Well, as promised – I’d like to share some observations about relationships and such that I made whilst on vacation. I realize it’s pretty late in the day but better late than never I guess and maybe Russ will hold off on writing his Sunday post for a few hours so that everyone has a chance to read this one.
Anyway – have you ever noticed that when you’re on vacation how you just seem to slow down and take more time to just watch the world go by? Sure was true for me on this trip! I spent most of three days just lounging on or near the beach with no plan or agenda in mind beyond catching some sunshine and enjoying myself. Now, as I’ve mentioned before, I was at Daytona Beach – a pretty popular tourist location and well populated with people of all stripes and types. There were beach bums, Yankee tourist, locals, bikers, college kids and the wealthy . . . all packed together on a strip of beach. Made for some VERY interesting people watching let me tell you!!
I noticed some common threads as I sat in my beach chair . . .
First off – you can’t tell how wealthy a person is when they’re in a swimsuit. Sounds kinda sophomoric I know but think about it a bit. We tend to put so much importance on wealth and possession but it really doesn’t make much difference in who we are as a person. You can be poor and fat or rich and fat – you can be loosing your hair and own a global corporation or be a janitor . . . hmmm. We all know this but we loose sight of it most of the time.
Second – Often as I was driving I would go by these multi-million dollar homes (really mansions) along the beach and then – right next door – would be a small house that if it were on your street you’d never look at it twice. It got me to thinking – ya’know the fellow in the small place has just as nice a view and walks no further to the beach than the guy in the mansion . . . but he pays a LOT less for upkeep! Plus probably no one’s gonna break into his place first right!?! So wealth doesn’t really give an advantage sometimes does it?
Third – I took a day and ran up to St. Augustine to tour the fort there and other historic places (very interesting BTW!!). While I was at the fort I noticed a family who were touring the place as well. Now it was obvious that they weren’t exceptionally well off, dad was pretty over-wieght and mom seemed to have missed the memo about pink polyester going out of style. Kids were in the pre-teen mode. But what really struck me about this family is that they were very obviousely a FAMILY – they were together and they enjoyed each other! They read all of the little signs and displays together and took photos of them and you could hear them talking and discussing the fort and how it must have been back in the 1600’s . . . it was just very refreshing to see that. How often do we miss out on enjoying our kids or significant other because we’re so wrapped up in other priorities? Making money, owning “stuff”, following our own interests, getting our needs met first . . . whatever it is that distracts us from the people that should mean much more to us. Just really gave me some food for thought.
I guess what these three observations boil down to is just a deeper realization that there are a LOT of false priorities out there. Job, money, sex, possessions, fun, hobbies . . . it’s incredibly easy to let those things take precedence over focusing on those we love and who love us. And to be fair it’s not always US who have the misguided priorities! Sometimes it is our spouse or our children who are distracted by those other things and allow them to compromise their relationship with us.
Just some observations.
Until next time – Be Well!
Bill
