Is it worth it?

August 19, 2003

Category: My Life

Well, we’re back from vacation. I’ve spent the last 2 days fighting it BIG TIME. Going on vacation is a wonderful thing, but coming back SUCKS. I was at a church meeting last night talking about vacation with the interim pastor and others. He posed the idea that vacation may not be worth going on because of what you have to face when you come back. I’m close to agreeing that this may be true. But, I’m still hopeful that the benefits of vacation outweigh the emotional turmoil one faces when they return.

It’s worth it. What about you? Have you had similar experiences, or am I in left field?

Posted by pablohart on August 19, 2003 12:31 PM

Comments

yes, pablo, it's worth it. let me explain: you've sent a couple of emails since returning which i had the privilege of reading (one just for me), that, when i read them, made me exclaim out loud, "wow, i can tell paul's been on vacation!"

they were relaxed in tone, insightful, and, in both cases, very affirming. i, for one, have been lifted up by your vacation.

Posted by dad at August 19, 2003 6:02 PM

i gotta be real honest with you here, bro. this sounds kinda whiney. i mean, most people in the world can't afford the good pleasure of taking an entire week and doing what they want to do. you can. you live in a town in a country that is extremely wealthy. you have a job which allows you to not show up for an entire week and still come back! that's pretty great, doncha think?

just my opinion from the outside looking in. i'll need you to remind me of this in 3.5 weeks when i'm sitting on a train in penn station writing a paper on my laptop on my way to my internship. k? that's what brothers are for right? :)

Posted by nathan at August 20, 2003 12:59 AM

Hey, I know what you mean! Vacation can be a real drag on the Monday after it's all over! But, I still would never pass up the opportunity to sit on the side of a lake, spending time with God, and allow the stress to melt away. As long as your vacation is a time to unwind, and not a blizzard of things you have got to do, I think it is always worth it, no matter what you have to face when you get back.

Posted by Nick at August 20, 2003 5:53 PM

dad said i railed on you too hard. sorry.

Posted by nathan at August 20, 2003 6:19 PM

So, it's nice to hear someone other than me and my husband are challenged to assimilate back into reality during post-vacation time. The fact is, life cannot be lived on vacation...as much as we would sometimes like.

Think back to that "wish-i-had-time-to-do" list a few weeks back. These are not vacation pursuits, but desires of your heart and real life activities.

One more quick thought--your wife's vacation from HER daily tasks--when does that happen for her?

miss ya, and guess i'll see you next on my own vacation...

Posted by shari at August 21, 2003 11:12 AM

Shari, I love you. Actually, I did get a break from my daily tasks on vacation. Even meeting the demands of a 3-year-old and being 7-mos pregnant is somehow easier at the cottage.

coming back from vacation IS difficult. I suspect it will be even more difficult for some people (remaining nameless, of course) who have had a summer of not much work and a whole lot of time with their special someone. ah-hem. ;)

Posted by Manda at August 22, 2003 9:08 AM

touche, Manda.

Posted by nathan at August 22, 2003 10:00 AM

I have to honestly say that I agree with Nathan's pre-apology comments.

In addition to what he said, you are also blessed enough to have somewhere to go that, in and of itself already has special meaning to be able to go there (it is a family place, right?).

There are those who cannot take vacations, and if they could, they do not have the resources to be able to go somewhere that they could so completely shed their day to day life that coming back is a painful event. Hmm?

Or, and I know I'm beating you up more (sorry), there are those whose vacations are still a lot of work for them. I'll let you take Michael with you on your next vaction...

Welcome back to the world my friend.
:>}

Posted by Karen at August 22, 2003 11:03 AM

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