To be on vacation is wonderful isn’t it? Some vacations have been so busy that there was not enough time to really savor the experience. Just sleep, eat and go. Sleep, eat and go and when we return, we are exhausted. Then there are others where there is a restful balance. My last vacation gave me time for perspective on what is a healthy balanced life.
This last vacation in Maui was wonderful. What’s not to like about Maui, right? We had a balcony condo with a beautiful view of the beach. The beach was no more than two hundred feet from our balcony. We could hear the surf through the walls. We spent the morning having coffee and breakfast watching the surf. During the day we would either be active with excursions on the island or relaxing on the balcony or by the pool. Maui Life is so peaceful and relaxing. It was a perfect balance between activity and rest. I didn’t want the vacation to end. I just wanted to remain in this peaceful state forever.
Hawaii life
I awoke one morning and wondered what it would be like to live and work in Hawaii. Who wouldn’t want this life forever, right? As I continued to wonder about life in Hawaii, I realized that the commitment of work and life would soon lead to the same lifestyle I have right here at home.
I live in a beautiful area of the central coast of California. You could even call it paradise. I believe the city of Paso Robles put that on a billboard once. Here I am, living in paradise, the coast not more than 30 min away and I take for granted the beauty around me and I work work work. The beach is right there and yet I barely visit it two times a year. Wouldn’t I fall into the same habit even living in Maui. I fear so. I mean It isn’t the place as much as it is my values and beliefs.
Healthly Balanced Life
For example, our tour guide to the ‘Road to Hana’ is a native of Hawaii and he told us the Hawaii culture that is still taught today is a healthy work balance. Work yes and take time for yourself, family and community. It is taught to them. We, with our western mindset, might call their work ethic leisurely or lazy. Is it?
Time Out
As stress and anxiety and its chronic disease associates become the norm In America, we should be calling ‘time out’ at the top of our lungs. Rather than be critical of taking time for yourselves, we should embrace it.
The week we spent in Maui was heavenly. We practiced a good balance between activities and rest. There were a couple days of activities and days to just rest.
Healthy life should also be about a balance between activities and rest. Take time for self care, family and community.
So many times, I feel I should go visit the beach and I don’t. I feel guilty taking time out for myself. There is always so much to do and not enough time. Right?
Why do we’ as an American culture’ feel guilty about taking time for self care? What if I went to the beach to just zen, to regain perspective, to balance and reconnect with myself and nature? Then I think, with so much to do, aren’t I being selfish? What would others think? Aren’t we just a little too worried about what ‘others think’? I know I am just a little more than I should.
Little Steps to Change
I do know that moving forward from our western work ethic to a more healthy life balance of work and rest could be a big step. I also know that change works best and is longer lasting by creating an intention to change and then taking small steps. Take a small step, be consistent with this change and when it becomes natural, take another small step. Continue moving forward one small step at a time.
To this end, I have started a daily morning routine of meditation and journaling. When the beach calls me, I will schedule a visit as soon as I can. I am worth it and so are you!
