Seeing the Goal and Going for It Storms, Saboteurs, and Sage Wisdom
Well, as I sit here writing this, my journey feels like something out of a movie. Picture this: I’m on a plane bound for Donegal, supposed to arrive by noon, but with Storm Amy howling outside, I’m not betting on punctuality.
It’s 8:50am on Saturday the 4th of October, and the adventure is already in full swing.
Let’s rewind a few weeks. During my monthly investment club meeting (yes, I’m in two what can I say, I love a spreadsheet), someone suggested a volunteer attend a special training, with the club footing the bill. My hand shot up internally, but I waited to discuss it with Richard first. We agreed it was a win-win: I’d learn something new, and maybe even spot a golden investment for our future. My retirement plan is eight years away, and I’m determined to make it shine.
Fast forward to the next meeting, and surprise I was going! Cue challenge number one: my passport was out of date. Could I get an emergency one in time? After some frantic Googling, I found out I could. I applied, but my first set of passport photos (370kr!) were rejected. Enter stress number two. Solution? DIY photoshoot with Richard, who managed to capture my best “I’m not panicking, you are” look. Of course, the worst photos were the ones they accepted. Typical!
With my old passport in hand, I took the night train to Stockholm where I had to pick up my emergency passport, relished an extra two hours of sleep thanks to a delay, and enjoyed a spontaneous family visit.
Passport pickup was a breeze, and a chatty embassy staffer sent me on a scenic walk past mansions where the rich and famous live. (Note to self: must add “mansion” to vision board.)
But here’s where my saboteurs, those inner critics Positive Intelligence talks about started whispering. I’m currently doing a Positive Intelligence challenge with a friend, working on my Judge, Restless, Avoidance, and Hypervigilant saboteurs. This trip put them all to the test, but thanks to my TC training and the Sage tools I’ve practiced, I managed to notice them, thank them for their concern, and focus on what I could control. (Pro tip: Sage wisdom + a dash of humor = travel sanity.)
Of course, I got lost in Stockholm, sweated my way to Bålsta, and bribed my nephew with coffee for a catch-up. My niece, ever the negotiator, got her nails, and we finished the day with shepherd’s pie and giggles over Google Translate with my youngest neice. I went to bed happy until the next wave of travel nerves hit. Train to the airport? Check. Grounding myself with deep breaths and a promise not to panic-pee? Double check. Breakfast before boarding? Victory!
But the universe had more plot twists. Storm Amy rerouted our flight to Stansted, where we sat for four hours before finally heading back to Dublin. With my phone battery draining and the last bus canceled, I found myself hotel-hopping with 5% battery left. A helpful receptionist saved the day, and I celebrated survival with pizza, a pint, and a well-earned bath.
Now, as I roll toward the Investment AI course late, but safe I’m reminded of what matters. My husband told me, “You’re so resilient, Claire. I’d be freaking out, but you just take it all in stride!” And that’s the heart of it: other people’s decisions (and the odd storm) might shape the journey, but how I respond is up to me. Transformational Coaching and Positive Intelligence aren’t just buzzwords, they're the reason I can laugh, thank my saboteurs, and keep moving forward, rain or shine.
So here’s to seeing the goal, going for it, and embracing the adventure no matter what the peanut gallery says. May your next storm bring you wisdom, a good story, and maybe even a free pizza. More to come…