Off Season for a triathlete and the span of time right before you become a parent are eerily similar. Since I've had seven kids and (now) seven "Off Seasons", the resemblance is uncanny.
At first, you are excited for something new. The same old day-to-day grind has become old. The chance to rest, relax and reconnect with family and friends is all you hope for. Reflecting on the past, discussing the future and resting, and resting and doing some more resting....
But pretty soon the realization hits that you have to do SOMETHING; relaxing is still paramount and so you begin to read and plan. You discuss and research theories of the best way to maximize your potential. Some day you will need all the insight and information you can get from others that have been through it all before. You don't want to make any mistakes. This is going to be a BIG, BETTER time in your life where you will be AWESOME and you know it!
But, the reading and research gives way to restlessness. You begin to want to DO something. ANYTHING. However, the people who know you best suggest you continue to rest. Relax. Take it easy. The next stage in your life will be here soon enough and you will be thankful for this downtime when that finally happens.
Sitting around staring at the same, four walls can make an expectant person anxious. When that happens, you begin to organize and put things away. Maybe a little light cleaning. You know, that stuff you couldn't quite get to before this "downtime". After all, you are still taking it easy, but you are beginning to feel good and it needs to be done. Good isn't Bad, so you begin to move couches, chairs, dressers and beds. You are now carrying large boxes of clutter to the trash that you didn't realize had accumulated while you were busy with your last season. Light dusting moves into frantic scouring of the floors on your knees and you wonder, "How in the world did I neglect these corners all through the last season?"
By now you are really feeling good, but you can't start working on the next phase of your life, so you tell yourself, "It's okay. I'll get it all done now. Who know when I'll get another chance to clean out all these closets?" The next season feels just around the corner and you are "nesting"--- big time!
In your future there will be sleepless, restless nights. You will have fatigue, stress, and minor body aches that come your way and so you tell yourself to press on; make it sparkle, make it shine! You might not get to it for another nine months so it's got to be good to last. When the next season begins, you might be too tired, sick, or just have no time to even feed yourself, let alone read, study, organize and clean. Do it now!
You stop yourself only when sanity once again takes over. This happens just as you realize there is absolutely NO WAY you can clean the gutters out on a three-story house with a very steep roof pitch! It just isn't safe. It just isn't reasonable. And those explanations keep you from climbing out there and finishing that one final task.
So, I sit back and wait. And wait. With high expectations, a little bit of nerves and most of all excitement. I'm ready! Bring It!
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