Ever have one of those days where you just want to run away? Pack a bag, get into the car, drive as far as you can before hopping a plane or bus for someplace new? I have.
Sometimes, life gets so monotonous or mundane that I want to leave the family, the job, all of my responsibilities for something else. Go some place where no one knows me and start fresh. Sometimes, I think I would pick a place warm and sunny year round, but then there are other days when I would pick someplace plain and ordinary that no one would even think to look for me there.
I think we all have these thoughts at one time or another. Not that most of us would or could actually pick up and leave everything behind, the thought of getting away for a bit to de-stress is so enticing.
Whether you suffer from depression or anxiety or plain-ol’ system overload, sometimes we need to step back and take a break from life. For some that may mean taking a walk or a quiet drive in the country. For others like myself, it may be getting in the car (with the family) and driving a short distance to a different climate.
I did this not so long ago. I left the cold air of home with my family and went to the beach for a few days. Granted, it was not 80-degree weather, but it was warmer by all means. No agenda, just a quiet vacation to unwind. One morning I got up and laid in the sunshine in my jeans and fleece pullover. It was sheer heaven. My only regret is that it was short-lived.
There have been times when I have been unable to take a road trip. In times like these I have been known to slip out of the house for a much-needed walk usually to the nearby cemetery. I know as a child it was often conveyed to me how morbid cemeteries can be, but it is quite the opposite. I find them to be peaceful and mind clearing. There is no one there to bother you or interrupt your train of thought, and it can be quite educational/historical not to mention all the lovely flowers.
We all fight “burn out” from time to time. Whether we are able to take a vacation, or just a quiet walk, know that you are not alone and you are perfectly normal.
