The Podcast's Pilot Episode is LIVE!
And we are on Plan B of trying to figure out this summer's travel.
Seated next to me is a large backpacking backpack (the mountain climbing type), two different sized suitcases, and a regular backpack…the one I used in college. They are all empty.
It’s not unusual for me to already be behind on an adventure I haven’t even started yet, but this time it’s out of my control.
It’s comical really. My 15+ country adventure hasn’t even started, and I am already having to rewrite the route.
I am due to leave for Lisbon on Sunday, but as it turns out, Lisbon is seeing a rapid spread of Delta strain of COVID-19, and is looking to shut down again.
In addition to having to scrap my plans for Lisbon, I also had to scrap the email I had written to you. It was all about the policies in place in Portugal, that play into the larger global network of how systems work. It’s actually a really cool email that I will use in the near future.
Everything about my life right now is Plan B.
Damn it. I was really looking forward to that part of my summer travels. I’ve already worked out the blog material, done the laundry (this is a win because I genuinely dislike doing laundry), and scoped out the activities for me and the gals I am traveling with.
It would be really easy for me to get ticked off about all of this. It would be easy for me to let my blood pressure get the better of me. It would be really easy to play the victim, to throw my hands in the air and blame the world, and stop trying to plan an adventure (because it’s so dang hard to do in Europe right now). I feel a lot of feelings around the inconsistent measures in place, and policies in / not in effect, and the burden that is being placed on citizens.
But instead, I’ve made the choice to pivot. I am making the concerted effort to figure out where I am going instead of Lisbon, on less than 48 notice. As I write you this email, I still don’t know where I am headed…but I know I am headed somewhere.
Turns out, short notice travel only has enough overhead compartment space for a single backpack regardless of where I go…the smallest packing option of the bags on the floor.
Years ago, this might have gotten the better of me. It might have made me forfeit. Amongst the strengths military life has given me, it’s given me the ability to confidently give control over to the universe. I’ve had to give up my homes short notice, my jobs short notice, my friends short notice, my material things short notice, my husband short notice. Most of the times I white knuckled the process, fighting the control the universe, and the military was reminding me I don’t have over my own life.
But now I lean into the chaos. My life by design lacks more predictability than most. Honestly, I used to resent non-military folks, and the military itself for this. My God, I had no idea just how much military requires of people aside from the quintessential and stereotypical vision of combat for our service members in green. But I have also come to learn that certainty for anyone is a facade. It’s the comfortable lie we tell ourselves. I know you can relate, after the year and a half we have all had.
And because of that year and a half, and that fact that I have comfortably resigned myself to flying by the seat of my pants, I have decided to hand my plans over to God and the universe gracefully, to take back my power from my anger and sense of victimhood (that part of my ego loves to kick in from time to time), to pack my small backpack, and see where I end up.
Since I am discovering my own story on the fly, I guess you will have to keep an eye out on the social media pages (linked below) to see where I end up. It will be a surprise for both of us.
Welcome to the Plot Twist.
Your Partner in Policy,
Taylor Patrice
P.S. If you see me in the airport wearing two bras and have (clean) underwear hanging out of my pockets because they don’t fit in the backpack…mind ya business. This girl is fitting a week’s worth of travel gear into a school backpack, on very short notice.
The pilot episode of the podcast has officially gone live on Spotify, and is in the process of becoming a part of all the other major platforms. Above is the placeholder art for the show that you will see on Spotify. It will change as the team that I work with and I finalize the new branding that is coming to the Blog & Podcast. You can find the podcast by either clicking the button above or searching “Policy Out Loud” on Spotify. Thanks for giving this a listen!
SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES:
Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter: @policyoutloud
Clubhouse: @taylorpatrice
Clubhouse is now open to Android users. By following me, on the app you can see what upcoming talks I am hosting.
See you all over the place!