My god mother-in-law use to whisper to my wife, "I feel 17 inside..." as she was continually struck by her physical reality: eighty years old. I clearly understand where she was coming from!

As we were planning our return trip home from a site about 6 hours away from home I could feel my youthful energy pine for a chance to drive home that night. The other side weighed in, "Stop early. Get a good night's rest." Youthful enthusiasm. Propellant forward. Walls or open space be damned!

How to balance competing perspectives that both make (a little) sense? How to set a boundary? I made a non-refundable room reservation two hours away, en-route home.

Of course I wanted to continue when I arrived. I was mildly perturbed with myself. For about an ten minutes. Then I slowly began to relax, smile and than k my better instincts for setting a parameter. Establishing a boundary. Finding balance.

To boot - the ride home the next day was an enjoyable drive as opposed to a midnight slog. I avoided what I hoped to and created a situation I long for...balanced and peaceful.

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