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The Importance of Relaxation

We have been a lot of places since I took the plunge and got married over 30 years ago. Since then my better half and I have had the good fortune of traveling to Europe and other places of interest. Before I was married with children I was stationed in Japan on a ship for two years. Hence I got to see a lot of the Far East, not to mention a lot of water and the most magnificent sunsets a person could ever witness. And there is something magical about a rainbow at night. That is an event you have to experience in order to appreciate.

I mention this because the human psyche needs to relax and relaxation generally means a vacation. Mental health depends on the brain being completely rested and refreshed at least once a year. Working vacations do not cut it and despite what some people may say about being on vacation, if they are working they are not on vacation.

No, vacations mean just that - leaving all the work behind and just enjoying yourself. I'm a fine one to talk I guess because when I take a vacation I am constantly writing, somewhat. When I write on vacation I am writing for me not for my boss. I do hold a full time job and do freelance work on the side, but when I'm on vacation I leave the freelance behind as well as my regular job. No, when I write on vacation I write notes and small articles that I want to remember about my vacation. And then when I get home I arrange those notes into articles to share as I see fit. I don't consider that work, I see that effort as preserving memories.

Vacations relax the mind and renew the spirit. They open doorways to new ideas that were previously shut. If you are in a major business and you receive an insight on how to do something better write a note to yourself instead of acting on it immediately. And I know all about the DO IT NOW! attitude. But you're not at work, you're with family and/or friends. Don't you owe it to them to give them as much attention as you do your work?

I understand the workaholic and the mental stress that type of individual is under. But you owe yourself a break, both a mental and physical break from the daily stress of work. The simple truth is that when one relaxes the brain becomes open to new and exciting ideas, and unless the world is actually and truly ending chances are the idea can be better, and more efficiently implemented when you return home.

This world has a lot of exciting places to see and experience. And while our Europeans vacations are on hold for the foreseeable future we do experience mini-vacations right here in our own hometown. It serves the same purpose as a major vacation, breaks the daily routine of living, and provides an opportunity for my mind to expand upon new concepts and ideas. I also have the added bonus of knowing that it is a weekend getaway meaning I don't have to eat my vacation days to enjoy some much needed time away from the daily stress of living.

A major vacation, a mini-vacation, the concept and objective is the same - forget about work, relax and let the universe work it's magic on you.

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