August 1, 2008 Chautauqua

From the Editor's Computer
It’s summertime and many people are taking time off to go on a vacation.

I recently saw a Hagar the Horrible comic strip where Hagar is trying to get Helga to enjoy their vacation with him. Helga, on the other hand, is far too busy to enjoy their beach location. What is she so busy doing? The final frame shows Helga, on a beach towel, planning next year’s vacation!
A vacation should be a break from your normal lifestyle to give you a chance to renew yourself. If you take your same habits and frantic pace on vacation with you, as Helga did in the comic strip, you are not really vacationing.
A vacation is not so much a destination or even an activity you do, as it is a state of mind. Thus, a vacation can, and should, happen at anytime and anywhere, and can be any length in duration.
Any time you are pausing and taking a moment to step back from your usual routine and pace you are vacationing. It can be no more than the time it takes to take a deep breath, or it can be all day, or even many days.
I can, and quite truthfully do, easily spend a good half my time vacationing.
There is a saying: “A change is as good as a rest.” This is only true if the change is completely different from your usual routine. Helga changed her location but not her mindset. Changing your mindset, even for a brief moment, is a real vacation that can be enjoyed even if you go to another location or do something special.
Beth


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