Fun Friday - Humor Happy Hour - The Vacation

 

Has anything interesting happened on one of your vacations?

Humor Happy Hour - The Vacation

Motivational Monday - How do you vacation? 3 Simple tips for a fun vacation

I need a vacation, was the statement I made to my inner workaholic self; then I called a couple of girlfriends. We decided on a weekend getaway by train.

We scheduled a Zoom session to plan the details of our trip. One friend said, "I'm not taking my laptop." The other said, "Yeah, I'm leaving mine at home too."

I began to twitch, tingle, and twist, anxiously...no laptop? My laptop is like American Express - I don't leave home without it.

What if...I get a story idea, need to write a blog post, or need to research ideas? I needed my trusted companion...or did I? Nope. I decided to leave my pal, my old reliable writing companion at home.

After all, I had my phone as backup. This leads to the question of the day - How do you vacation? Decide what you want from your vacation. Do you want to go shopping, sight seeing, active events, or more relaxed?

Here are my 3 Simple tips for a fun vacation:

1.  Create a plan - only if it makes you feel better, but be willing to deviate from it. Remember, you are on vacation. Don't be rigid.

2.  Break away from routine - flexibility is key for a great vacation. Do something differently than you usually do. Is your favorite breakfast oatmeal and toast? Live on the edge - add garlic butter to your toast (for example purposes).

3.  Allow yourself to have fun - you don't have to fill every moment of your schedule. It's also okay if you choose to do nothing at all. Sitting on a beach with your toes in the sand, or sitting pool side sipping a smoothie can be relaxing.

On our girls trip, having fun, and relaxing were our highest priorities. Early Saturday morning before the sun reached its brightness, we took a power walk along the beach, through a memorial park, and past a dozen skyscrapers.

I stopped frequently to take pictures and soak in the wonder of the architecture of the buildings and the aesthetics of the flowers.  

After the walk we stopped at a nearby Starbucks and sipped flavored coffee as we chatted and watched as birds swooped down in anticipation of a dropped crumb. 

"What if everyday was Saturday? That's how I imagine retirement," one friend said.

"We could meet up once a week for coffee and conversation, " said the other friend.

We breathed a heavy sigh and said, "This is what vacation is all about."

On the ride home at the end of our vacation, I twitched, tingled, and twisted. This time it was due to the jerkyness of the train. 

Overall the trip included friendship, fellowship, food, and lots of laughs.

What would you add to the list of tips for a fun vacation?

Motivational Monday – 3 Tips that encourage fitness during vacation

Sweat danced at the edge of my hairline, the bright sun activated the transition lenses of my glasses, and my bare arms felt like they were on fire. It was day one of my vacation. I dashed inside an air-conditioned building for a moment of relief. Then it happened…I heard music, it was a familiar upbeat sound. It was an ice cream truck.

To indulge, or not to indulge? I made my way back into the blistering heat and handed the ice cream man my $2.00. In return, I received a soft serve twist, ice cream cone…chocolate and vanilla. I was on vacation.

Vacation is a time to relax, enjoy and indulge. It is a time for guilt-free pleasures. However, don’t completely throw out your fitness regimen. Below are three tips for including fitness while on vacation.

1.      Find the fitness – once you are settled into your temporary living quarters, find out if there is a fitness center. Most places have at least a few machines. If there is no fitness center, you can always do movements in your room. A few simple movements include squats, high knees, jumping jacks, and stretches.

2.      Swim – or play in the water. If you’re not a swimmer, wade in the water. You can hold onto the sides of a pool and kick your legs. Do movements to create your own style of water aerobics.

3.      Make an effort to walk every day – take a friend and get moving.

Day one of my vacation would have been Muscle Monday at the fitness studio where I workout. Monday sets the tone for your week. Ready to set the tone for my week, I found my way to the fitness center at the time I usually work out (before the sun makes its appearance over the horizon).

There was a sign near the door of the fitness center with the hours of operation…7am. I was an hour early so I paused, but entered anyway. To my surprise, there was another person who had defied the rules this one time for the sake of fitness. It was a friend in my traveling group. We were setting the tone for our week.

It’s your turn, set the tone for your week and beyond. Keep this habit during your vacation. Are you ready?

Words of Wisdom - Vacation Season - Make time for play

Enjoy life. It's not a sprint, it's a marathon.

My niece Norvena - celebrating her birthday.

"Always do what you are afraid to do." Ralph Waldo Emerson

"People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it." 

George Bernard Shaw