My Vacation Self

My husband and I returned from a blissful, relaxing vacation. It was a caribbean island. Warm people, cold drinks. We spent all day in the water. Ocean to pool to shower to pool. It is amazing how much you can do when you don't have to do work all day. Unbelievable. I find that I was full of energy, waking up at 6am just dying to go try something new, learn to do some dance, make some craft, meet some new person.

After three days I feel like a whole new person. I don't use profanity. (it does help that there are no jughandles here). I am relaxed person who is mellow and calm. A person who doesn't worry about work or what chaos will ensue in the office (let's face it, the chaos will surely outlast me). I am swimming and laughing and learning to sail.

I eat strange tropical fruits for breakfast and spend each early evening watching birds fly by or the sun set. We eat outside and walk barefoot on the sand. We make lots of new friends.

I want to be My Vacation Self all year long. I will make a dedicated effort to not let the grouchiness of my clients wear off on me. I will try to smile more and drink more fruity tropical drinks all year round.

Simple Things

In this time of spending carefully I find it nice to know that there are plenty of simple pleasures that don't break the bank. My husband and I went to Five Below and bought a tone of fun things including a hula hoop and a set of badminton rackets and birdies. While it was mildly embarrassing to learn how bad we are at this simple game, we enjoyed just being outside, swatting at a plastic birdie and watching the purple sun set behind the trees.

Sometimes I catch myself becoming "too" adult. Here are a few signs.

If you buy the Sunday newspaper but haven't read the comics you might be losing your childish edge. If your dinner comes with a free desert and you refuse it, you might be getting up there in mindset. If you have access to a pool and don't go in because the water is below 79 degrees, it is time to reevaluate. If you can't remember the last time that you laughed just remember, this is not incurable.

Take off your shoes. Play in the grass the sand the puddle. Draw with crayons, markers, chocolate pudding (on plastic of course). And smile. Swing on a swing. Pet a kitten. Wear fun colors. Ride a bike. Really live every sweet moment.