From your employers point of view they have to pay you money to not work so they don’t find much value in vacations. The only exception being that you come back refreshed so you can work harder.
However, if you look at this picture, this is pretty much what will happen to you if you don’t take a vacation.
You’ll seize up.
Okay – I seized up about 5 weeks before my vacation. Poor planning on my behalf.
So now I use my vacation to get better.
Now I know what vacations are really for. Healing.
Most vacations it takes about 2 weeks for me to totally de-stress, and then I can try to remember who I really am and what I truly enjoy doing and then go do it. Fortunately, as I am older, I have insisted on 4 weeks vacation, so I have 2 weeks, usually, to enjoy myself. Maybe not so much this year.
I had not anticipated a holiday in which I am trying to get well enough to go back to work – but I suspect that this is exactly what most people do in one way or another.
Since I am now the Tin Lady, not unlike the Tin Man who made the mistake of being out in the rain, I’m a wee bit stiff, and a hell of a lot slower.
My physiotherapist can appreciate this picture.
As my friend said, he can do the hundred yard dash in 3 days.
Which is probably a day less than me.
I am getting better, but I also may have a new reality.
My vacation has a new meaning – but I must admit, a better meaning. I have learned so much from being disabled, way more than when I was an able bodied, and active person. Valuable lessons I could not have gotten any other way. I discovered also there are some very genuine caring people in this world who have given their time to help me, despite my pride and stubborn self! And some have inspired me in new ways.
I have learned the true definition of resilience, and it is not what you think. Courage is not being Wonder Woman 24/7. It means you get out and do what you have to do while your brain is whining all the time, you’re totally despairing, you’ve lost all hope, ready to curl up and die, you’re having pity parties, screaming in pain or yelling at your spouse or any other hapless creature in your way. You grumble, you plod and you are miserable but you keep pressing forward. You put yourself on auto pilot and never stop.
I am grateful for the experience and the education, but next time, I think an exotic locale with 5 star hotels might be a better choice! My lessons will go with me even there, and enrich all my future adventures.