As a child, my father used to always tell me how he “works like a Mexican.” It is true that he works hard, often rising before the crack of dawn, toiling tirelessly all day. I am not what you would call an “early bird” (if my life depended on it, I’d never get the worm), and my father would often admonish me for my laziness, reminding me that he had already put in an entire day’s work before I had even woken. Being half-Mexican, am I not living up to my heritage?
Oftentimes I wake with a pitt in my stomach, my mind churning with all the tasks that await doing. I spring out of bed to complete them anyway. Having spent some of my formative years in Costa Rica, I’ve witnessed firsthand the benefits of work-life balance. My high school had a surf club, and the cafe culture was thriving. This is a country whose national motto is Pura Vida, which literally translates as “pure life.” During this period, I was a regular mid-day napper, and I never felt guilty about it. I love this pace of life, which is why I feel my everyday routine has worn thin. Now that I’m ensconced in a career, I often find it hard to relax due to the all-encompassing nature of modern life. Lately, even sleep is punctuated with thoughts of trip planning, work, or other minutae. Life in the global economy seems so hectic; just when one task is completed, there is another to take its place. It’s a little like Sisyphus pushing that rock up the hill.
Like most of us, I sometimes bemoan the loss of childhood’s simplicity, the daydreaming of limitless possibilities. But then I remember that adulthood brings the ability to enact our goals. So I’ve decided to make finding true relaxation a personal goal of this RTW trip. Before setting off on this quest, I’m unsure if, how, or where relaxation will manifest itself. I’ve always imagined finding it in a remote, tropical beach locale, perhaps a palm tree-lined beach, devoid of any of the pressures of everyday life.
I’m curious to hear what you think. What does relaxation mean to you and what do you do to find it?
Most regular vacations are relaxing for me, especially the sit-on-the-beach-and-do-nothing kind you described above, but to tell you the truth, I don’t think a trip on the same scale as yours would relax me a single bit. To say I tend to be a bit high-strung is an understatement (Liz can attest to that!) and a lot of the hassles that go hand-in-hand with an extensive RTW trip like yours are exactly the hassles that trigger anxiety, panic, and pessimism in me. Not to mention the fact that jet lag and I don’t get along very well (especially crossing the Int’l Date Line)! I can honestly say that I would need a lifetime supply of Xanax to do what you guys are doing. That’s why I’m so excited for you and proud of you for making the decision to go ahead and do it. You *will* have one of those lazy beach days for me, though, right? :)
Gin + Tonic = Relaxation; I’ve also come up with a method of dumping my brain into my organizer. I leave work each day knowing the EVERYTHING I need to do is captured somewhere in my leather-bound friend. By knowing that everything is captured, my mind is freed to relax. This is the basis of the book “Getting Things Done” (or GTD for those in the “know”) by David Allen. A worthwhile read to learn how to get things done when needed, but relax when it is time!
I always feel on edge in cities. Once I get out into rural areas and off the beaten path I find it easy to relax. Just knowing you don’t have to be somewhere at a certain time or get some lamo chore around the house done is relaxation at its best. Travel is tiring, but it just makes those moments when you’re seeing something new and amazing for the first time, or kicking back with the locals, all that much sweeter and more enjoyable. And who wants to relax all the time, anyway? Those times won’t be the funny stories you share for years to come.