Ahh Vacation - Letting Go and Hanging Loose

It was a bomb-bursting vacation while I travelled to Michigan to chill with family for a solid nine days. The 4th is very festive time for us because we cook out, sit out pool-side for days, go to a fireworks show, and go Lake Michigan to watch the sun descend into the watery abyss. This is my favorite way to spend the 4th ever.

This was a much needed vacation. Despite bringing school work with me, I gave up the ghost of "studenting" and decided to let life flow. Before going, I was dead tired, angry, frustrated, and so uptight. By allowing myself to vacation while on vacation, I was able to enjoy life unencumbered.

Hanging loose is perhaps the best thing we can do for ourselves. I intend to incorporate more of this vacation motto in my daily life. Here's how:

1. Take time to really enjoy music. During this trip, my amazing fellow vacationer made a great road-trip mix of 8 cds. We jammed the whole drive. Also, I went to two concerts while there: the Beach Boys and Def Leppard. Rarely do I dance to music publicly because I'm afraid of embarrassing myself (imagine Carlton on Fresh Prince); however, I let go of my fears and just danced.

2. Try new things. Usually life gets in a routine and you get in a rut. Vacation blows the doors off of the 'same old, same old' and let's you mix it up a bit. I went to a brewery, did a wine tasting, saw a lighthouse up close for the first time, and went to a blueberry farm where I bought the best blueberries I've ever had.

3. Chill. Often life is just go, go, go. But, it pays to take time to sit down, recline your chair, and relax. My most 'chilling' moments were in the pool, where I floating on a tube and sipped a few drinks. It's a great way to unwind.

4. Eat S'mores. Often S'mores are camping fare, but if you don't want to go outside, I witnessed a great indoor trick. Get an unscented candle or tea light, light it, put your marshmallow on a s'more stick, and toast it to your liking. This is a great desert. Be sure to blow out the candle when done.

5. Buy a treat.  Buy yourself something if you can budget it. It's nice to treat yourself. I bought a ten-pound box of blueberries since they were farm-fresh and so good. I've eaten a good bit of them, but am freezing most of them for later use.

I think if we vacation our daily living a little more, life will feel much more fun. Often, when we come back to the 'real' world, we get right back into our routines of being stressed, being over extended, and constantly being 'on'. But, it's important to recharge ourselves somehow with little daily vacas.