Why do I need vacations even when I don't want to take the trouble to go on one? Because I need to stop in order to go. I need to rest in order to have energy. I need inspiration in order to have new ideas. Even if my vacation is a stay-cation or just a mental health day, I need time off from my human doing. I need to simply be.
What have you dreamed of doing on your next vacation? I mean that secret wish that you never told anyone because you thought it would never happen? Oh - that . . . . Yes, that one. For me, it was going to Switzerland because I loved the movie, “Heidi.” I thought that trip would never happen but it did. It was a working trip chaperoning over 20 high school students that ended up being more work than leisure! Oops! But I loved it anyway. The scenery was spectacular and I got to buy the paints I use because that is where they are manufactured. I needed that trip more than I wanted it because I thought wanting it was a fantasy.
What is your favorite thing to do on vacation?
Shop? Fish? Eat? Nothing? Read? Go to theme parks? Take cruises? Drive? Fly? Ride a train? Look at scenery? Climb mountains? Stay busy filling every minute with unforgettable activities? Or maybe you don't like to plan at all and just let it happen. Sometimes, that doesn't work out so well. Sometimes, vacations never happen.
Take Time to Take Time
One thing I've learned is that I have to take care of myself because no one else is going to. I used to want to keep everyone else happy but I grew a bit resentful because I noticed that I wasn't really enjoying myself. This was true in daily life as well as in planning vacations. I was so busy planning, reserving, scheduling, timing, and packing that I would end up exhausted by the end of the vacation. I used to joke that I needed a vacation from our vacation! If I hadn't done anything to renew my spirit, it wasn't a vacation for me.
Remember Who You Are
Do you remember your favorite vacation? What made it special? Was it where you were, what you did, or who you were with? I used to love to visit my French grandparents in Luling, Louisiana. MaMem (my grandmother) didn't speak a word of English and made the best seafood gumbo and crabcakes I've ever eaten. My Dad loved to travel and took us to State and National Parks every year. It seemed boring at the time but those are my fondest memories. I still love to travel and am much more appreciative of scenery today than I was then, but I still remember those vacations! They made an impact. Dad taught me that he could combine his personal love of nature with a vacation for the whole family.
Why I Need Vacations
I paint a lot of landscapes for several reasons. My Dad instilled a love of nature in me as a child. My husband, Bruce, and I love road trips because nothing beats driving for taking our minds off of our worries. I get inspiration and ideas from nature. I love solitude too. That's when I get recharged. Bruce and I love to hike. And I also love art museums anywhere anytime. Each visit is a brief vacation for my spirit.
See You Out There!
Amazingly, we have often run into friends, neighbors, and many of Bruce's former students while on vacation. It's a pretty big world out there yet we seem to end up running into each other anyway! I hope you get to enjoy some wonderful vacations now and in the future. The time to start thinking about them is now.
While you're taking a mini-vacation from work, chores, childcare, etc., I'd love it if you took a minute to look at some of my landscapes from past vacations! Here are a few.
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