Summer Vacation
Posted By Aaron Marcelli on July 22, 2009
The reason I have not posted a new blog entry in some time is partially my recent nine day vacation, and partially the time I spent catching from having taken a nine day vacation. One of the things I had set as a goal for myself this year was to take a true vacation, not just traveling for the purpose of visiting family. I already met that goal earlier this year when I spent a long weekend in Montana, but having broken out of the captivity of believing I was not one of those people who could just up and travel, I was anxious to vacation again.
My retreat this time consisted of taking a friend for a few days in Orlando, Florida. As a child I had never experienced that “once in a lifetime” magical Disney World experience; my family opted to go to Niagara instead. Upon arrival in Orlando though, we found out that my vacation pass provided us with a variety of park pass choices. So after an in-depth study of the posters on the wall we decided the models posed at Universal Studios appeared to be having the most fun. We spent a full day at each park and several nights on the town. I learned that apparently blowing your horn fixes all traffic problems and running from ride to ride for 14 hours a day does not feel like the vacation I have come to long for.
I then swapped traveling buddies and headed to Ft. Lauderdale where friend #2 and I set out on what was my first ever cruise – a much more casual and relaxing getaway headed for the Bahamas. I learned several useful tips that may come in handy should I choose to cruise again, such as take advantage of the buffets, bring lots of sunscreen, there is no power-flush like that on a cruise, and I should leave my cash on the boat so the locals won’t force their “just like the original” products on me.
All and all though the time away gave me a chance to clear my head and focus on my life as well as how I fit in to the life around me. It gave me some time to spend with God sitting in the pool with my Ipod playing. I don’t think that God spoke louder to me on the open sea, but somehow it was easier to hear Him. I evaluated my direction, my passion, and my purpose. I began to long for more, not materially for those I met who traveled the most seemed to be the most scattered, but for a fuller, richer life that make for stories that challenge and inspire others.
I give myself an A for not using the current state of our country and economy as an excuse to sit at home and tuck my money under my mattress. For me I believe the best thing I could do is to get away regularly as a time of stepping back, evaluating, and just getting refreshed about life. Maybe it’s been too long since you have done that. I’m not giving anyone excuse to live beyond their means, but in some way do some thing that revives that little push from the inside we all need to keep moving forward.
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