Chasing the Dragon

I didn’t have any big epiphanies on this trip. No breakthroughs, no big ideas. I went to Italy to eat pizza and pasta and look at old stones. Mission accomplished. But secretly, I hoped time away from work and routine might create space for something to bubble up. Some new insight that might improve my life.

Our days were full. I did my best to be present in them. Walking around the ruins of Pompeii, I wasn't thinking about things I could build with stone when I got home. Staring at the horizon to avoid seasickness on the choppy ferry crossing to Capri, I wasn't thinking about what writing project I'd tackle next. Even though I didn’t spend much time actively thinking about work, part of me thought Maybe when I get home, I’ll have the next idea, the next insight, the next shift in perspective.

Here's a scary thought:

What if I already have what I need?

What if I’ve had the insights and found the clarity - and now it’s time to follow through? Ideas feel good. Epiphanies feel even better. But without taking action on them, what good are they?

Sometimes, chasing the next breakthrough is just another way of avoiding taking action. I know what I need to work on now. It's time to do that work.

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Turns out, something did bubble up after all: I need to stop waiting for a new epiphany and get to work.