Practicing Vacation

We just came home from vacation, le sigh. It was magic, who doesn't love vacation?! And who doesn't want more vacation in their life?! The answer is everyone - haha - everyone wants more vacation in their life. I've been thinking about this a lot. I have never really liked the idea of "living for vacation" and over the last few weeks, I couldn't stop thinking about that notion. It seems sad to me to live a life in anticipation. Don't get me wrong, looking forward to vacation is normal, good, exciting, all of that - but living the majority of your life for a few weeks of vacation? It seems to me that life is simply too short and that we deserve to live much happier lives.

On vacation, I started a list of the things I loved the most about vacation. Walking to the park in the morning topped my list. Every morning we would head out to the park, I would get a good walk in and the boys would get to run around, play imaginary baseball, soccer, basketball or at the actual park. I asked my kids what they loved the most about vacation, too. The answers surprised me, although it probably shouldn't have. Walking to the park in the morning.

Vacation gives us the gift of time, despite time not changing at all. Time feels longer, possibilities seem endless and we seem to "find the time" for all of the things we love to do. Well, I refuse to accept that this is something we only do when we are on vacation and so I am practicing vacation from now on. Much like practicing mindfulness, practicing vacation requires you to make time for those moments that matter to you most - those moments you seem to find time for on vacation.

Today was our first day back to work and we started practicing vacation right away. While we didn't recreate our exact walk to the park we did find a way to start our day with a walk and some play. Today the boys and I decided we would park a ways away from Vivo, where I work. We packed their bikes in the vehicle and they rode their bikes from our parking spot to Vivo while I enjoyed a good walk.
It wasn't big, it didn't change the world, and we didn't need to be on vacation, but it sure started my day off right. We will keep sharing how we are practicing vacation - I'd love to know how you do this - feel free to follow our journey and share yours with #practicingvacation

- lovefrommaria

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

That "Cop" is my Husband

Image
All too often I hear people complaining about the police. I hear them hating on them, cursing them and making fun of them. I know that not everyone does this but unfortunately it happens a lot. As the wife of a police officer you may think I am biased, and perhaps I am, but I also see things very differently than those not involved personally with a police officer. Everyday that my husband goes to work he chooses to put his life at risk to keep the rest of us safe. He has chosen a career that involves him missing bedtime with his children, missing important holidays and events with family and friends. He misses out on these things to keep you safe - to uphold the law that he believes so fiercely in. He chooses to strap on a bulletproof vest, every single shift, because heaven forbid, that be the shift that someone decides to attack him. He has worked so hard to be where he is, he has received extensive training and is equipped with tools to help and to protect him.  ...
Read more

D E V O T I O N

One word as a theme for the year.  D E V O T I O N To my faith - may it continue to grow and blaze, setting my heart on fire.  To my husband - my bestfriend, my partner, may we continue to love and respect each other with understanding.  To my son - may you continue to teach me things about life, and myself, that I have been so oblivious to.  To myself - may you hold strong to who you are, take time for yourself, love yourself and run. Mi fido di te.  And so I build this year on devotion. Intentional devotion in all that I do.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves. -Romans 12:10 lovefrommaria 
Read more

Sleepy Stets

Image
 I found an old playlist the other day, "Sleepy Stets" it's called. I remember making it, it was going to be what I would play while my baby fell asleep at night and during his naps. It's a beautiful playlist, sweet country songs, Jack Johnson, Ben Harper and of course, Iz.  I couldn't help but laugh when I reminisced on the making of this playlist. Little did I know I was going to be blessed with a baby who defied all baby-sleep rules and regulations. A baby who went shot for shot with the best of them when it came to sleep. My Stetson.  Today is his first day of fulltime dayhome. It's a weird day. I've spent the last 20 months with this little person attached to me, first growing inside me for nine months and then always with me for the next eleven.  In two weeks my maternity leave (God bless Canada and our maternity leave benefits) will come to an end. I look forward to returning to my Cardel Place family, I miss just being ME and having other t...
Read more