Reboot your mind, recharge your soul

This summer my husband and I have done a lot of traveling. From the plains of Nebraska, to the Rocky Mountains, to the Caribbean, we've been just about everywhere this summer, except home in Kansas.

I love to travel, because it has an almost magical way of putting things into perspective. I always come back with a greater appreciation for the things I love most about home and insights into any challenges I face. For me traveling is the equivalent of shutting down and restarting your PC at work. That reboot seems to fix all that ails you.

I wrote this blog on the plane headed home to Kansas, feeling fresh and rebooted. These past two months I have gotten behind on my blogging and have lacked the motivation to pursue freelance. But I think a little time hiking in the mountains and swimming in the ocean has given me the motivation to get back on track.

A couple weeks ago, we went to a concert at Red Rocks in Colorado. Looking at the beautiful rock formations reminded me of my rock climbing days in college. (Side note: while you can climb rocks that are red in Colorado, you cannot climb at Red Rocks. Doing so will get you a huge-ass fine.)

I love rock climbing. The thrill of getting the top of a rock will give a rush comparable to that of Colorado's finest dispensaries. The exercise is more mental than physical. When you are stuck in a spot with no where to move your brain must think of all of the possibilities. Could turning your hip up and to the left enable you to get the foothold that you need? If you grab on to that tiny indentation will that give you enough leverage to pull yourself to the next foothold? When your on the ledge of a rock and you feel stuck you can't dwell on that feeling. You are forced to think of your next move. You are forced to envision how you will get to the top.

Living with bipolar disorder is much like rock climbing. Depression can leave you feeling stuck, as though you are on the middle of a rock, while mania can give you the sensation that you are free falling out of control without a rope and harness.

The secret to successful bipolar treatment is to always, always envision you next move. See yourself at the top of that rock. Name that rock. Because the stability you'll experience at the top is yours and you should own it.

I go to Colorado at least once a year. I love the mountains. They remind me that the journey is not over and that the rock/mountain/depression that I'm currently climbing will be conquered.