A Realization

I finally understand what the phrase "when the going gets tough, the tough get going" means.
Run away.

When life is too much and you can't think your way out of a paper bag, retreat. Get away from everything that you can. Go for a run, take a long shower, plug the earbuds in and Hakuna Matata (turn your back on the world).

Even something as small as an exceptionally long or boring day can be a trigger for negative attitudes and feelings...although something large and terrible loming on the horizon isn't conducive to productivy and shiny happines either. Anyway, there's no use on dwelling on the little or the big, and the only way to get a some perspective is to step back.

I'm dying to go to Germany and Italy this summer because I'm feeling the hardcore drag of monotony with life and work in Madison. My wanderlust kicks in pretty harshly sometimes, and I'm feeling like a Euro-trip is just the shock that my system needs. However, time and money are not exactly on my side right now. So what do I do? Right now I go for long runs to clear my head and work out what I really need for a slump buster. Sometimes what I need is just a run - 30 minutes away from everyone and everything to figure things out and re-order priorities.

And then I get back to it; keepin' on keepin' on.