What You REALLY Need to Bring on Vacation
Summer is here and many of us hit the road traveling. We take the chance to soak up sentiments and events during the past seasons and prepare for the coming ones. It’s the perfect time to remember, revive and reimagine. Besides sunscreen, a bathing suit and sturdy shoes, there are other things that are useful to bring along on our vacation. The famous poet Rainer Maria Rilke said, “The only journey is the one within.” What could you put in your spiritual suitcase?
We gave you some tips for your spiritual journey, but here are some must-haves for your summer vacation to make the best of your trip.
Spontaneity: Make a plan…then let go. Before you set off, you’re likely to have some idea of your itinerary. Don’t get frustrated when things don’t go as planned and go with the flow of what’s happening around you. This is a chance for a little adventure and perhaps a great story later on! If you’re feeling really brave, don’t plan details at all, but pick a destination and see how it unfolds.
A Sense of Adventure: Embrace local culture. Don’t keep your nose in the guidebook! This might be hard if you don’t know an area, but tear yourself away from TripAdvisor and find out where the locals hang out. Talk to people and find out where the best places are to eat, shop or even to spend the night. You’ll save lots of money and discover the hidden gems.
Mindfulness: Focus on what’s happening and be conscious of how you choose to remember a given moment. When you’re having a great time, you might want to take pictures of everything that’s new and exciting. Take your pictures, but at some point put the phone or camera away and enjoy the moment for what is really is while it’s happening. Better yet, turn the phone off altogether.
Patience: Enjoy the company you’re with. Spending time with the same people over a period of time can cause squabbles and clashes even between close friends and family members. Remember that you love the people that you’re with and appreciate the sides of them you’ve never seen before. Take the opportunity to get to know them even better and engage in some fresh, mind-altering conversations.
Moments of Solitude: Spend time alone. If you’re traveling with others, it’s also easy to get wrapped up only in the good times and having fun. You might miss out on the opportunity to rejuvenate and recharge; you may not immediately realize when you need a small break. Spend some time alone to recenter, reflect or pray. Go for a walk, sit on the beach, listen to the waves, watch the sunset. After all, that’s part of the meaning of “vacation,” isn’t it?
Reflection: Keep a diary or notebook for the duration of the trip. Carve out some time of day (hint: your alone time!) to write down the highlights of the day or those inspirations or realizations that entered your mind. You can also collect little mementos, like ticket stubs, and glue them in. Even if you have ten minutes, this is a habit you will be glad you kept.
Fun: Even with all of this, don’t forget to have a good time! Going on a trip is your chance to do things out of the ordinary. Loosen up and even challenge yourself a bit. Always wanted to learn scuba diving or riding a unicycle? Are you afraid of roller coasters or doing an open mic night performance? Try it! Do something you wouldn’t normally do and have a great time doing it.
An Open Mind: Just because we go on vacation, it doesn’t meet that we don’t take God with us! Something about the magic of summer keeps our senses heightened and minds prone to deeper thoughts. During our travels we might encounter God in ways we haven’t before, or learn things about ourselves that are unfamiliar and exciting. Keep your mind open to new inspirations, ideas or discoveries.
What are YOU taking in your spiritual suitcase this summer? Tell us your tips for traveling in the comments below.