ACT and traveling

[Guest guest]

Hello, I have been following the thread about how ACT works on core beliefs and I am having a similar difficulty. I feel like my question has already been asked and answered a thousand times over, but I am hoping that I can ask it again in regard to my particular circumstances.

Six years ago I worked as a nanny for a lovely baby boy. I continued to babysit and stay in touch with the family and a few months ago they asked me to accompany them as a nanny/interpter/friend on a two-month trip to Spain (I speak Spanish). As you can imagine I was honored and excited. The upcoming trip, and the mere fact that they asked me, helped me to get through a very rough school year (I am a teacher).

Well, here I am, half way through the trip, without my ACT book and with a very intense sensation of irritability. I want to cultivate gratitude and get the most out of the experience, but I find myself wanting/needing to be alone and not doing anything either for my own pleasure or to stop myself from acting on my feelings of irritability. Of course I feel guilty and foolish and I try to defuse, and to be disciplined about meditating, and to just let my brain do my brain "stuff." I can't seem to catch the "ding" that starts it off, because is seems to be rumbling at a low level all the time. I know that the second I get home I will think of so many things I should have done and I don't know why I can't think right. Well, I do, my brain energy is taken up on these unhelpful things, I guess.

I would appreciate any advice you have on being more successful at defusing, mindfulness, and being in the moment.

Thanks