A
Mindful Road Trip: The Perfect No-Goal Vacation by: Maya Talisman
Frost
It's the beginning of spring break,
and we're heading south. That's all we know.
Our family is greatly anticipating
what may be our last road trip for a long, long time. There's a lot of
excitement in our house right now as we are shifting into a whole new phase
for each of us.
My husband is launching a new business.
I am writing a book. Our 17-year-old daughter is preparing for college
in Nova Scotia in September. Our 16-year- old daughter is heading to Brazil
for a year-long Rotary Exchange in July. Our 14-year-old daughter is playing
a sport for the first time in her life. Our 13-year-old daughter is considering
transferring to an arts magnet school in order to immerse herself in her
passion—dance.
This is the end of an era. In a few
months, we will never have all four of them living at home again. The next
year will bring all kinds of changes, and we feel we need to grab this
chance to hit the road together in our trusty, dusty minivan.
It's time for our favorite kind of
vacation—the make-it-up-as-you-go meander through undiscovered (to us,
anyway) territory. We'll get up really early, jump in the van, and just
go. No reservations. No schedule. No destination in mind.
We love this no-goal travel. We learned
years ago that the happiest times we spend together are those in which
we are free to experience each moment as it comes without planning the
next.
Back in 1998, we decided in one day
to pack up the kids and take off to India and Nepal for three months. It's
not as though we simply quit our jobs and left. That would have been far
easier.
We had plenty of responsibilities—we
owned two small retail businesses, an import/export company, an old commercial
building with a leaky roof, and a house we had just finished remodeling.
We felt restless and ready for adventure,
and making the choice to go was instantaneous and unanimous.
We sold one business, liquidated
another, put the third in a coma. We found someone to take care of the
leaky roof, and another to stay in our house. We yanked the kids out of
school and within six weeks of making our decision boarded a plane—six
excited travelers carrying six small backpacks.
The girls were 7, 8, 10 and 11. People
thought we were insane.
The first two months we spent in
India visiting the former host families my husband had lived with during
his own Rotary Exchange when he was 16. The third month we had reserved
for Nepal. We planned to fly into Kathmandu and spend four weeks on our
own. We had no agenda, no reservations, no contacts. We weren't the least
bit concerned about it.
From the very first day, it was clear
this was going to be a really special experience for our family. We found
a clean, friendly hotel, the Red Planet, with a room big enough for six
of us. It was $15 a night. Our window faced the rear of a nightclub, and
we giggled ourselves to sleep as Pink Floyd and Michael Jackson were blasted
from the speakers outside. One of our daughters became quite adept at unclogging
the toilet and bathtub drain.
We wandered the curving streets,
marveling at the sights and sounds. Each meal was an adventure as we made
it a point to invite single diners to join us. We met fascinating people
of all ages from around the world.
Highlights include dashing into a
tiny Italian restaurant during our first two hours in Kathmandu as we were
caught in a torrential downpour—our first rain since leaving Oregon. A
hilarious but fairly sleepless night sharing a tea house room with rats.
Children, especially young boys, trailing us everywhere we trekked. Breakfast
on our roof with a breathtaking view of the Annapurnas. Ducking to avoid
spider webs dripping with dew while riding elephants in the early morning.
Exploring richly scented temples. Spontaneous dancing in the streets.
We have never, ever laughed more
than we did on that trip. I had to use an asthma inhaler—not for any allergies,
but because I laughed so hard that I started wheezing! Every single day
was full of absolute joy and discovery. It didn't matter in the slightest
what we were doing. We were together, we were exploring, and we were having
the time of our lives.
Granted, a road trip to southern
Oregon isn't nearly as exotic. Still, what we learned in Nepal is the magic
of being in the moment. Our kids discovered the power of being present
and open to whatever the day may bring.
It's a priceless lesson we feel fortunate
to have learned early. That trip was a gift that keeps on giving. It provided
a shining example of true mindfulness for our growing daughters.
We're heading south. Our intention?
To be together. To explore. And to laugh our heads off.
I'll bring my inhaler.
About The Author
Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse.
Her work has inspired thinkers in over 80 countries. She serves up a satisfying
blend of clarity, comfort and comic relief in her free weekly ezine, the
Friday Mind Massage. To subscribe, visit http://www.massageyourmind.com.
maya@massageyourmind.com
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