Every biz trip to DC has been packed since I left DC in 2017, but this time felt even more because I also shortened it one day when I realized I would finish all the meetings by Friday 11am, so I changed my flight to arrive Saturday 6am instead of Sunday 1am.
The good:
- I ran in this beautiful city and weather every morning. I left work undone but I squeezed in good runs.
- I met with my old friends and old colleagues, some planned, mostly unplanned as many of us came back for retreat so I bumped to people on the street, at my hotel, even at Trader Joe’s. It’s a nice way to connect with old friends.
- I got to meet new peers as I recently took a new role. It felt right to be among this group of people.
The bad:
- Information and gossip overload. My brain is a mush now.
- It was exhausting as it was 9-9pm schedule every day.
- A lot is going on, a lot changes still to come. I’m not worried and feel privileged to have a job that I love. Yet, I’m fasten the seatbelt as turbulence ahead (literal world from management).
As I ran by the monuments, I kept thinking that I hope this continues to be as elegant, beautiful, and serious as it once was. Less turbulence, more stability.
I felt relieved when I landed Brasilia, I’m eager to go back to my little world, away from HQ noises. Back to the core, back to the basics, back to my anchors.
1.5 days of rest and another hectic week ahead, as I’ll be traveling to Manaus and São Paulo for few days with the team. after that, rest will be my priority.
Our New Journey 
Wow, that definitely sounds hectic, but I also have the impression that you’ve got everything under control.
Enjoy the short weekend and recharge before another stressful week starts off!
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Love the DC pics! It is such a gorgeous city and this is a great time of year for the weather. I am glad the trip was mostly good. I am glad your job is secure but the turbulent environment sounds stressful. I imagine your org is impacted by our dysfunctional government.
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I had been thinking about you and your trip as I hadn’t heard much from you, so I figured you must have been super busy!! That’s awesome that the weather was so good and you got some good runs in. Whew you’ve had a lot of travel and meetings and stuff with this new role but I suppose that’s to be expected!
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Wow what a hectic week you had, Coco!
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Wow, I would be wiped out with a 9-9 schedule. I think “turbulent” is the word for 2025! I hope you’re home now and getting some good rest.
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DC is such a beautiful city, I have only been a handful of times but every time I love it (my least favorite was when I was pregnant and had morning sickness, and the humidity made that worse somehow). You took beautiful pictures, I’m glad you made time to run and that you ran in to colleagues here and there.
Turbulent is right. Sorry for that.
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