My Practically Perfect Life

I need a vacation! Now, for those of you that know me, stop rolling your eyes!

So really, how many of you constantly say that? Every time you’re stressed, or tired or just don’t want to be where you currently are. I do. It’s just our go to phrase when we want something different. The sad part about that phrase is how few people actually get to take vacations. I never did growing up. I mean we went to concerts and shows and my grandparents house…but we all know that’s not a vacation. I didn’t take a vacation for a long time, until I met my husband. A fellow traveler at heart. That is definitely one of the things that attracted me to him. Not the ability to travel financially, but the want to see the world. And for us to see it together! Ok, this isn’t about him, as much as I would love to write about him all day! 

I believe vacations are good for the soul. Sure they give your body a break from your regular routine. But you don’t always get as rested as you may think you will. I mean if you vacation at a spa and lay around being pampered all day, then sure, you’ll be rested physically. But when I vacation I want to experience where I am. I want to know what the people that live there see and how they live. Isn’t that the best part of traveling? Besides eating the food!! The world is such an unbelievable place. It’s amazing how differently we all live. Even here in Texas, you can drive a few hours and be in a completely different way of life. 

Now I understand that not everyone can afford to travel to a different country, or a different continent. But that’s the great thing about traveling. You don’t have to! You don’t have to get on an airplane or spend thousands of dollars to get away and give your soul a break. One of my favorite get aways was a day trip to Louisiana! A very dear friend of mine said she wanted cracklin’ from Best Stop in Scott Louisiana. Scott Louisiana is four hours from where I live. But did I say, dude, that’s a long way to go for cracklin’? Hell no I didn’t! I said let’s go! And we can pick up some Yuengling on the way back! So we jumped in the car and drove there. We laughed and had the best time. And each got a pound of cracklin’, which doesn’t seem like a lot for an eight hour round trip. But dang was it worth it! That to me was a vacation. We got away from our regular lives and did something fun. And we have a hell of a story to tell now! And, that’s not the only time we decided to make that trip! And probably won’t be the last! 

My point is that you can have a vacation anywhere. It’s honestly a state of mind. You can have a staycation, which just means you find fun things to do where you live rather than traveling somewhere. There’s nothing wrong with that if you can make yourself disconnect from your daily lives to enjoy the time you are spending. Vacations can be taken alone, with friends or family. I have done all of those. And I have gotten different experiences from each. You know how Forest’s mom said “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get”? Well if you ask me, that is such a great way to look at life. You don’t know what each day is going to bring. Or what each new place you visit will show you. You don’t know who you will meet or what the people around you will add to your life. What you do know is that life is about variety. And that is why I believe traveling is so important. Because you get so much variety. Sometimes a trip can be the milk chocolate caramel (which is my favorite) and sometimes it can be the yucky orange filled chocolate that I don’t believe anyone actually likes! But that’s what is so fun about it. And this is coming from a self proclaimed control freak! I like to know what is happening and be in control. But when I travel, I like to go with the flow. I will have somewhat of a schedule, or a list of things I want to do or see. But it is not a crazy itinerary like Clark Griswald had! When you are open to anything and letting the trip control you rather than you control the trip, you will be open to see and enjoy so much more. Rather than be disappointing that you missed the train and won’t make it to the museum at exactly 10:27 and now you will miss the fountain squirting water at the particular hour in which you thought you had to see it! Regular life is full of disappointing moments, so why would you want to take that on vacation with you? 

Over spring break my husband and I took our boys on a road trip. To Wyoming and South Dakota and everywhere in between. We had plans but also went with the flow. And we actually had no choice at one point because a major blizzard decided to travel to South Dakota when we did! We were stuck in the house for a few days and had to wait for major equipment to clear the roads so we could leave! Luckily the house we rented had tv’s with VHS players and the best selection of video tapes since Blockbuster in 1997! We played cards and had roaring fires. We got in the hot tub and tricked our boys into jumping into the snow! We laughed, got frustrated, and maybe a little tired of each other! But we survived and we have a great story to tell! We were very lucky not only to be safe through the storm but to have such an understanding property manager. I wouldn’t change anything about that trip. Well, I maybe would have gotten a little more food and hidden my candy bar better!! 

My hope is that you look at your life and when you say the words “I need a vacation” you actually do something about it. Money, no money. Alone or with someone you love. A vacation can change your perspective on life. Because it is you allowing yourself to get out of your head and enjoy what is around you. Have goals on where you want to travel and make it happen. Money is just money. You’ll make more! I mean don’t be stupid and not pay your rent so you can go to Europe for a month, but start saving and take a trip. Because I guarantee you deserve it! 

Travel not to escape life, but for life to escape you!