Take The Vacation

flowers that I got at the Glen Arbor Farmer's Market from Jim Kelderhouse Farm

This is one of my favorite times of the year - all of the garden planning I've done is literally growing up around me.  Spring bloomers have come, wowed me, and gone, and now the summer flowers are open and thriving in the heat.  

view from the Pyramid Point Overlook - who wouldn't want to go here?!

It's also the time of year I get to go to my favorite place on the planet (aside from Ninfa's in Houston) which is Glen Arbor, Michigan.  A strong love of nature was instilled in me here as I grew up coming every summer, surrounded by flowers, forest and a huge expanse of water that is Lake Michigan. It makes me so incredibly happy to go to Michigan - so why have I historically felt guilty as an adult coming here?

I don't know about you but I have had a tape in my head for years that said that it was "selfish" to go on vacation, that I wasn't being a good business owner by doing so and that I really should be working as there's always more to do.  I've felt this to the point that I didn't usually tell my most of my team that I was leaving until the day before because I felt a level of shame about going somewhere.  And yet I strove to create an environment that valued self care and an attempt at balance.  Mixed messages anyone??

the view from our house to the front and to the side

This year I decided I would tell my team weeks before I left.  Initially it felt uncomfortable, like a shirt that didn't fit right, but I did it anyhow.  And you know what, after a couple of days it felt GREAT!  And the day I left it felt normal and lovely to have folks saying "have a fun time!" 

getting to visit with friends who happen to be clients and my dad

I'm fully aware that this all sounds crazy if this isn't an issue you've had, but I think we all have had something we've felt like we "should" do and it has allowed us to not prioritize what's actually really healthy and lovely for us.  I find with moms it's spending time away from their kids, with entrepreneurs it's spending time away from their business, with performers it's anything that isn't performing (that tells you what most of my friends do).  

And you know what?  One of our team members got sick and needed to stay home.  Another had to move (locally) while I was gone.  And one of our shipments was missing pieces.  And still, everything turned out just fine.  Orders got out, emails got answered, and bottles were filled and labeled. 

And for the first time I didn't bring a suitcase full of product with me on my vacation (I literally do this everywhere I go and honestly I think it's a great idea but it's a lot) because I've taken pictures of everything here already - you've seen it! So instead of doing that and instead of filming everything for Instagram Stories to share all the beautiful parts of Glen Arbor I spent extra time reading a book or walked along the water.  It was GREAT.  

Daniel & I, relaxed at the end of our vacay

I'm learning to not be ashamed that I need a break - to realize that it's necessary, restorative and makes me actually do my job better when I get back.  Which hopefully sets a different tone for everyone else on my team than before.  Baby steps.