Monday, December 31, 2012

Moving Can Be Difficult

Maneuvering down the stairwell the two young men managed to put the corner of a piece of furniture right through the wall, leaving a jagged hole the size of my fist.  Two others learned too late the importance of counterbalance when moving several made-to-measure workstation counters.  Removing one from the dolly caused the other one to keel over, hitting the ground with a thunderous crack and rendering the counter useless.  Further mishaps included dropping custom-made wooden desks onto concrete, dragging fine furniture along exposed aggregate, laying fully laden metal file cabinets on their sides so that their drawers would never open or close again and tossing boxes carefully packed with computer equipment around like pillows.  At times it seemed to be more like the filming of a Three Stooges movie than a professional moving company doing its job.  It would not surprise me if the damage claim exceeded the fee payable to the movers.

Moving a small 20 person law office, even three blocks up the street, is a demanding feat.  Even when accomplished over Christmas break it is daunting and disruptive.  I have learned some things from this business move that seem applicable to my 2013 Parkinson’s “moving” challenges.
1.     If you intend to stay vibrant, dynamic and relevant as a business (or as a person), you must be prepared to grow.  While it is easy to stay put in one’s comfortable surroundings, previously chosen premises, or patterns of living, will not typically remain appropriate.  Moving often becomes a must.  For people with Parkinson’s it is a necessity if we expect to maintain a reasonable quality of life.

2.     Moving requires significant advance planning.  In our case, changing addresses required almost a year.  Finding out what we really wanted was critical.  The planning needed to reflect the priorities of the people occupying the premises.  There is no one-size-fits-all.  We needed to know what was important, not just desirable?  What was realistically doable?  How would we make the transition from where we have been to where we want to be?  Who needs to be involved in that process?  What resources are required?  All of these observations and questions apply to my own Parkinson’s disease planning.

3.     No matter how well-planned, a move rarely happens without difficulty.  Things aren’t quite ready on time.  Aspects of the transition go slower than anticipated.  Even our new offices have the inevitable blemishes and imperfections, especially after the movers have their way.  Moving is very hard work if done correctly.  And there will be some disappointments along the way.  The same is true for people with PD.  Despite our best efforts, satisfaction is never guaranteed.  But then what is the alternative?
Transition, moving, is often painful.  But the alternative is not worth considering, at least not for very long.  There may be times when inertia sets in and the challenges of change simply seem too much to deal with.  However, looking back on our old offices and comparing to what we have now confirms the correctness of the decision to move.  Similarly, looking back on those days when my Parkinson’s disease made for increasingly cramped quarters, the solution was obvious: get moving.  Cheerless, purposeless, sedentary living is unacceptable.  We must move!  The reward is well worth the risk.
So for 2013 my personal theme will be “MOVE!”  No more drifting with indifference.  No more frustrated “I don’t care” answers to demanding questions.  To move will be hard work, regularly threatened by failure.  I may flounder from time to time.  But I will “move” in the year ahead; move to a better place in terms of my physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, relational, and even professional, quality of living.  How?  I am not sure yet.  Step one is to decide that the comfortable but cramped “old place” no longer suits my changing needs.

5 comments:

  1. hi Bob,

    I couldn't agree more! -
    "Travel vs Apathy: Bucket seats and prawns"
    @ http://catsawaywithparkinsons.blogspot.com/2012/11/travel-vs-apathy-bucket-seats-and-prawns.html

    Though maybe I'd go with a different moving company! ;-)

    Happy New Year

    Cat.

    ReplyDelete
  2. another great analogy...thanks!
    " Moving is very hard work if done correctly...regularly threatened by failure."
    Happy Next Year!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Bob,

    Sorry to read the Movers were less than expected, however they did provide writing material and a 2013 Goal! Connie and wish you (and Renae) all the best for 2013.

    Erwin

    ReplyDelete
  4. have you ever read this by our late friend, joe bayly?

    A Psalm While Packing Books
    Joe Bayly

    This cardboard box, Lord--see, it says bursting limit 200 lbs. per square inch.
    The box maker knew how much strain the box would take.  What weight would crush it.

    You are wiser than the box maker, Maker of my spirit, my mind, my body.
    Does the box know when pressure increases close to the limit?

    No, it knows nothing.  But I know when my breaking point is near.
    And so I pray, Maker of my soul, Determiner of the pressure within, upon me.

    Stop it, lest I be broken, or else change the pressure rating of this fragile container of Your grace,
    so that I may bear more.

    ReplyDelete
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    ReplyDelete