Last week my family and I took a week for rest and rejuvenation.
While some families might think of this as 'vacation' I find it
more invigorating to call it rest and rejuvenation because each
time I speak or think that phrase it reminds me what the primary
purpose of the time is.
And while, as a Burned Out Baby Boomer in recovery, it's always
a bit of a challenge to leave my business for a week, in large
part because I also love what I do so much, I've come to realize
with the help of coach Chris Barrow how important regular times
of R&R really are, not only to my own sanity and well being, but
also so I can come back ready to be of service once again to my
clients.
I'm not quite sure when the R&R time officially started since we
had fun traveling to Columbia SC where we conducted a Sunday On
Purpose, which was also so much fun that it almost doesn't count
as work. But the real R&R time began Sunday evening when we
arrived in Charleston SC where we stayed at a beautiful
condominium right in the heart of Charleston where everything is
happening. (Thanks to my good friend and client, Eric M. for
providing us with such a pleasant place to stay.)
While we did a lot while in Charleston, we did also make time
just to hang out, read, relax, talk, listen to music, watch some
TV, etc. My 13-year old daughter, Amber, and I visited the air
craft carrier, Yorktown, along with a battleship, Coast Guard
Cruiser and submarine. We counted this as part of her home
education so while touring the vessels I gave Amber a pop quiz.
It was some special time together that we will both cherish --
what I would call a 'silver box memory.'
We also visited a couple of beaches, spent most of one day
shopping at the open air market, ate much wonderful food, and
slept late every morning. We then returned home to our "Paradise
Found" in the NC mountains where we continued 2-3 more days of
R&R.
When's the last time you took time off to simply rest and
rejuvenate? Last year, after hearing Chris Barrow share about
the 6-plus weeks of time off he takes for R&R, I committed to
taking at least 4 weeks a year -- something I couldn't even
imagine doing in my 'previous life' as a vet. So far, I've held
to my promise with a lot of help from Ann and Amber. I strongly
encourage my Burned Out Boomer clients increase they R&R time as
well. How about you?
That's it from Flat Rock NC where it's another beautiful day in
Paradise.
©2005 Brad Swift of Life On Purpose Institute, Inc. This article
can be reprinted freely online, as long as the entire article
and this resource box are included.
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