Last week my family and I took a week for rest and rejuvenation. While some families might think of this as 'vacation' I find it more invigorating to call it rest and rejuvenation because each time I speak or think that phrase it reminds me what the primary purpose of the time is. And while, as a Burned Out Baby Boomer in recovery, it's always a bit of a challenge to leave my business for a week, in large part because I also love what I do so much, I've come to realize with the help of coach Chris Barrow how important regular times of R&R really are, not only to my own sanity and well being, but also so I can come back ready to be of service once again to my clients. I'm not quite sure when the R&R time officially started since we had fun traveling to Columbia SC where we conducted a Sunday On Purpose, which was also so much fun that it almost doesn't count as work. But the real R&R time began Sunday evening when we arrived in Charleston SC where we stayed at a beautiful condominium right in the heart of Charleston where everything is happening. (Thanks to my good friend and client, Eric M. for providing us with such a pleasant place to stay.) While we did a lot while in Charleston, we did also make time just to hang out, read, relax, talk, listen to music, watch some TV, etc. My 13-year old daughter, Amber, and I visited the air craft carrier, Yorktown, along with a battleship, Coast Guard Cruiser and submarine. We counted this as part of her home education so while touring the vessels I gave Amber a pop quiz. It was some special time together that we will both cherish -- what I would call a 'silver box memory.' We also visited a couple of beaches, spent most of one day shopping at the open air market, ate much wonderful food, and slept late every morning. We then returned home to our "Paradise Found" in the NC mountains where we continued 2-3 more days of R&R. When's the last time you took time off to simply rest and rejuvenate? Last year, after hearing Chris Barrow share about the 6-plus weeks of time off he takes for R&R, I committed to taking at least 4 weeks a year -- something I couldn't even imagine doing in my 'previous life' as a vet. So far, I've held to my promise with a lot of help from Ann and Amber. I strongly encourage my Burned Out Boomer clients increase they R&R time as well. How about you? That's it from Flat Rock NC where it's another beautiful day in Paradise. BRAD 2005 Brad Swift of Life On Purpose Institute, Inc. This article can be reprinted freely online, as long as the entire article and this resource box are included. |
