Annual Alphabet Tribute to 2014 – Q is for Quests, Questions, and More

Quest in the Desert © 2014 Bo Mackison

Q is for QUEST

There are some alluring words that begin with the letter Q.

QUEST is one of my favorites. A QUEST is a long, sometimes arduous search for something, often requiring overcoming great challenges.

I’ve been on my own QUEST these last months, trying to recover from a month of challenges that occurred last May. Since the triggers were an unfortunate string of travel delays, I downplayed the stress and assumed that as soon as I reached the familiarity of home all would be well.  But all did not go well.

Instead I struggled, day after day, and QUESTIONED why I was having such a difficult summer.  No matter how hard I worked using the tools — meditation, art, writing, nature — that had provided me with much relief over the last seven years, I couldn’t QUIET the constant panic, the periods of difficulty leaving my house, even the need to return to my home when I was in a familiar and pleasurable place. Then there were the times I wanted to just QUIT, so frustrated was I with the situation.

In the last weeks, I’ve been able to put the pieces of the puzzle together with the help of a dedicated medical team. But the effort has cost me time and energy. And so I am calling it QUITS on the alphabet posts so that I can conserve energy and move on to new projects that are currently percolating.

The lesson learned? Never be afraid to ask for help when necessary. Never, ever!

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The alphabet series will (quite probably) return for its 9th annual appearance towards the end of 2015.