means you read my posts!!!