Spring Break Vacation

𝙑𝙖𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣: “𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙚𝙞𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜; 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙡𝙮 𝙤𝙘𝙘𝙪𝙥𝙞𝙚𝙙.”

ⁱ ᵈᵒ ᵃ ˡᵒᵗ ᵒᶠ ʳᵉᶠˡᵉᶜᵗⁱⁿᵍ, ᵗʰⁱⁿᵏⁱⁿᵍ, ᵃⁿᵈ ʷʳⁱᵗⁱⁿᵍ. ⁱᵗ ʰᵉˡᵖˢ ᵐᵉ ᵖʳᵒᶜᵉˢˢ ᵐʸ ᵗʰᵒᵘᵍʰᵗˢ, ᵗʰᵉ ʷᵒʳˡᵈ ᵃʳᵒᵘⁿᵈ ᵐᵉ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵖᵘᵗ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵍˢ ⁱⁿᵗᵒ ᵖᵉʳˢᵖᵉᶜᵗⁱᵛᵉ. ⁱᵗ ʰᵉˡᵖˢ ᵐᵉ ᵘⁿᵈᵉʳˢᵗᵃⁿᵈ ᵐʸˢᵉˡᶠ ⁱⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᵍʳᵃⁿᵈ ˢᶜʰᵉᵐᵉ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵍˢ. ⁱᵗ ʰᵘᵐᵇˡᵉˢ ᵐᵉ ᵃⁿᵈ ᶠⁱˡˡˢ ᵐᵉ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᵃ ˢᵉⁿˢᵉ ᵒᶠ ᵍʳᵃᵗⁱᵗᵘᵈᵉ.

Last year on our way back home from our summer vacation we decided we would book our next vacation for spring break. As this spring break approached there was so many emotions involved about the timing. It was 2 weeks away from the time that I had set to take a step back from behind the chair. This was triggering anxious energy and a sense of overwhelm as Ive been trying to schedule last minute appointments, say my “see you laters” to long time clients, and tie up loose ends in the realm of business. Personally, a week before the vacation we had to say goodbye to my aunt as she crossed over to the other side and reunited with my nanny. This brought on feelings of grief, sadness, and frustration as my family struggled with insurance to secure a funeral date. Unfortunately, the funeral would have to take place during the time that I wouldn’t be in town. Even though I was at peace and tried to honor her the best way I know how, grief has a way of sneaking in and coming in waves when you least expect it.

Anxious, overwhelm and grief ridden energy mixed with 2 upset stomachs due to something we ate prior to our cruise was what we set sail with and the strong winds and rough seas that we encountered the first few days proved to be a little tough. I also felt major sinus drainage coming on the first day so a couple days into our cruise the drainage, pressure, and sore throat were at their worse and altered my comfortability in doing activities. On our Nassau day it rained us out and we ended up being off the ship for about hour before we threw in the towel. On our 4th day after a great beach day in Half Moon Cay Quetta ate a piece of sushi at dinner that night and almost went into anaphylactic shock (we’re still trying to nail down exactly what she’s allergic to).

Despite our many many challenges, at dinner the final night we reflected on our vacation and how much a good time we had. We talked about how this was one of the most relaxing trips we’ve ever taken, how the timing was actually perfect for the societal unplug, and the gratitude we have for being able to take a family trip. We took a survey of the majority of staff around us, how hard they worked to keep everything afloat (no pun intended), the long hours, and the overall uplifting spirit that each encounter you had with them was. The majority of them were from the Philippines, Indonesia, and South Africa. As we watched so many aboard the ship take advantage of the many amenities and create more work and messes than necessary for the staff we were humbled and confronted with our own privilege, appreciative for the staff and saddened by the entitlement that so many people possess.

Simultaneously as we were enjoying our cruise my family was putting my aunt to rest. After returning, I went to help clean out her apartment and I just remember thinking as we were going through everything how one day our time on earth will end and our life as we know it will stop and while family, friends, and loved ones will feel like their life has also stopped it actually still goes on. I looked around at the space to so much that had already been altered from the way it once was yet so much still in tact. So much just waiting for her to come back from that day she went into the hospital. A home full of all the things that brought her joy, sentimental keepsakes, and everything that displayed her beautiful creativity now left for everyone else to see their worth and decide their fate. It’s humbling to see a home that was ready to receive it’s owner back, my aunt, yet be deserted by the fate that awaits us all.

As I reflect, I share as a reminder to be grateful for your health, for your family, for life. Don’t take any of it for granted. Be kind, be thoughtful, be caring. Do the right thing always. As you grow, excel, and evolve remember to keep one foot firmly planted on solid ground. Take time to appreciate the little things, even in the midst of the storms. 𝕃𝕚𝕗𝕖 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕒𝕝𝕨𝕒𝕪𝕤 𝕓𝕖 𝕘𝕠𝕠𝕕 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕥𝕙, 𝕤𝕦𝕟𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕖, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕔𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝕨𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕚𝕥 𝕚𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕓𝕖 𝕨𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕞𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕚𝕥.