When I was featured in one of Alex Fayle’s Someday Interviews a few months ago, I identified my biggest “someday” as taking a vacation and getting away. Shortly after that, Alex launched his Freelancer Vacation Clinic, an email course for people who find it hard to take a break from their business. Even though I’ve removed myself from most email lists over the past year, and have avoided signing up for more, I couldn’t resist this one, because it felt like Alex had created it with me in mind.
I set up a special folder in Outlook where I’ve stored all the weekly emails to date; however, I haven’t made time to read even one. Oh sure, I’ve taken a quick peek at some of them, but I haven’t taken the time to even learn how to take a vacation, never mind to actually take one. I have no one to blame but myself, as I did not take advantage of Elaine Shannon‘s invitation to visit her in New Brunswick this summer. The window of opportunity for a summer holiday has closed for this year, but I’m determined that over the next few months I will read Alex’ emails, work through any exercises, and make some plans for summer 2010.
In the meantime, I’m looking forward to a well-deserved break this coming weekend, when my sister and I will be cottaging with two other women at Sharbot Lake, Ontario. Although it’s only for a couple of days and it’s supposed to be cool and rainy, it will be the farthest I’ve been from home in two years, and the longest time I’ve been away from my computer, and I’m really looking forward to getting away.
Scott will have his hands full looking after the business, the household, and the cat while I’m away, but he will not be monitoring my email, so please be patient if you’re waiting to hear from me over the next week or so.
This post has been all about me, so how about you? Have you taken a vacation this year? Tell us about it!
It feels like most of July and August were vacation time for me, but then again since I offer the Vacation Clinic, I *should* know how to take a proper one, no?
BTW, the emails are really short – usually fewer than 200 words – each one will take all of two minutes to read…
Of course, once you’re back from your mini vacation (or as I like to think of it: a practice vacation)
Alex, thank you so much for encouraging me, rather than scolding me, for putting the Vacation Clinic on my someday list…
OK Alex….stop “shoulding” on yourself…sometimes the teachers are the worst students…or the plumber with the leaky pipes. Just reading your blog this summer was an inspiration, you have so many fun…out of the office pictures on your FB that you really are living your dream.
Janet the invitation is open any time. NB is a wonderful beautiful place to visit.
As my blog says sometimes you have to Take Charge and get rid of what is holding you back…so what about vacations is holding YOU back Janet?
Elaine, in this case I think it was wanting too much and being unable to figure out how to make it work. I couldn’t see going all the way to the East Coast and not visiting some people in NS, but I didn’t want to make such a long drive on my own, yet if I flew, I wouldn’t be mobile to get out to other places. Silly, I know, because obviously people make such trips all the time. Well, now I have all winter to start planning, don’t I?