Vacations and the Joy of Being Missing in Action
The vacation we often need is freedom from our own mind. ~ Jack Adam Weber
My apologies for missing last Tuesday’s scheduled post. I’ve been missing in action but for all the right reasons!
Falling behind on one’s to-do list is something we all try to avoid. There are a multitude of things that get in the way of our productivity. Some are beyond our control, and others are not. Vacations are one of the best, in my opinion.
Upon waking up each morning, I think of all the things I want to accomplish that day. If luck is with me, I’ll finish half of them. On the days that I babysit my grandson, nothing else is scheduled. He is the only task. Those of us who raised a family know how quickly they grow up. Being a grandparent enables us to devote 100% of our time together to only our youngsters. I’m grateful for that blessing since I didn’t have it as a young parent working in and outside the home.
The rest of the week is spent on managing the house (and all that falls under that rather large umbrella), volunteering, and writing, of course!
My son’s family purchased a new home and is going through the moving process. I’ve been watching my grandson more than usual so that they can get things done without a little one underfoot. I’ve also been spending time preparing the yard for summer and trying to clean up and clear out the inside while keeping up with day-to-day ‘operations.’
Before all the chaos began, I got to relish five days in what seemed like a utopia. My daughter gifted me with a trip to a tropical paradise two weeks ago, and I’m still playing catch up.
Together we enjoyed a wonderful vacation at an all-inclusive resort, and it was just what the doctor ordered (in more ways than one.) Some of the features we enjoyed were:
10 Restaurants
24-hour In-suite dining
6 Bars & Lounges
Daily activities & live entertainment
Fitness center & spa services
Infinity & lagoon-style pools
Oceanside vistas & fire pits
Bathrobes & slippers
Turn-down service
Good grief, I felt like absolute royalty! The Downton Abbey girls had nothing on us!
We ate at a different-style restaurant for all of our meals. Asian, French, Italian, Jamaican, Seafood, International…it was all delicious! Every morning we enjoyed flavored lattes and a pastry on the balcony. The weather was fabulous, and we spent each day on the white sands of the sunny beach and cooling off in aqua-blue ocean water. It was indeed a tropical paradise!
Unfortunately, I caught a cold just prior to our trip but was determined to savor every minute. And I did. (Except for the changing cabin pressure on takeoff and landing during our flights. I definitely didn’t savor that, considering the fluid in both of my middle ears.)
Some people asked if we visited other tourist spots, but there was so much to do on the property that it wasn’t necessary to look elsewhere. Everything we could possibly want was available and included in the price of our stay.
We chatted over those colorful tropical drinks with the paper umbrellas that are served to you right on the beach. And it wasn’t the latest headlines we discussed. As a matter of fact, our conversations focused on my daughter’s upcoming move back home and a family-wide vacation scheduled for July. The 24/7 news cycle took a hiatus right along with us!
I had a small arsenal of medicines with me, but NOT taking my laptop was a wise decision. It allowed me to completely unplug from my usual routine of checking email, news, social media, etc. And the best part was that I didn’t miss it at all, which came as a welcome relief.
I remember, as a kid hearing my mom use the phrase ‘getting away from it all’ when talking about our vacations. She was referring to no cleaning, cooking, or dishes for two weeks. And I certainly enjoyed a break from the daily routine of house chores, etc. But today, it’s taken on an additional meaning. For those of us who feel beaten down by the constant barrage of bad news, it feels like an escape as much as a vacation. It’s a mental break as well as a physical one.
It was a valuable reminder that we all need a breather from the demands of life. Whether it’s relationships, careers, finances, or the world at large, a respite allows us to clear out the cobwebs and reorganize our thoughts and goals. And we don’t have to travel far or spend money that we don’t have.
When I take a walk in the local park, my purpose is always to exercise. The other day while strolling through a newly renovated section, I noticed benches comfortably shaded underneath the tall trees. The sounds from the waterfall were soothing, and its location away from the main road offered solitude.
Suddenly I realized it was an ideal spot to ‘get away from it all.’ Whether to write or meditate, or just think, I can exercise more than my legs. These peaceful spots in nature are found in everyone’s locale. We simply have to devote time and energy to seeking them out and using them.
Missing in action originally had a negative connotation (unless we’re referring to time spent in self-care.) Self-care is one of the best gifts we can give ourselves AND the most positive way to go missing!
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
What’s your favorite way to go missing?
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MIA sounds perfect to me. By the ocean with lots of swimming - couldn't ask for more.
And how lovely with the sound of the waterfall.
MIA means mind-healing I think - our minds get so tired being everything to everyone, including ourselves. So well done you for being brave enough to go away without your computer and with real- time Time Out.
Such a heartening and life-affirming post, Ms W! I LOVE everything about it (apart from the cold, but hey, you got that covered pretty well, right?!).
Falling behind on my to-do list (and I am obsessed with my list) is something that stopped happening in my life once I'd got into the habit of migrating my tasks (as per Ryder Carroll and his Bullet Journal Method). Anything I don't achieve today is either migrated to tomorrow's list, or scheduled for next week, next month or whenjollyoldever, OR just crossed out (because if I find I KEEP not doing it, it's not of any value to me so it might as well not exist). I used to be soooooooo haunted by 'things hanging over me'. Like for YEARS.
Not now, though!
Again, a great post! I'm all for getting away from it all, enjoying time doing other stuff to the everyday stuff, and heck, if there are turquoise seas and gorgeous long walks in the mix, YES PLEASE!