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Scratching & clawing past the Land of Agonizing Almost

In just 19 days, we’re going on a 37-day, 6500-mile road trip. We are moving across the continent, all the way from Alaska to Tennessee!

For over six years, my husband and I have wanted to make this move as much as we want for air.  Planning for this day has become a way of life for us.

We’re moving from a way of life that neither of us chose, to the life we’ve both seen vivid and real in our dreams for so, so long.

This is a pilgrimage. The end of an epic love story, and the beginning of an exciting new adventure. Our happily ever after.

Please forgive me the moment of mush.  And now, let’s talk about how this applies to you. 

On October 10th, my husband, the two 4 yr olds, me and the dog will put everything we own in a trailer, pile in the camper and drive away. Or toward. Depending on your perspective.

There is SO MUCH TO DO! And right now, we’re spinning our wheels.

The cusp is a crappy place to be.

This week, we’re in a house filled with angst and electricity. Everyone is ready, but nothing is ready. It’s chaos and it’s exciting and it’s crazy-making and it’s horrible all at the same time.

We’re in Agonizing Almost Land.

Every single project has to survive the trip through Agonizing Almost Land

Our move is there right now.

BrainyFeet is there right now too. In the midst of a beautiful transformation. The new Big Picture Book manifesto is only a preview of the awesomeness to come.  Soon grasshopper, soon.

If you’re starting a business, creating a new product, planning a wedding, remodeling a basement or having a baby. No matter what you’re creating or trying to accomplish…you will eventually find yourself struggling in Almost.

Where time simultaneously stands still and moves too fast

It’s amazing how something can feel the furthest away when it’s finally almost within reach.

Time seems to stop, but it speeds up too. The to do list gets bigger right when you think it should be getting smaller.

It’s like that dizzying, ever-expanding hallway in a scary movie.

And that’s when you know you’re on the right path.

In the beginning stages of planning, you’re busy. Fast and furious. Making calls, setting things up, doing research, creating a plan. It’s pure adrenaline.  But then what?

You can’t do everything at once. Some things Many things have to happen within the last days. You know that because you made the plan.

Still, waiting for those last days is excruciating. You know there are 1001 things that have to be done, but you can’t do any of them yet.

You can’t pick up the wedding cake or flowers a week ahead of time. You can’t pack the whole house when you still have 3 weeks to live in it. You can’t paint the wall until the primer dries or add the trim until the paint dries.

Projects feel like they’re getting bigger when they’re almost done.

And that’s okay. It’s supposed to get bigger. Your list is getting longer because it includes more details.

Yes, it feels like you’re moving through knee-deep mud.  The mud is on the path. It’s easy to forget that and get discouraged in the Land of Agonizing Almost.  Don’t.

Trust your plan. Trust yourself. Keep going.

When the plan blows up or veers off course (because it will), roll with it.  You have done the work. You know where you’re going and how you need to get there. As long as you stay focused on moving forward, it’ll happen.

Celebrate while you’re slogging your way through the final stages of your project or plan.

This is it!

After all of the want and work, this is totally freakin’ happening! You are on the cusp of the life you’ve been dreaming about.

Enjoy the ride!!

I’d love to chat about your experiences in the trenches of Agonizing Almost. Tell us what it was like and how you survived in the comments!!
 Photo by MidnightGlory

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8 Responses to Scratching & clawing past the Land of Agonizing Almost

  1. Birdy Diamond, Roving Robin & Encouraging Bird September 23, 2011 at 5:39 pm #

    LIMBO! *UGH!* :>

    Yes, we at the Avian Empire are knowing this all too well ourselves of late.

    I think we are on the other side of it, FINALLY!

    We shall see over the next while if this is truth. 🙂

    I know that many times, this space is simply an incubation before the next Wave of Awesome, but oh! how hard it is to fly through!!! :>

    Best of Fortune to you on all your transitions! :>
    (loving the ones I’m seeing here! :>)

    • Laura White-Ritchie September 26, 2011 at 12:34 pm #

      Yay Birdy for getting to the other side…hopefully! That deserves a celebration!

      And thanks for the encouragement for BrainyFeet’s transformation. I just love that everything is always evolving…us, our work, our world…everything!

  2. Mary September 26, 2011 at 7:43 am #

    Yes, you have names a place not found on GoogleMaps or MapQuest, but one many of us have visited countless times. It is a relief to have it named! Amazing how at this stage of the project, everything crumbles into minuscule details and how the team’s patience and energy also crumbles….

    Self care gets important – some sleep, some exercise, healthy choices that keep the mind and body intact – and is so easily set aside while you get just this one other thing done. Better, when planning, to schedule in naps and walks and massages. Your project will go much better because you will have perspective, and fuel for the final push.

    • Laura White-Ritchie September 26, 2011 at 12:38 pm #

      Hi Mary!! It’s so good to see you here!

      I could agree more about losing patience! Our fuses are so short lately!

      But I can see the exit from this crazy, mucky, sticky land. We leave in 13 days, so it’s finally not too soon to start packing things up. Plus, we now know that we have a home waiting for us! It’s so exciting to see it all come together!

  3. Courtney September 26, 2011 at 12:03 pm #

    Good luck Laura! I lived almost a year in limbo and you’re right – it’s a nasty place to be. But it’s important to walk through that muck to get to where you want to go. It will all be over soon!

    • Laura White-Ritchie September 26, 2011 at 12:42 pm #

      I know, right?! But it’s all good…it all serves a purpose for our lives, even the muck. It seems like that’s where we do the best sifting and sorting. It’s in the muck where we define our real priorities in life and literally, physically stop doing all of the unnecessary stuff that fills our days with stress and anxiety.

      Yes, it will be over soon…for both of us. XOXO 🙂

  4. Emily Rose October 2, 2011 at 9:58 am #

    I went through this very thing when I moved earlier this year. I made sure that I took time from packing and worrying and I spent time with the people I loved, friends and family, I went out and had good times with them before I moved. Even up to the day before packing the truck, even after everything went wrong and things did not go as planned, I did my best to make it fun and enjoyable. The only things you can do is keep moving forward (my motto).

    Good luck with you move!

  5. Joan-Marie October 20, 2011 at 4:09 am #

    Hi Laura,
    I am new to your blog. I arrived here through an article your wrote called “Resources to Introduce Programming to Kids”. I loved the article and plan on introducing my eight year old to some of the links you posted in the article. My son is currently in his senior year at ETSU as a Computer Science IT major. He would agree with you that kids need to train their brain to think in logical terms.
    I hope your move is going well. Where in Tennessee are you moving to? I live in Limestone, Tennessee. Limestone is located between Greeneville and Johnson City in eastern tip of the state. I am a native Floridian but I love it here and would not want to live anywhere else. Take care and have a safe trip!

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