Escape to the North

Over the past two weeks I've typed and deleted about 4 blogs posts. It's not easy talking about hitting emotional lows, so instead of letting my feels get lost in translation, I decided to take a break from it all for a few days. 

Before I get into how I spent three whole days ignoring email, my radio show prep, and even my podcast, I'd like to pat myself on the back for the completion of a project that's bigger than anything I've ever tried to do before. American Public Media has a group of donors that get to attend all of the really special events - private receptions, concerts, and recently, the live taping of TRILLOQUY. In celebration of the 200th anniversary of Clara Schumann, Scott and I decided to pull together a live opus, featuring women who we thought could speak to Clara's legacy as a musician, muse, and mother. I was beyond thrilled at the outcome, and I'm even more excited for the first live opus of TRILLOQUY to be released on October 17th! Below is a photo that was taken at the end of the event - you can see the others, here. 

left to right: TRILLOQUY guests Sofia Schutte, Ines Guanchez, Melissa Dundis, Morgan Oglesby, Meghann Oglesby Hosts: Garrett McQueen/Scott Blankenship

So by the time this event was done, I was ready to pull all of my hair out. As Big Sean once said, "I feel better at work", but even a workaholic like me needs a little time away. With Scott's help, me and Dell took a trip way up north, to Lake Superior. 

If you've never been to the North Shore of Minnesota, I definitely recommend. There aren't a ton of shops or clubs to keep you busy - you're forced to heal and collect yourself in this string of small towns dotted along a coast that might as well be the ocean! Here are a few photos from the trip: 

If I've missed your email, DM, or any other sort of message over the past few days, I'm sorry. Or maybe I'm not. As I continue to establish boundaries between my work and personal lives, I'm finding that sacrifices have to be made. Personally, my biggest sacrifice is getting used to the feeling that people can't always have access to me. It's also a very new feeling for me to pass off my work to other people, but I'm getting there. Scott handles the TRILLOQUY production calendar at this point, and I even let Dell do a load of my laundry - if you know me, these are HUGE steps!

​I'm feeling semi-refreshed right now, and while I'm glad to be back at work, I'm looking forward to the next long weekend I can use for mental health and rejuvenation. Shout out to my guys, Scott and Dell, for helping me cross the threshold back into sanity. 

Do people ALWAYS have access to you? When was the last time you took a few days for yourself? How's your mental health? Don't be afraid to ask the people close to you these questions, and MOST importantly, don't forget to ask yourself these questions!