You made it this far, now get ready for the real challenge.  The Real World can be an ugly place.

The Scarlet F is going to be with you forever so just come to terms with it or you’ll just frustrate yourself further.

You thought the shame, embarrassment and self flagellation ended before Camp?  Get ready to re-enter society as a social pariah.

You will need to channel your inner Gloria Gaynor and surge forward.  This is your time to reinvent yourself, version 2.0.

Things will not be the same, no matter how much you try, and that’s okay.

In your heart you know you are the same loving person as before, but people will view you differently.  Don’t spend your time trying to convince them you are the same person they adored prior to your staycay,  just focus on spending time with the people that make you feel good.

If people feel awkward around you then that is an issue they need to resolve.  If your Mother suggests that you shouldn’t wear a horizontal striped top because it might remind people that you were at Camp just laugh it off.

Note:  No striped clothes are provided to you.  You are surrounded by a sea of khaki and grey.  You will be craving patterns of any kind when you depart.

Use this experience as a stepping stone to your new career.  Start your own business, go back to school and get a new degree, counsel others going through a similar situation, do something you never thought you would have time to do….start a Chuck It List.

That’s right…Chuck It.  As opposed to a Bucket List of items that you want to do before you die, a Chuck It List is  a list of things you should remove from your life that are not constructive.  This is not limited to objects or experiences, but also people.

If you have negative influences in your life you should make every effort to distance yourself from them.  This could be a childhood friend, former co-worker or even a family member.  It could also be a favorite food, beverage or activity (like smoking) that you previously didn’t think you could function without but now realize having been Tattinger, Dunhill and Cadbury free during your staycay that you can manage without.

Don’t fall back into former bad habits.  If you have been exercising 1-2 hours a day during your sabbatical, maintain that pace post Camp.  If you learned a new language at Club Fed, continue practicing it and perhaps even take it to the next level.

If anything hinders you from achieving a happy and healthy life…CHUCK IT!