Vacation: A Time For Reflection And Recharging
By Reg L Carver
"Vacation used to be a luxury but in today's world it has become a necessity." - Author Unknown
Tomorrow, my family, a couple friends, and I will leave for a beach vacation at my favorite place on the planet -- Rosemary Beach, Florida. We have made this same trip on and off for years. Rosemary Beach is idyllic for a family trip -- it's beautiful, quaint, and safe. And importantly, it is home to one of Florida's most beautiful beaches along the Emerald Coast.
To put it mildly, I love the beach. I cannot adequately describe in words why I am so drawn there. I've often thought it might be because, as science teaches us, man's body fluid is basically identical to the mineral make-up of the ocean water. As babies, we swim in the ocean of our mother's womb. Maybe man has a life-long desire to return to his earliest environment.
I love it all. The warm wind on my forearms, the smell of the ocean mixed with suntan lotion, the feel of the sand on my feet. I love the way the ocean wind dries my skin and blows in my hair. I love to think about what is going on out there -- deep in that ocean. A day in the sun brings a relaxation I cannot attain elsewhere.
On my beach vacations, I have three goals in mind. First, I want to simply enjoy what I have described above. I also treasure the time with my wife and children when we're not so busy with the obligations and distractions of our everyday lives. My wife and I can take long beach walks and have long talks. I love to ride my rented bicycle every place I need to go. I love to eat fresh seafood, sip the finest bourbon, and smoke good cigars. I will read a fun book.
My second goal will be to use some time each day to reflect on the past year. I will look at how things in my life have changed and what has remained constant. I will relish in personal victories and I also will make some resolutions for the year to come. This year, my most overriding thoughts will be about trying to live in the present moment, trying to live more mindfully, and in a more positive way. I want to slow down. I want so deeply to be a better and more positive person.
The last goal I will have is to recharge. I am mindful that my "current" needs recharging from time to time. I will rest a good bit. There will be no stress -- my most arduous task will be shaving, and my most pressing decision will be how many times a day I should hit the Sugar Shak for ice cream. I will play silly games and hopefully laugh out loud on more than one occasion. I will return home ready for another year.
Each day, I will make my marks in the sand -- my footprints. But just like every year, the ocean will soon wash them away. There will be no trace of my having been by that ocean save for the traces left in my soul; I hope this year I leave meaningful traces there.
Yes, I am looking forward to my vacation. I need it, and I'm going to enjoy it. If you can, please try to do the same for yourself. We all need time for rest, reflection, and recharging. Peace.
Copyright 2011. True Self Enterprises, Inc.
