The Bounce Back Book

Tip 10: Use Vacations As Restorations

Why is it that you often must go away to have important life realizations come a-knockin'? Yes, often the best way to see what's going on in your life is from a distance of a few thousand miles.

I have some theories on why a vacation is perfect for neuron renewal:

• Getting away reminds you: Eureka! You are just one little microdot life in this humongous world, which means you don't have huge problems. You have microdot problems, which only YOU—and YOU ALONE—are in charge of fixing. So you can live the most amazing microdot life imaginable.
  
• At least for the moment it takes to stare at that amazing painting, church, view, leather pocketbook, chocolate croissant, you're being fully mindful and in the now rather than obsessing about your past difficulties.
• When you change your scenery, you change you thinking energy—and are more apt to see new solutions. You also remove potentially depressing visual triggers that might be keeping you stuck in a negative place.
• Vacations keep you away from phones, newspapers, e-mail, and incoming bills. Duh! This liberation creates much inner celebration!
  

Bounce Back Assignment: Take a vacation—and leave your emotional baggage at the airport. If possible, go to a spot with lots of sun, thereby getting extra perks of light and exercise. While away, write yourself "in-sightseeing postcards" of your trip and mail them home. They will remind you of a perspective you don't want to lose.

Karen Salmansohn is a best-selling author known for creating self-help for people who wouldn't be caught dead reading self-help. Reprinted by permission of Workman Publishing Co., Inc. from The Bounce Back Book by Karen Salmansohn. (c) 2007 All Rights Reserved

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