Just Away

If you are away from work, are you automatically on vacation?

If your kids are out of school, are you automatically on vacation?

If you are sleeping somewhere other than your own bed, are you automatically on vacation?

If you are making choices about your day, rather than having them made for you, are you automatically on vacation?

If you are eating foods you wouldn't (because of cost or nutrition) otherwise allow yourself, are you automatically on vacation?

If you are yelling less and sleeping more, are you automatically on vacation?

If you are better rested and better fed, are you automatically on vacation?

If you don't have to be in charge of every moment of your own life and everyone else's, are you automatically on vacation?

While we so quickly define "vacation" as time away, real vacation can be more about our interaction with life than about our location for a week. Sure, going away physically from our day to day can make vacation simpler, but every time we simply take a little break or offer ourselves an unexpected treat, we are "going on vacation." Which is, perhaps, a healthier way to think about it. Instead of anticipating "vacation" and dreading its end, we can choose to grab the vacation opportunities around us every day--the little extra nap, the unexpected special meal, the break taken from nagging our kids about their homework. Because, while we may not always be able to afford a fancy trip or even time out of town, we can almost always justify a few moments when we are just away.