Surely you remember returning to school and writing about what you did on your summer vacation. I remember how envious I was of those who wrote about visiting Europe or taking sailing lessons while I spent 2 days on my aunt's farm constantly running away from the mean old bull she had in her field and hating to use the outhouse when picking berries out in the field miles from the farmhouse. Europe it wasn't !
But sometimes it's great to recall what you didn't do on summer vacation as well. I didn't twitter, blog or post on Facebook. I refrained from checking email more than just a few times throughout the week. I didn't respond to any voice mail that didn't sound like an emergency. I didn't often know what day it was or even what time of day it was. I didn't have much of any type of a schedule and I didn't feel overwhelmed by traffic, a to-do list, or any number of other distractions everyday life usually holds.I didn't listen to or read any news headlines. It was as though I stopped time in my little corner of the world.
I thought it would basically be a low key week without any major milestones except for clearing my head and revitalizing my body and while it was, there were many major milestones which still occurred. While spending some down time riding a bike, I received a phone call from an event planner to speak for a group I have been hoping to present to this Fall. Funny how I couldn't seem to connect with her when I was trying to make contact daily. One day I awakened to watch some adorable baby raccoons entertain me from a large tree just outside my door.
I also had a chance to tour the ship (destroyer) my brother was on over 50 years ago. He worked in the ship's engine room and while that part of the ship was usually off limits, a kind custodian offered my family a chance to tour it and touch the parts of the ship my brother worked with so many years ago. Coming up on nearly 9 years since my brother passed away, this was an amazing opportunity to feel his presence again. I also discovered while my bones ache more than they did several years ago, I can still bike 8- 10 miles a day and survive to tell about it which means maybe I will still be able to bike the entire Cape Cod Rail Trail someday as I hoped.
We also adopted a new dog while away from home. It seems an office email managed to attract my attention and when I opened it and saw the adorable pictures of a lost dog who wasn't claimed by his owners in nearly 2 weeks, the wavering my husband and I had about rescuing another dog in the midst of work, home life and the ups and downs of typical everyday chaos melted away as we made arrangements to bring him to our home the day after we got back.
I celebrated another anniversary with my best friend. Every year I realize how incredibly blessed I am to have someone who loves and supports me unconditionally and in the midst of everything, I read several books and found some great conversation pieces to bring back home.
One thing I realized is how much more productive I am when I move out of my box and into a different scenario. It was as though I could capture bliss in a bottle for a few days. So, I have decided to take a daycation every month; a day without a schedule, without a stringent routine; a day devoted to finding what I am capable of when I am not tied to the familiar. I might volunteer in a new arena, window shop until I drop, take a drive without a destination, spend the day writing real letters to friends instead of emails to tell them how much they mean to me. Maybe I will spend the day in a library or at the museum, take a cooking or painting class, camp out in my own backyard or take a camera and just start shooting whatever I like.
A day cation might provide the pause that refreshes; the one most of us need more often than a week here or there throughout the year. So, passionistas, I encourage you to start to think about scheduling your own day cation. It need not be the same day each month but I do strongly recommend you set aside a day to "do your own thing" and get out of your routine. Use the time to discover the side of you who you know exists but often gets swallowed in the hectic pace of everyday life. Ditch the guilt feelings because a daycation can make you a better entrepreneur, better citizen, better friend and better person.
So when are you scheduling your next daycation and what do you really want or not want to do?
