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Subject: what truly matters
It’s hard getting back into the swing of things after vacation.
I recently returned from two weeks in Spain and Portugal. Totally unplugged from work, I allowed myself to slip into timelessness while meandering through picturesque alleys and sipping espresso on cafe patios, lulled into peacefulness by the sweet hum of conversation floating around me.
We drove slowly around the coast of northern Spain, let the sun warm our faces along the edge of the Duoro River Valley, and filled our bellies with sardines and oysters in Porto.
I reminded myself, “This trip is a gift from your business. You created something that supported you in saying yes to an experience you’ve dreamed of for years.”
Each day, I returned to gratitude.
Each day, I reminded myself to be present.
Each day, I encouraged myself to enjoy the bounty of the harvest.
Vacations are a gift from your business because your business exists to take care of you and your family. Your business serves you first.
👆Just throwing that out there in case you needed a reminder.
For me, the greatest benefit of going on vacation is getting distance from the whirlwind of daily activity and busyness.
It’s the forest for the trees analogy.
When I’m working, I am deep in the forest, moving through the trees, forging my path ahead.
When I’m on vacation, my vantage point changes. I’m perched on the edge of a nearby cliff, observing the forest from above, noticing the path I’ve been carving and making notes on how to course-correct now that I’ve zoomed out far enough to see.
This distance reminds me of what truly matters to me.
On that note, I want to share a poem with you that so eloquently captures what truly matters to me; it feels cheap to try to say it in my own words.
My Symphony by William Henry Channing
To live content with small means.
To seek elegance rather than luxury,
and refinement rather than fashion.
To be worthy not respectable,
and wealthy not rich.
To study hard, think quietly, talk gently,
act frankly, to listen to stars, birds, babes,
and sages with open heart, to bear all cheerfully,
do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never.
In a word, to let the spiritual,
unbidden and unconscious,
grow up through the common.
This is to be my symphony.
Does this poem resonate with you? Which line in particular?
For me, it’s “to seek elegance rather than luxury,” “to be wealthy not rich,” and “to hurry never”.
It’s like, yes, right, that is what I want! Not fame, piles of money I don’t need, and a calendar so full of obligations it tricks me into thinking I’m important and worthy.
Spain has much to teach me about slowing down and being in community. I’ll be integrating my vacation lessons for a while, I think.
In the meantime, I would really love to hear what you think about this poem.
Write me back if you feel like chatting. We can pretend we’re sipping espresso on this gorgeous cafe patio in San Sebastian. 😍
Hope to hear from you soon,
Maegan
