A week of vacation in South Carolina, ahhhhh, to a point. I have learned a few lessons on this week of no responsibilities, the freedom to nap at will and more sunshine in a week than I've seen all winter in Ohio!
Lesson 1: Do my words and my actions portray the same me? I don't want to be someone who is easily angered, selfishly driven and in need of constant control. I want to be level headed in the face of change, thoughtful of others and their desires and willing to allow others to lead so that all can enjoy time spent together. Temper tantrums do not equate level headedness, or selflessness, or a willingness to give up control. Seeing this in others makes me take a step back and view my own actions. How do I respond to others when the heat is on and when I may be tempted to slip into a foul mood?
Lesson 2: Communication + personal responsibility = a happy vacation!! If something in the plans remains an unknown communicate with everyone else either by phone or in person. Don't assume and don't sit back and wait for someone to do the contacting, be the one who initiates the communication so that there are no unknowns in the schedule. If I fail to communicate with someone else and plans get jumbled I should take personal responsibility for not acting on communicating, don't blame the other person! Sure it would have been nice for the other person to call or ask but if I didn't do either then how can I blame the other person(s).
Lesson 3: Have a plan laid out within the first day of vacation and share it with the group. Work in multiple plans if there are several things you want to do together. Don't wait until the last minute to schedule a big event because it will never come about as planned if you do. This goes back to number 2, communicate! No one person should be in charge of vacation plans or event scheduling during vacation. Prior to making those reservations or big plans bring it before the group so that everyone is on the same page or cancellations will become the name of the game.
Lesson 4: Small, family vacations are the best!! The less people along the fewer the complications.
When the lessons have been acknowledged and appreciated I can say we enjoyed our time here with family! Cousins have enjoyed their time together, brothers have laughed together and great-grandchildren have left their imprint on their great-grandparents hearts. All is right in the world once again.
