Columnist Annie Wenger-Nabigon RE: VACATION!
Annie Wenger-Nabigon, MSW, RSW
Author of Pathlight; Annie Wenger-Nabigon, MSW, RSW is originally from the U.S., earning her Canadian Citizenship in 2013. Annie & her Husband live in Pic River First Nation. Annie Wenger-Nabigon, MSW, RSW has been a cinical social worker since 1979 working in mental health, family therapy, and addictions services. She is a doctoral candidate at Laurentian University in Sudbury, ON. She works full-time as an Adult Mental Health and Addictions Therapist at the Marathon office of North of Superior Counseling Programs. Annie also works part-time as a consultant for LYNX, owned by her husband Herb Nabigon, MSW. Herb provides traditional Anishnabek teachings and healing workshops for both Native and non-Native organizations. Together he and Annie provide training and education to professionals on a wide range of topics blending mainstream and traditional approaches in healing. They also provide cultural safety and anti-racism training.
Summer is almost over and people are speeding up their vacation adventures, hoping to get all the warm weather activities in before the snow flies again. I’m no exception, and am finally getting ready to go on a long anticipated trip “across the pond” to check out some of the places my ancestors lived. There is a lot to think about.
Most people feel a little bit anxious when they are getting ready to travel, hoping they haven’t forgotten to put some essential thing into the suitcase, hoping they remembered to pack the passports and make the right reservations, and praying there are no last minute disasters to prevent the long-for event of “getting away”. Whether it is cottage country you are headed to, or a sandy beach south of here somewhere, there is always something to worry about – if you want to.
On the other hand, worrying about bug spray, sun screen lotion and lost tickets probably isn’t the best use of your energies when you want to create some fun memories. It’s better to stow the worries and bring out the smiles. Breathe deep! Relax! Visualize everything going well. You already know that if worst comes to worse there will be little you can do except your best in the situation. You will survive! So go ahead and have fun. No worries!!
One of my young friends gave me some good advice for my vacation.
I think what that means is this: pay attention to what you are doing. Be present in the moment. Keep important things floating and don’t think about the rest. If the line snags on the bottom – start again. And then – ENJOY the trip!
Happy Fishing!
Annie Wenger-Nabigon, MSW, RSW
Pathlight@OntarioNewsNorth.com
ANNIE RECOMMENDS:
- The Hollow Tree by Herb Nabigon
- EldersTeachings.blogspot.com
- Pathlight: Journey to a Good Life archives
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