The Week I Discovered True Relaxation
Last month I got on a plane with my mother to visit our 88
year-old aunt in Florida. Before I left,
I had mixed emotions about going. My feelings
ran the gamut from excited and ready for a break to maybe I should just let my mom
go. After all, I was fortunate to take a
little trip last summer with my mom and my sister while my husband held down
the fort with our three young children.
I knew it was his turn – he deserved a trip away with the guys to fish
or hunt.
And then there was my business I run when I’m not swamped with
mommy hood -- what if my clients have some crisis or a prospective client wants
to meet. Plus my daughter kept telling
me she was going to cry each night I was gone and miss me. Am I really that much fun, I asked? Don’t think so.
The self-analyzing began to grate and the excitement about
the trip started to wane. Was I crazy –
I was about to experience sunny skies, beautiful waves, white sandy beaches, precious time with my mom and aunt and a six
day break away from meals to cook, carpools to run, laundry to fold and a house
to clean. 6:00 a.m. – the alarm sounded and I was out
the door with my mom bound for Florida.
The trip was glorious.
I slept in and went to bed early, started and finished an amazing
book, stared at the gorgeous ocean,
mesmerized by the vast view each morning,
shared and listened to fascinating stories about my family’s generations,
daydreamed, journaled, walked the beach, shopped and ate the most incredible
fresh fruit and fresh seafood.
When I returned home, I was one refreshed, renewed and
rejuvenated momma. I had just
experienced the mother of all respites.
My husband later said that my break away from the kids and the daily
grind of housework was just what the doctor ordered. But the more I thought about his comment the
more I realized the time away from kiddos and never-ending work (house or
business) wasn’t truly the reason I was able to relax and unwind. Sure it was nice, but I have to admit I do
get a little help (and sometimes a lot) with juggling the everyday life. My generous mother lightens my load with the
kids and my husband scores pretty well with laundry, dishes, and meals.
What was the key to decompressing and really relaxing? It was what I didn’t do and what everyone else does every day. I didn’t have a laptop or an ipad, and my
great aunt doesn’t own a computer. I
didn’t watch TV nor was it ever on. I
didn’t email, text or play on my phone (I am one of the few who don’t have a
data plan). I never looked at a screen unless you count
the screen on the window that viewed the magnificent ocean.
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