Who Are You On Vacation?

I've been reading a lot of posts lately about vacation and how people are finding an inner peace that seems almost impossible when at home, immersed in daily life and adult responsibilities.

V and I actually had this discussion a few weeks ago when I got back from DC. I don't remember how we got on the topic, but I mentioned that traveling brings out a side of me that isn't seen a lot at home. I feel in my element, confident and worthy. I speak up about things that normally would warrant a non-response or some sort of internal dialogue and shame. I walk in the front of the line, instead of always wanting to be at the back. I am spontaneous. I sleep soundly. I laugh. I play. I feel whole.

For whatever time frame that I am on vacation, I find that I immediately pick up these characteristics and feel so at peace within my own mind and body... something that feels at times impossible in my normal day to day surroundings.

What is it about traveling/vacation that flips that switch so easily for me?

It literally is an almost instant transformation. Sometimes it happens as soon as I arrive at the airport, other times it's as I step off the plane. I know that amazing experiences are ahead of me. I've planned for them. I've paid for them. It's like I get to have control over my life in a way that is not possible at home. I get to pick and choose what I want to do that I know will bring me joy, do it on my own time frame, with the people I want and it all falls into place (assuming I've planned ahead properly!). Vacation is like a glimpse of what life would be like if you could control everything. Maybe that's why we all like vacation so much! What's not to like about that?!

By the end of a good vacation, I'm ready to be home if for nothing more than to sleep in my own bed, but part of me wonders now if my eagerness to be back home is to try and put into practice these traits and characteristics that I possess on vacation. To try and blend this seemingly completely separate me into my "real" life.

Are you different on vacation?

5 comments:

Grace said...
July 31, 2011 at 2:07 PM

Yes, I am very different on vacation. Like you, I become a different person when I get on the plane or reach my *destination*. Maybe I feel like I get to 'be someone else' on vacation. I don't know... I don't, however, sleep well.
But I do laugh and enjoy myself and have fun, even if sometimes it's like I'm watching myself from outside my own body.

The Thrifty Book Nerd said...
August 1, 2011 at 4:19 PM

When I am on vacation, I don't worry about time or deadlines. I just focus on the here and now.

A Mother Always said...
August 1, 2011 at 8:41 PM

When I'm vacation I feel like I'm FREE....as opposed to being always restrained (by real life).

Paola said...
August 2, 2011 at 8:43 AM

Nice post... I'm often different on vacation too, a lot more relaxed than my already calm personality. I find that I enjoy not booking things, just turning up somewhere and following my heart & maybe the wind!!
I guess on vacation we can forget about our life for a while and just chill.. I wonder if that's why I enjoy travelling and living abroad so much..
Thanks for sharing this

Borderline Lil said...
August 7, 2011 at 11:25 PM

I feel as though I can be a new, more interesting, less "mental" person while on vacation. Kind of a re-invention. The person I would like to be all the time, I suppose, but find it hard to be sue to work pressures, family expectations, etc. Great topic!