Get Off The Bus

I ran into someone at work who I hadn't seen in quite a while.  As we talked and caught up on what they had been up too...I find out they got off the bus.  That is the bus of life, family, responsibility, have toos, should haves, gotta do's.

After a life time of taking care of the family, meeting the responsibility and stepping up to the plate...they got off the bus.  Took a 6 month leave of absence from the life they knew, headed towards a 24-7 vacation in another country and got to know themselves again.

This is a dramatic step.  Although I do not know the details of the family life they led, I imagine a choice like this did not come without pain.  In our conversation the idea of "taking care" of themselves came up. Weird, because that has been the topic of someone close to me.  I wondered why it took such a dramatic step to take care of themselves?  How do we let our lives get to the point where there is no other choice but to get off the bus.  Can't we stay on the bus and take in the scenery?  Isn't it better for everyone if we can figure out how to take care of ourselves while still being present in our lives?

The interesting part is, now that this person has decided to come back to the life they left behind, they fear the loss of who they discovered in themselves while off the bus.  The glow they felt while off the bus is a distant memory and being a part of the day in and day out exsistence with others who are struggling is a challenge. 

It made me think that "getting off the bus" does not help you move forward but stops you at one corner with the same backpack you got on with.