My husband and I took the kids this year on a weeklong Spring Break to south Florida. And we had an amazing time.
For one reason or another, we’ve never gone away for a full week in March. So this year, when we had the opportunity to spend some time with my husband’s family at a rental house near Fort Myers, we jumped on it.
It was a conscious decision I made to NOT bring my laptop along. No writing or editing of my novel for seven whole days. This might not sound like a big deal to you, but I’m kind of coming into crunch time now, with my first writers’ conference just over a week away. But more than preparing to pitch my book, I wanted to be present and available for my family this vacation — not stuck behind my laptop screen.
(I did find ways, however, to do “author-y” type stuff, even without my computer. I finished two novels that I’d been dying to read and sort of got this Twitter thing figured out. I also brought along my little notebook and did some character work, plus some brainstorming of new novel ideas.)
The break from my book was exactly the recharge that I needed to come back with renewed interest and inspiration. It felt amazing to be back home upon our return — I missed my house, I missed my pillow and I missed my bed. But truthfully? I’m pretty sure I missed my novel most of all.
How fortunate I am to have a husband and three children who value quality family time together as much as we all do. Lucky indeed — we actually really enjoy spending vacations together, and we have the financial resources to do so. Further, not many people I know are blessed with “work” that is truly their passion. If that were the case, Monday mornings would be joyful for everyone!
Leaving my laptop at home was absolutely the right call for this trip. It demonstrated to me that not only are my priorities in order, but just how truly blessed I am to have so much that I love in my life.