Driving back home on Sunday after vacationing for seven days in Mackinaw City, Michigan, and Minocqua, Wisconsin we came across a billboard that read:
Live More. Worry Less.
That really struck a chord in me. I couldn’t remember a vacation where I didn’t worry about a pet, my home, or work. I realized as I read the sign that I’d pretty much let go and enjoyed our time away. I do admit though that it was easier to not worry about a pet as we currently don’t have one.
As far as work goes, I’m just finishing up the last of the edits from my editor for my next memoir with about half of the manuscript to go through yet. But I realized I never once thought about it until we were close to home yesterday.
There were a few times I had tears well up in my eyes thinking about Gidget who passed away in May. We saw many dogs (and dachshunds!) at the campgrounds as well as on Mackinac Island which we visited on Thursday. While I sometimes feel a tug on my heart and miss the companionship of an animal, I’m still not ready for that commitment.
I really enjoyed having my focus on John, celebrating his 60th birthday, and our time together, and the places we explored.
This time away was our maiden voyage in our R.pod camper!
After reading the billboard, taking in the wisdom of those words, I found myself thinking back to 2018 and how frazzled and stressed I felt for most of that year. At one point I felt at the end of my rope and just didn’t think I could cope anymore. But this breaking point, or rather a call to evolve and rise above the pain I was feeling was a gift from my sweet Gidget. That journey with Gidget as my guide, along with a few other animals, is what I wrote about in my next memoir.
So when I read that sign, live more, worry less, I thought of Gidget. Even though a difficult time last year this was what she was helping me to understand. I thought back to other vacations where I’d worried about the weather, a pet we left behind at a kennel or with a dog sitter, work that I needed to complete, or arriving at our destination at a certain time, or that everything would go as planned, etc.
But this one was different. I enjoyed every moment and didn’t worry. I let go and trusted all was unfolding just as it was meant to be.
There was a part of me that didn’t want our vacation to end. But as we drove down the highway and with about two hours left before we arrived home I felt a welcome shift in my energy and looked forward to my own bed and our cozy home. And I felt grateful to have had time away and also have something to return to that makes my heart happy.
And that message on the billboard. The perfect message as we move back into our work and our everyday lives.
Live More. Worry Less.
P.S. I posted photos and short videos of our vacation on Facebook if that interests you to take a peek.
XO,
Barbara