I traveled on my own by bus with a tour group down to Daytona Beach in Florida on May 30th until June 8th. When I told this to some people, they asked me two questions:
Why do you travel on your own?
Doesn't it cost more to travel single?
Why not fly instead of going by motorcoach? BTW - Americans call it a bus, and Canadians call it a motorcoach - interesting distinction.
I often travel on my own because I can see the sights at my own pace with less stress. Ultimately, I end up meeting and sharing time with many like-minded people who enjoy travel. Although I travel on my own, I'm always in the company of caring people who take me under their wings.
I really enjoy listening to people who tell stories about their lives in a time before my time. They are a source of inspiration to me!
In the past, I have paid the single supplement. I don't like it, but if you want to go somewhere, you just do it! When I went down to Florida, I was fortunate in that the single supplement was waived for the time I was down there.
Although travel by plane would have gotten me there faster, I believe that air travel is more stressful. Also, I believe that your vacation begins from the moment you step on the bus. It takes about 36 hours and 1,250 miles to travel from Toronto to Daytona Beach express, but during that you have the opportunity to experience many interesting sights that you wouldn't have experienced by plane.
- I ate a southern style breakfast at a roadside restaurant in Georgia that was fit for a king (I apologize for the cliche). Eggs over easy, coffee, bacon, grits and biscuits. It is not everyday that you experience a breakfast like this, unless you live in the southern states year round.
- I saw the skyscrapers lit up at night in Atlanta, Georgia as the bus drove through the city.
- I saw the rolling hills of Ohio Valley as we traveled past Cincinati into Kentucky.
- I saw a chapel for truckers by a roadside stop.
- I saw a beautiful peacock in a tree
- I saw a magnificent thunderstorm in Ohio that was short-lived, but left a beautiful rainbow.
- I saw some dolphins in the Atlantic ocean.
- I saw a gorgeous sunrise and sunset while walking on the beach.
- I watched some pelicans fly over the top of the hotel where I stayed.
- I witnessed some little tiny lizards race across from one garden, across the pavement to another garden.
Priceless!!!
You may wonder what this all has to do with fitness .... probably not much. However, in the midst of all of your busyness, when you take the time to smell the roses and experience new sights, you have the potential to reduce your stress level and improve your health.
When I came back from the trip, I had actually lost 3 lbs, despite eating larger meals than that to which I'm accustomed.
It is surprising how many people that I talk to say that they haven't had a vacation in years, even a mini-vacation. They say, we'll do it when we have more money or when the time is right. When is more money actually enough and when is the time right? Can we measure these goals? When we reach these goals we automatically set new ones and try to chase those ones. Our ultimate happiness depends on whether or not we reach specific goals. When we do that, our happiness in life becomes an elusive concept. We'll never be happy!!
I'm not saying that we shouldn't set goals for ourselves; on the contrary, we need to set attainable goals for ourselves to lead ourselves outside of our comfort zones. But if we set conditions to making ourselves deserving of the things that make us "happy" and joyful, we'll never experience what it means to be truly happy and content. When you are content, you raise the vale of stress off your shoulders. You live in the moment. Nothing will burst your bubble.
Why not take the time now to experience what life has to offer now. It doesn't have to cost the price of a trip to Daytona Beach. Although we are told that if we look after our fitness and watch our diet we may improve our chances of living a healthy, long life.
Yet, even with that, there are no guarantees. I don't mean to sound like I'm being negative, but this is the absolute truth. Our health can still deteriorate with almost no warning, severely compromising our quality of life.
As for me, I don't expect the state of my own health to be challenged anytime soon. However, as I age, I have come to terms with the fact that I just don't have the stamina that I once had when I was 25. I'm also feeling some loss of sensation in my legs that was there when I was 25.
Today I had a good day. Tomorrow may not be as good. Yet, I still believe in my mind that everyday is a good day! My prescription I offer to you is to take the time to smell the roses, and get out there and experience all that life has to offer. Live your life to the fullest!
I'm 45 now, but when I was 25 I honestly didn't believe that I would have the physical ability to get around and enjoy the life that I'm enjoying now!! I'm not going to squander that time that I'm given by God. The time we're allowed is a gift from God. Don't waste it!
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