This article was originally published on SuccessNet.org in 2007.
Dawn and I just got back from a 3-day sailing trip on the sixth largest fresh-water lake in the US. Our beloved Lake Champlain is nearly 150 miles long and is rich with history and drenched in beauty. We were blessed with excellent weather and fair winds.
Why am I sharing this with you? Because we all need to be reminded of the need to take time away. And when you work from home—as we do—it’s more important than ever.
It’s essential for clarity, energy and focus. Without it, we can’t operate at our best. For us, it’s time on the water—just the two of us. No TV, no email, no meetings, no schedule. We have our cell phones meaning which means we can be in touch but out of reach.
I feel blessed to do work that doesn’t feel like work. The truth is, I would be doing what I’m doing now even if I wasn’t paid for it. Nonetheless, it’s still critical to spend time away from work—even when that work is fun and fulfilling.
Take a few moments and come with us on a memorable trip and vicariously experience a few of the simple pleasures nature provided for us. I hope it will encourage you to seek out your own getaway.
Our first night out, we anchored near Saxton’s Point and listened to The Mozart Festival while having dinner and sharing a bottle of wine. We could hear well the orchestra playing from the South Porch of Shelburne Farms, one of the famous Vanderbilt estates built in the 1890s.
The next day we had a quiet lunch at The Old Dock House Restaurant in historic Essex, New York. The view of the Vermont shore and the Green Mountains is nothing short of spectacular. The temps were in the 80s during the day and a comfortable-for-sleeping 60s at night.
Our second evening, we were back on the Vermont side and dropped our hook in Kingsland Bay State Park. Our anchorage was shared with a dozen other cruisers mostly from Canada. We spent the night only 100 yards from a large multi-million-dollar home. We had beautiful landscape and lake views for 180 degrees. This stone mansion has two huge chimneys. One of them was topped with branches and twigs. It was an osprey’s nest. The father soon joined the mother and with our binoculars, we could easily see them feeding their young. The slate roof of this beautiful home was littered with hay, twigs and bird droppings. Apparently the owners couldn’t bring themselves to have the nest removed and were willing to suffer some aesthetic inconvenience for the sake of these majestic creatures.
After a delicious dinner from our barbecue and a picturesque sunset, we watched lightening make an entire thunderhead glow up on the Canadian border—some 50 miles to the north. Truly awesome.
There’s something about doing nothing but taking it easy, talking and just being that relaxes the soul and nourishes the spirit.
We had a light northwestern breeze for our return to Burlington the next day. During the trip back, Dawn and I talked about our personal values and got clearer on their respective hierarchies. It’s an interesting and valuable conversation for any couple to have. I couldn’t help but think as I kept our compass close to 0 degrees (magnetic North), we were, by our discussion and our commitment to one another, seeking our TRUE North. The process prompted many questions, stimulated some enlightening discussion and brought us even closer together.
We returned home with lasting memories, great pictures and renewed energy.
No matter how busy you might find yourself, you can—in fact MUST—take a few days and get back to nature in your own way. You really CAN afford the time off. If you think you can’t, then you REALLY need to do it.
Make your plans now. Work can be postponed—your life can’t.
Best Life Reminder: Step Back to Gain Perspective.
Recommended Resource
How to Discover Your Core Values Course
When You Know Your Core Values, Every Decision You Make is Easier
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